Vertebral Column and Thoracic Cage

Flashcards about the vertebral column, vertebral regions, and thoracic cage.

The vertebral column (spine) __.

Protects the spinal cord and supports the head and body.

The vertebral column consists of 26 bones, including __.

24 vertebrae, the sacrum, and the coccyx.

The spinal column has four curves: __.

Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral.

Primary curves of the spine are __.

Thoracic and sacral curves.

Primary curves __.

Accommodate internal organs.

Secondary curves of the spine are __.

Cervical and lumbar curves.

Secondary curves __.

Shift body weight to permit upright posture.

The neck contains __.

Seven cervical vertebrae.

The upper back contains __.

12 thoracic vertebrae.

Each thoracic vertebrae articulates with __.

One or more pairs of ribs.

The lower back contains __.

Five lumbar vertebrae.

Each vertebra consists of three parts: __.

Vertebral body, vertebral arch, and articular processes.

The vertebral body __.

Transfers weight along the spine.

The vertebral body forms ___.

Forms anterior margin of each vertebral foramen.

The vertebral arch __.

Forms posterior margin of each vertebral foramen.

The walls of the vertebral arch are called __.

Pedicles.

The roof of the vertebral arch is formed by __.

Laminae.

Articular processes are __.

Lateral projections between laminae and pedicles.

The spinous process is a __.

Posterior projection from where vertebral laminae fuse.

Transverse processes are __.

Projections from where laminae join pedicles.

Superior and inferior articular processes have __.

Articular facets.

Intervertebral discs are __.

Pads of fibrocartilage.

Intervertebral discs __.

Separate adjacent vertebral bodies.

Intervertebral foramina are __.

Gaps between pedicles of adjacent vertebrae.

Intervertebral foramina are for __.

Nerve connections to spinal cord.

The vertebral canal is __.

Formed by vertebral foramina of successive vertebrae.

The vertebral canal __.

Encloses the spinal cord.

Vertebrae are numbered __.

By region, from top (superior) to bottom (inferior).

C1 articulates with the __.

Skull.

L5 articulates with the __.

Sacrum.

The regions of the vertebral column are __.

Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, coccygeal.

The cervical region includes vertebrae __.

C1 to C7.

Cervical vertebrae have a __.

Small body.

Cervical vertebrae have a __.

Large vertebral foramen.

Cervical vertebrae have a __.

Concave superior surface.

Transverse processes of cervical vertebrae __.

Encircle transverse foramina.

Tips of most cervical spinous processes are __.

Notched (bifid).

C1 is called the __.

Atlas.

The atlas articulates with __.

Occipital condyles of skull.

The atlas has __.

No body or spinous process.

C2 is called the __.

Axis.

Axis articulates with the __.

Atlas.

The vertebra prominens (C7) __.

Transitions to thoracic vertebrae.

The __ have heart-shaped bodies.

Thoracic vertebrae (T1–T12).

Dorsolateral surfaces of thoracic vertebrae have __.

Costal facets.

T1–T8 each articulate with __.

Two pairs of ribs.

Lumbar vertebrae are the __.

Largest vertebrae.

__ articulates with the sacrum.

L5.

The coccyx attaches __.

Ligaments and a constricting muscle of the anus.

The thoracic cage consists of __.

Thoracic vertebrae, ribs, costal cartilages, and sternum.