The Vertebral Column

Flashcards covering the anatomy and function of the vertebral column.

Vertebral Column Function

Supports body weight & thorax, transmits forces, provides flexibility & support for head & upper limbs, protects nervous system.

The Vertebral Column consists of a series of ___ vertebrae

which includes ___ separate vertebrae and ___ fused vertebrae

33 vertebrae

24 – separate vertebrae = are mobile

• 7 cervical

• 12 thoracic

• 5 lumbar

9 — fused vertebrae

• 5 sacral = fused together to form wedge-shaped sacrum

• 4 coccygeal = fused together to form coccyx

There are ____ separate vertebrae AND includes?

24 – separate vertebrae = are mobile

• 7 cervical

• 12 thoracic

• 5 lumbar

there are ___ Fused Vertebrae which includes?

9 fused vertebrae:

• 5 sacral = fused together tp form wedge-shaped sacrum

• 4 coccygeal = fused together to form coccyx

The three main regions of the vertebral column (spine) are the ___

cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions.

Function & Characteristic — Vertebra Body

Characteristic:

• Block shaped structure

• Forms anterior part of the vertebra

• Get progressively larger and thicker from cervical region down to the lumbar region

Function:

• Main weight bearing part

  

Posterior Vertebral Arch — Function & Characteristic

Characteristic:

• ring shaped structure

• Forms the posterior part of the vertebra

Function:

• Protects the spinal cord and cauda equina, attachment for ligaments and muscles.

• Attachment for ligaments and muscles

Vertebral Arch consists of?

Pedicles (short bony struts, sticks out from posterior part of vertebral body)

Lamina (sheets/ plates project medially from the right and left pedicles, each meet in the midline to complete the bony arch

together forms a bony opening called Vertebral Foramen

Vertebral Foramen is formed by ___ , articulated to form _____

Bony opening formed by the vertebral arch, articulates to form vertebral canal.

• Contains spinal cord, chord aquina and spinal meninges

  

Projection out from Vertebral Arch has number of Processes: (3)

1. R & L Superior and Inferior Articular Processes

2. R & L Transverse Processes

3. Single Spinous Process

R & L Superior and Inferior Articular Processes — Explain

• Projects upwards and downwards from junction of the pedicle and lamina

• Has an oval-shaped articular surface in their ends that forms the zygoporphisal joints

R & L Transverse Processes — Explain

• Projects laterally outwards from the junction of the laminate and the pedicles

• Serves as the attachment point for both ligaments and muscles of the spine

• Thoracic region also contains small articular surface which forms parts of the joints with the ribs

Spinous Process — Explain; projection

• projects backwards from the midline

• Cheify for the attachment of ligaments and muscles

Vertebral Notch — location, articulation forms?

Location:

• From side viewe there is a notch below the area where pedicles come off the upper part of vertical body

when articulated with the vertebral below the notch becomes a hole = intervertebral foramen

Cervical Vertebrae (C1-C6) has an opening in the Transverse Process called ___?

called: Transverse Foramen

• only found in cervical vertebrae

• contains the vertebral artery

what are the Upper two cervical vertebrae that is highly specialized, to accommodate movement of the head

1. Atlas (C1)

2. Axis (C2)

Atlas (C1)

• Ring-shaped

• has 2 lateral masses connected by an anterior and posterior arch

• No vertebral body articulates with occipital condyles.

Axis (C2)

• Has a peg/tooth-like projection that extends superiorly from vertical body called Odontoid (DENS) process

• Each side has a large oval-shaped L& R superior articular surface, articulation with atlas above

Sacrum

Single wedge-shaped, five fused sacral vertebrae.

Cervical Vertebrae Characteristics

Short square-shaped vertebral body, bifid spinous process, transverse foramen.

Thoracic Vertebrae Characteristics

• Characterized by superior and inferior articulations on posterior vertebral bodies for the ribs

• Articular surface on the transverse process for the tubecel of the rib

  

• Has spinous process thats long, slender and downwards

• Smaller circular-shaped vertebral foramen

Lumbar Vertebrae Characteristics

• Large thick vertebral bodies = due to increased weight bearing requirements in lumbar spine

• thick pedicles and lamina = for added strength

• triangular vertebral foramen.

• Long thick transverse processes (except for L5) = (larger than thoracic region) = to accommodate lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord

• Spinal processes are more square and projects straight backwards

Sacrum and Coccyx bones location

Located at the inferior end of the vertebral column 

Sacrum — explain

• shape

• formed by?

• articulations

• shape: Triangular wedge shaped, narrower apex pointed downwards formed from first 4 Fused Sacral Vertebrae

• formed by 5 fused vertebrae (S1-S5) and connects the spine to the hip bones, providing stability and support.

• S1 articulates with the L5 vertebra above Sacral Promontory

  

Sacrum — Sacral Foramina

• 4 openings

• allows the passage of the ventral and dorsal rami of S1-S4 spinal nerves

Sacrum — Auricular Surface

• two L & R L-shaped articular surfaces

• articulate w/ adjacent hip bone from L & R sacroiliac joints

Coccyx bone — explain

• articulated by?

• fused by

• characterized by?!

• articulated by fibrocartilaginous disc

• 4 fused Coccygeal Vertebrae

• characterized by Vertebral Foramen absense