Vertebral Column - Exam 1

Question 1

number of vertebrae

Answer 1

7 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacrum (fused)
4 coccyx
33 total

Question 2

cervical lordosis

Answer 2

generated to balance weight of head over pelvis

Question 3

thoracic kyphosis

Answer 3

thoracic vertebral bodies are thinner anteriorly
born with

Question 4

lumbar lordosis

Answer 4

generated to balance torso and head over pelvis

Question 5

sacral kyphosis

Answer 5

born with

Question 6

scoliosis

Answer 6

lateral curvature of the spine and midline
can be due to neuromuscular conditions, birth defects, surgery as baby, infections
severe cases treated by surgical implantation of growth rods

Question 7

severe thoracic kyphosis

Answer 7

develop as we age due to bone breakdown/osteoporosis and narrowing of vertebral bodies

Question 8

structural elements of vertebrae to know (pics on quizlet)

Answer 8

vertebral body
transverse process
spinous process
pedicle
lamina
vertebral arch
superior and inferior articular process
superior and inferior vertebral notches
vertebral foramen

Question 9

vertebral arch

Answer 9

formed by pedicles and laminae

Question 10

superior and inferior articular processes

Answer 10

where vertebrae articulate with each other

Question 11

superior and inferior vertebral notches

Answer 11

make the intervertebral foramen for nerve to exit

Question 12

vertebral foramen

Answer 12

spinal cord goes through

Question 13

atlas (C1)

Answer 13

posterior tubercle (no SP), anterior tubercle, groove for vertebral artery, facet for dens, no vertebral body

Question 14

axis (C2)

Answer 14

dens, anterior articular facet on dens

Question 15

transverse foramen

Answer 15

cervical vertebrae only, houses vertebral artery

Question 16

costal facets for ribs

Answer 16

thoracic vertebrae, articulate with ribs

Question 17

mammillary processes

Answer 17

lumbar vertebrae

Question 18

bifurcated spinous process

Answer 18

cervical vertebrae

Question 19

lateral sacral crest

Answer 19

fusion of sacral transverse processes

Question 20

intermediate (medial) sacral crest

Answer 20

fusion of sacral inferior/superior articular facets

Question 21

medial sacral crest

Answer 21

fusion of the sacral spinous processes

Question 22

sacral canal

Answer 22

protects cauda equina and filum terminale

Question 23

sacral foramen

Answer 23

where sacral nerves exit

Question 24

sacral promontory

Answer 24

anterior curvature of S1 vertebral body

Question 25

auricular surface (sacrm)

Answer 25

articulates with pelvic girdle "dumbo"

Question 26

zygapophyseal joint

Answer 26

synovial joint between articular facets of adjacent vertebrae

Question 27

intervertebral disks

Answer 27

in between vertebral bodies of the vertebrae

Question 28

nucleus pulposus

Answer 28

gelatin like interior

Question 29

anulus fibrosis

Answer 29

fibrous/cartilaginous external covering of disk

Question 30

posterolateral herniation

Answer 30

most common generally pushes on a single spinal nerve (the one existing below the herniation site)

Question 31

central herniation

Answer 31

pushes on spinal cord itself, prevented by posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 32

cervical herniation

Answer 32

less common because there is not as much weight on the cervical disks

Question 33

anterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 33

broad ligament on anterior of vertebral bodies

Question 34

posterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 34

thinner ligament behind vertebral bodies (anterior to spinal cord) in vertebral foramen

Question 35

ligamentum flavum

Answer 35

yellow ligament between lamina of vertebrae

Question 36

intertransverse ligaments

Answer 36

between transverse processes

Question 37

interspinous ligaments

Answer 37

between spinous processes

Question 38

supraspinous ligament

Answer 38

overlaying spinous processes, extension of nuchal ligament

Question 39

nuchal ligament (ligamentum nuchae)

Answer 39

from external occipital proterburance to spinous process of cervical vertebrae serves as origin for muscles

Question 40

anterior atlanto-occipital membrane

Answer 40

supports atlantooccipital joint, extension of anterior longitudinal ligament

Question 41

posterior atlanto-occipital membrane

Answer 41

supports atlantooccipital joint, extension of ligaments flava

Question 42

anterior atlanto-axial membrane

Answer 42

supports atlantoaxial joint, extension of anterior longitudinal ligament

Question 43

posterior atlanto-axial membrane

Answer 43

supports atlantoaxial joint, extension of ligamentum flare

Question 44

transverse ligament of atlas

Answer 44

supports atlas/dens articulation combines with longitudinal bands to form cruciate ligament

Question 45

alar ligaments

Answer 45

prevent excessive rotation between C1 and C2