Vertebral Column

Question 1

How many elements is a typical vertebral column composed of?

Answer 1

33

Question 2

How many elements of the vertebral column are separate?

Answer 2

24

Question 3

Name the segments of the vertebral column

Answer 3

Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacral
Coccygeal

Question 4

What are the vertebrae divided by?

Answer 4

Intervertebral fibrocartilaginous discs (synovial joints)

Question 5

Name the articular facets

Answer 5

2 superior articular facets and 2 inferior articular facets

Question 6

Do the articular facets change at all as they descend the column?

Answer 6

Yes, their morphology changes depending on their position within the columns and produce different movements

Question 7

Name the primary functions of the vertebral column

Answer 7

Transmit body weight
Attachment site for muscles and ligaments
Protect spinal cord

Question 8

Does the vertebral foramen alter in size at all?

Answer 8

Yes it decreases as it descends as there is less spinal cord at the bottom of the spine

Question 9

If people have a varied number of vertebrae, what segment(s) is this usually in?

Answer 9

Lower thoracic and lumbar (10% of people)

Question 10

What is the vertebral column derived of?

Answer 10

Somites

Question 11

Name the 2 kinds of curvature

Answer 11

Primary

Secondary

Question 12

Describe origin of primary curvature

Answer 12

Present at birth (congenital)

Question 13

Describe origin of secondary curvature

Answer 13

Developmental (acquired over time)

Question 14

How many curvatures does an adult vertebral column have?

Answer 14

4 - 2 primary and 2 secondary

Question 15

What is another name for primary curvature?

Answer 15

Kyphotic

Question 16

What is another name for secondary curvature?

Answer 16

Lordotic

Question 17

What segment(s) are primary curvatures (mainly)

Answer 17

Thoracic

Question 18

What segment(s) are secondary curvatures?

Answer 18

Cervical and lumbar

Question 19

What milestones do secondary curvatures develop with?

Answer 19

Lifting/supporting own head
Sitting up unsupported
Standing

Question 20

List the features of a ‘typical’ vertebra

Answer 20

Body 
Spinous process
2 transverse processes
Neural arch 
vertebral foramen
Superior and inferior articular facets

Question 21

Describe the formation of the neural arch

Answer 21

Neural arch is formed in two parts and is separate from the body
Its formed of the pedicle (attaches body to rest of vertebra) and lamina (attaches transverse and spinous processes)

Question 22

What travels through the vertebral foramen?

Answer 22

Spinal cord

Question 23

Where does vertebrae join with each other?

Answer 23

Superior and inferior articular facets

Question 24

What is formed when two vertebrae articulate with each other?

Answer 24

Intevertebral foramen

Question 25

What does one single vertebra form?

Answer 25

Intevertebral notch

Question 26

What travels through the intevertebral foramen?

Answer 26

Nerves and blood from vertebral artery

Question 27

What is the 'cushion' around the vertebral column called?

Answer 27

Intervertrebral discs

Question 28

What is the outer margin of the intervertebral disc composed of?

Answer 28

Annulus fibrosus which is a ligament holding the disc in place

Question 29

Is the intervertebral disc vascular?

Answer 29

No

Question 30

What ligament runs down the anterior side of the colum from the occipital to the sacrum?

Answer 30

Anterior longitudinal ligament

Question 31

What does the anterior longitudinal ligament do?

Answer 31

Holds the disc and annulus fibrosus together (can ossify with age)

Question 32

What ligament runs inside the vertebral foramen (posterior side of vertebral bodies)?

Answer 32

Posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 33

What does the posterior longitudinal ligament do?

Answer 33

Hold the intevertebral disc in place

Question 34

What ligament runs over the spinous processes and holds them together?

Answer 34

interspinal (spinous) ligament

Question 35

What ligament runs down the distal end of the spinous processes and contributes to their knob-like appearance?

Answer 35

supraspinal (spinous) ligament

Question 36

What ligament passes between the lamina of adjacent vertebrae?

Answer 36

Ligamentum flavum

Question 37

What ligament runs between the transverse processes?

Answer 37

Intertransverse ligaments

Question 38

What ligaments hold the superior and inferior articular facets?

Answer 38

Facet capsule ligments

Question 39

What joint is present between the vertebrae and ribs?

Answer 39

Costovertebral joint

Question 40

What joint is present between the articular processes of neighbouring vertebrae?

Answer 40

Zygapophyseal joint

Question 41

What joint is present between vertebral bodies and intervertebral joints allowing for some movement?

Answer 41

Amphiarthrodial joint

Question 42

Describe the defect accessory cervical foramina

Answer 42

cervical vertebrae usually have one hole on one side but this defect produces two holes (one on either side)

Question 43

Describe abdominal curvatures

Answer 43

Can have kyphosis where there should be lordosis Can have lordosis where there should be kyphosis Scoliosis where the vertebrae curves in a different plane

Question 44

Describe spinal bifida occulta

Answer 44

The protection of the spinal cord is missing in parts