HSC 214 Vertebral Column / Thorax

Cervical

- first seven vertebrae (C1-C7)

- "breakfast at 7" for 7 cervical vertebrae

Thoracic

- twelve vertebrae where the ribs attach (T1-T12), together forming a kyphosis curve of the spine

- "lunch at 12" for 12 thoracic vertebrae

Lumbar

- five weight-bearing vertebrae (L1-L5), together forming a lordosis curve of the spine

- "dinner at 5" for 5 lumbar vertebrae

Sacrum

- Five fuse vertebrae (S1-S5), forming one triangular bone

- between the hip bones

Coccyx

- Three or four fused vertebrae (C1), forming one small, triangular bone

- "tailbone"

Vertebral body

- large, anterior rounded bone masses

- together form the vertebral column

intervertebral disc

- fibrocartilage discs between vertebral bodies

- "shock absorbers"

pedicle

- short, thick, pillar of bone between the vertebral body and transverse process

- directly connected to the vertebral bodies

transverse process

- prominent, paired, laterally projections

- between the lamina and pedicle

lamina

- broad, flat piece of bone between the transverse and spinous process

- not attached directly to the vertebral bodies

- Site of Laminectomies

spinous process

- midline, posterior projection formed by the fusion of the lamina

- failure of fusion results in the condition called spina bifida Bifid (split) in the cervical region

vertebral (neutral) arch

- posterior ring of bone formed by the pedicles and lamina

- excludes the vertebral body

vertebral foramen

- large space formed by the vertebral arch and posterior aspect of the vertebral body

- single vertebrae

vertebral canal

- space of multiple vertebral foramen together in which the spinal cord passes through

- multiple vertebrae

intervertebral foramen

- lateral space formed by the pedicles of two adjacent vertebrae

- passageway for spinal nerves

superior articular process

superior boney projection at the junction of the pedicle and lamina

superior articular facet

- smooth surface on the superior articulating process that articulates with the adjacent vertebrae's inferior articulating facet

- in thoracic vertebrae the facets face posteriorly

- in lumbar vertebrae the facets face medially

inferior articular process

inferior boney projection at the junction of the pedicle and lamina

inferior articular facet

- smooth surface on the inferior articulating process that articulates with the adjacent vertebrae's superior articulating facet

- in the thoracic vertebrae, the facets face anteriorly

- in the lumber vertebrae, the facets face laterally

transverse foramen

- space within transverse process

- passageway for vertebral arteries

vertebra prominens

- specific spinous process of C7

- posterior neck landmark

atlas

- specific name for C1 vertebrae

- ring-like vertebra articulating with the occipital condyles to support the skull

- lacks a vertebral body, spinous process, and lamina

axis

- specific name for C2 vertebrae

dens

- superior boney projection from the vertebral body

- pivot point articulating with the atlas (C1)

sacral canal

- opening in center of the sacrum

- continuation of the vertebral canal

sacral promontory

- anteriorly projecting ridge on the superior aspect of the sacrum

- formed by the superior border of the S1 vertebral body

auricular surface

- lateral surfaces articulating with the ilium

- ear-like shape

sacral tuberosity

- roughened surface immediately posterior to the auricular surface

- attachment site for sacroiliac ligaments

anterior sacral foramina

- four paired spaces on the anterior surface of the sacrum

- passageway for the ventral rami of S1-S4 spinal nerves

posterior sacral foramina

- four paired spaces on the posterior surface the sacrum

- passageway for the dorsal rami of S1-S4 spinal nerves

ribs

- twelve pairs of curved, flat bones forming the lateral thoracic walls

- articulate with thoracic vertebrae

true rib

- first seven pairs directly attaching to the sternum by costal cartilages

- ribs 1-7

false rib

- three pairs indirectly attaching to the sternum via shared costal cartilage

- ribs 8-10

floating rib

- last two pairs that do not attach to the sternum

- ribs 11-12

- considered false ribs

costal groove

- indent on the inferior border of ribs 2-10

- where the intercostal nerves, arteries, and veins run

costal angle

area where the rib begins to curve sharply anteriorly

costal cartilage

- hyaline cartilage attaching ribs to the sternum

sternum

- broad, flat bone forming the anterior thoracic wall

- "breastbone"

manubrium

- triangular shaped, superior part of the sternum

- articulates with costal cartilages of ribs 1-2 and clavicles

jugular (suprasternal) notch

- depression in the superior border of the manubrium

- between the clavicle notches

clavicular notch

- lateral depressions in the superior border of the manubrium

- where the clavicles articulate with sternum

body (gladiolus) of sternum

- long flat part of the sternum between the manubrium and xiphoid process

- articulates directly with the costal cartilage of ribs 2-7

xiphoid process

- inferior pointed tip of the sternum

- CPR landmark

sternal angle

- horizontal ridge formed by the junction of manubrium and body of sternum

- level of C2