Radiographic Procedures 2 (155) Vertebral Column

Vertebral column

• encloses and protects spinal cord

• supports trunk and skull

• provides muscle attachments

• centered in the MSP and posterior

• regions:

  • cervical vertebrae (7)

  • thoracic vertebrae (12)

  • lumbar vertebrae (5)

  • sacral vertebrae (5 bodies fused together)

  • coccygeal vertebrae (3-5 bodies fused together)

Curvatures

• cervical - lordotic (convex anteriorly)

• thoracic - kyphotic (concave anteriorly)

• lumbar - lordotic (convex anteriorly)

• pelvic - kyphotic (concave anteriorly)

• lordotic curves convex anteriorly

• kyphotic curves concave anteriorly

Kyphosis

abnormally increased anterior concavity (posterior convexity) in the thoracic curvature

Lordotic

abnormally increased anterior convexity (posterior concavity) of the cervical and lumbar spine

Scoliosis

lateral deviation of the spine with possible vertebral rotation

Intervertebral disks

• cushions between disks/vertebrae

• composed of:

  • annulus fibrosis - outer, fibrocartilaginous disk

  • nucleus pulposus - central, soft mass

Typical vertebra

• body

• vertebral arch; formed by 2 pedicles and 2 laminae

  • body and arch form the vertebral foramen

• 2 pedicles; project from posterior part of body

  • bottom is concave to form vertebral notches

• 2 inferior and 2 superior notches; articulation of notches form intervertebral foramina

• 2 laminae; project posteriorly and medially from pedicles

• 2 transverse processes; projects laterally and slightly posteriorly from junction of laminae and pedicles

• 1 spinous process; projects posteriorly and inferiorly from junction of both laminae

• pedicles and laminae support 4 (superior and inferior) articular processes, transverse processes, and one spinous process

Articular processes

• 2 inferior and 2 superior

• arises from junction of pedicles and laminae

• articulate with vertebrae above and below to form zygapophyseal joints

Vertebral foramen

• serves as a protective passageway for the spinal cord, nerves, and blood vessels

• formed by the vertebral body and vertebral arch

Zygapophyseal joint

• also called interarticular facet joints'

• joints between articulation processes of vertebral arches

• synovial, gliding joint

• shown in:

  • Lateral C-spine

  • AP and PA oblique T-spine

  • AP and PA oblique L-spine

Intervertebral foramina

• space between vertebral notches of adjacent vertebrae

• shown in:

  • AP and PA oblique C-spine

  • Lateral T-spine

  • Lateral L-spine