Vertebral column - week 2

Question 1

What are other names for the axial skeleton?

Answer 1

vertebral column or the spine

Question 2

What is the axial skeleton made up of?

Answer 2

32 or 33 individual vertebrae stacked on top of each other

Question 3

What are the 4 regions of the axial skeleton?

Answer 3

cervical
thoracic
lumbar
sacrum

Question 4

How many vertebrae does the cervical region have?

Answer 4

7

Question 5

How many vertebrae does the thoracic region have?

Answer 5

12

Question 6

How many vertebrae does the lumbar region have?

Answer 6

5

Question 7

How many vertebrae does the sacrum have?

Answer 7

5

Question 8

How many vertebrae does the coccyx have?

Answer 8

3-4

Question 9

Which parts of the spine have a lordosis?

Answer 9

cervical and lumbar

Question 10

Which parts of the spine have a kyphosis?

Answer 10

thoracic and sacrum/coccyx

Question 11

What is a lordosis?

Answer 11

anterior curve

Question 12

What is a kyphosis?

Answer 12

posterior curve

Question 13

What is scoliosis?

Answer 13

a lateral curvature with a rotation component (not a normal curve of the spine)

Question 14

In standing, what does the line of gravity pass through?

Answer 14

ear lobe
dens of the axis
cervical vertebral bodies
shoulder joint
lumbar vertebral bodies
slightly posterior to hip joint
greater trochanter
slightly anterior to knee and ankle joints

Question 15

What are the functions of the spine?

Answer 15

supports the thoracic cage
muscle attachment, particularly pelvic and shoulder girdles and spinal muscles
upper limb and lower limb attachment
protection of spinal cord
shock absorption
production and control of movement

Question 16

What movements can all areas of the spine do?

Answer 16

flexion
extension
lateral/side flexion
rotation

Question 17

What actions can only the cervical spine do?

Answer 17

protraction and retraction

Question 18

What is the anterior part of vertebra called?

Answer 18

vertebral body

Question 19

What is the posterior part of vertebra called?

Answer 19

vertebral arch

Question 20

What is the vertebral arch made up of?

Answer 20

pedicles and lamina

Question 21

What are the functions of the articular processes?

Answer 21

articulate with the adjacent vertebrae
transmit weight
enable movement
limit movement in some directions

Question 22

What part of the vertebrae is most weight transmitted through?

Answer 22

vertebral bodies and the intervertebral joints

Question 23

What is the function of the transverse processes?

Answer 23

attachments for muscles and ligaments

Question 24

What is the function of the spinous process?

Answer 24

attachments for muscles and ligaments

Question 25

What does the vertebral arch do?

Answer 25

encloses the spinal canal - protects the spinal cord

Question 26

What is the gap between the adjacent vertebral arches called?

Answer 26

intervertebral foramen

Question 27

What do the spinal nerves pass through?

Answer 27

intervertebral foramen

Question 28

What happens to the vertebrae throughout the spine?

Answer 28

There is a gradual changing and morphing of vertebra

Question 29

Describe the features of a typical cervical vertebra?

Answer 29

small rectangular body large vertebral foramen transverse foramen in the transverse processes bifid spinous process uncovertebral joints articular facets orientated horizontally (towards the eyes) lipping of vertical body superiorly - uncinate process

Question 30

Name the 3 atypical cervical vertebrae

Answer 30

C1-atlas C2-axis C7-vertebrae prominens

Question 31

What are the uncovertebral joints also known as?

Answer 31

the joints of Hubert von Luschka

Question 32

Describe the features of a typical thoracic vertebrae

Answer 32

round body long slanted spinous process facet joints orientated vertically demifacets on body x4 facets on transverse processes x2

Question 33

Name the 4 atypical thoracic vertebrae

Answer 33

T1 T10 T11 T12

Question 34

Describe a typical lumbar vertebrae

Answer 34

large wide body broad, short laminae and pedicles quadrangular spinous process mamillary process wrapped articular facets transverse processes thin and long

Question 35

Describe the sacrum

Answer 35

5 fused vertebrae

Question 36

What is the first palpable spinous process?

Answer 36

C2

Question 37

Which vertebra disappears on neck extension?

Answer 37

C6

Question 38

What is the spinous process of T3 in line with?

Answer 38

spine of scapula

Question 39

What is the spinous process of T7 in line with?

Answer 39

inferior angle of scapula

Question 40

What is L4 in line with?

Answer 40

iliac crest

Question 41

What is S2 in line with?

Answer 41

PSIS

Question 42

Describe the annulus fibrosis

Answer 42

ring of collagen fibres around the outside of the intervertebral disk layers of fibres arranged in sheets called lamellae composed of 60-70% water thicker towards centre of disc and in anterior and lateral portions thinner posteriorly arrangement of fibres limits rotation between vertebrae

Question 43

Describe the nucleus pulposus

Answer 43

semi-fluid mass of mucoid material 88% water deforms under pressure from any direction transmits the applied pressure in all directions

Question 44

What is the function of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 44

shock absorption allows movement and load transition provides stability to the spinal column limits excessive movements

Question 45

What does a typical vertebrae have?

Answer 45

spinous process transverse process body vertebral foramen articular facets lamina pedicle intervertebral foramen

Question 46

What is the thoracic spine rule of 3's

Answer 46

T1-T3 SP level with TP T4-T6 TP approximately 1/2 level above SP T7-T9 TP approximately 1 level above SP T10 TP 1 level above SP T11 TP 1/2 level above SP T12 SP and TP level with each other