Human Remains Quiz 3

The regions of the vertebral column

cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum/coccyx

Bones in each vertebral region

7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar (7:12:5)

Types of curvature

scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis

scoliosis

lateral curvature

kyphosis

anterior curvature

lordosis

posterior curvature

vertebral common faetures

vertebral body, neural arch, vertebral foramen, pedicles, lamina, transverse processes, spinous process, superior & inferior articular facets

Vertebral Feature: Body

supports weight

Vertebral Feature: Neural arch

encloses the vertebral foramen and surrounds the spinal cord

Vertebral Feature: vertebral foramen

enclosed by neural arch, carries the spinal cord

Vertebral Feature: pedicles

projected from the body posteriorly

Vertebral Feature: lamina

connects pedicles to spinous process

Vertebral Feature: transverse process

projects laterally

Vertebral Feature: spinous process

projects posteriorly

vertebral joints

intervertebral disk joint, zygapophyseal joint

Anteriorly vertebral joint

intervertebral disk joint

posteriorly vertebral joint

zygapophyseal joint

cervical vertebrae

small, saddle-shape body, flat & oblique articular facets, transverse foramina, bifid, spinous process

thoracic vertebrae

demifacets. flat anterior & posterior facing articular facets, long/thin, straight and more inferior projecting spinous process, heart shaped body, circular vertebral foramen

lumbar vertebrae

lacking rib articular facets, short, borad, horizontally oriented spinous process, large body triangular vertebral foramne, curved, medially or latterally oreiented articular facets

vetebral pathological conditions

abnormal conditions and menifestations of disease

vetebral pathological markers

sketal evidence of disease

vetebral anomalies

irregularities that do not cause significat medial difficulties

schmorls nodes

cavities on the superior or inferior surfaces of vertebral bodies

wedge fractures

compression of hte anterior of the vertebral body, permanent, changes teh curvature

osteoarthritis

lipping at joint margins

late osteoarthritis - eburnation

folowing cartilage frictio, cartilage is worn away