Vertebral Column

Question 1

How many vertebrae are there in the human skeleton? How many in each section?

Answer 1

7 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 fused sacral
4 fused coccygeal

Question 2

Describe primary and secondary spinal curvature? What characteristics of primary curvature are maintained?

Answer 2

Primary: at birth, infancy, spine shaped like a C

Secondary: becomes S shape but thoracic and sacral remain in fetal conformation (C chaped)

Question 3

What’s the relationship between weight and vertebrae

Answer 3

Added weight causes vertebrae to increase inferiorly.

Question 4

The vertebral arch is connected to the vertebral body via what structure?

Answer 4

Pedicles

Question 5

What structure connects the pedicles to the posterior spinous process?

Answer 5

Lamina

Question 6

The vertebral canal is formed by what?

Answer 6

The vertebral foramina of all vertebrae together

Question 7

What is the function of the vertebral canal/

Answer 7

Contain and protect spinal cord

Question 8

In the cranial cavity, to what does the vertebral canal articulate?

Answer 8

Foramen magnum

Question 9

Alternate respective names for C1 and C2

Answer 9

Atlas, axis

Question 10

C1 articulates with the head, specifically what?

Answer 10

occipital condyles

Question 11

The posterior portion of the anterior C1 tubercle articulates to what structure?

Answer 11

dens of axis

Question 12

What structure allows for the head to nod up and down

Answer 12

atlanto-occipital joint

Question 13

What structure allows for the head to rotate “no”

Answer 13

atlanto-axial joint