Chapter 11 (Exam 3)

Trunk and spine

Vertebral column – complex

• 24 intricate & complex articulating free movable vertebrae

• 31 pairs of spinal nerves

• most complex part of body other than CNS

Abdominal muscles

• some sections linked by fascia & tendinous bands

• do not attach from bone to bone

Many small intrinsic muscles act on head, vertebral column & thorax

• assist in spinal stabilization or respiration

• too deep to palpate

How many articulation and fused vertebrae??

24 articulating & 9 fused vertebrae

24 articulating & 9 fused vertebrae

• 7 cervical (neck) vertebrae

• 12 thoracic (chest) vertebrae

• 5 lumbar (lower back) vertebrae

• 5 sacrum (posterior pelvic girdle) vertebrae

• 4 coccyx (tail bone) vertebrae

How many Cervical Vertebrae?

7 cervical (neck) vertebrae

How many Thoracic Vertebrae?

12 thoracic (chest) vertebrae

How many Lumbar Vertebrae?

5 lumbar (lower back) vertebrae

How many Sacral Vertebrae?

5 sacrum (posterior pelvic girdle) vertebrae

How many Coccyx Vertebrae?

4 coccyx (tail bone) vertebrae

First 2 cervical vertebrae

shapes allow for extensive rotary movements of head to side, as well as forward & backward movement

3 normal curves within moveable spine

• Thoracic spine curves anteriorly

• Cervical & lumbar spine curve posteriorly

• Spinal curves enable it to absorb blows & shocks

Vertebrae increase in size from

cervical to lumbar region due to lower back having to support more weight

First 2 cervical vertebrae are called?

atlas & axis

Vertebrae C2 through L5 - similar architecture

• body - anterior bony block

• central vertebral foramen for spinal cord

• transverse process projecting out laterally

• spinous process projecting posteriorly

Atlas

(first cervical vertebra), superior view

Axis

(second cervical vertebra), superior view

Cervical vertebrae

Thoracic vertebrae

Lumbar vertebrae

Lordosis

increased posterior concavity of lumbar & cervical curves

Kyphosis

increased anterior concavity of thoracic curve

Lumbar kyphosis

reduction of normal lordotic curve, resulting in a flat-back appearance

Scoliosis

lateral curvatures or sideward deviations of spine