Vertebral Column & Thoracic Cage - Lab 11

Anatomy and Physiology Lab

Vertebral column encloses and protects ______

The spinal cord

How many bones are found in an adult vertebral column? ____

26 bones

What are the cartilaginous pads found between the vertebrae called? ___

intervertebral discs

From superior to inferior, name the types of vertebrae.

Cervical

Thoracic

Lumbar

Sacral

Coccygeal

Which of the above vertebrae are present in the neck region?

cervical vertebrae

Which of the above vertebrae articulate with the ribs to form a cage?

thoracic vertebrae

Which of the above vertebrae are the largest and strongest?

lumbar vertebrae

Which of the above vertebrae are part of the pelvic girdle?

sacral vertebrae

As compared to an adult, how many curves are found in a newborn vertebral column?

1

What are the key characteristics of a cervical vertebrae?

C1-C7, small and lightweight, have transverse foramina.

What are the key characteristics of a thoracic vertebrae?

T1-T12, medium-sized, have costal facets for rib articulation, long, downward-pointing spinous process

What is special about C1 and C2

they are special for head movement

What are the key characteristics of a lumbar vertebrae?

L1-L5, largest and strongest, thick vertebral bodies, short, sturdy spinous processes for weight-bearing

While ___ passes through foramen of the vertebrae, ____ through

intervertebral foramen.

the spinal cord; spinal nerves pass

The thoracic cage is composed of the ______, _______, and _______.

sternum, thoracic vertebrae, and ribs

Name, anterior attachment, posterior attachment: ribs 1-7

Vertebrosternal ribs/true ribs

direct to sternum (own costal cartilage)

Thoracic vertebrae

Name, anterior attachment, posterior attachment: ribs 8-12

False ribs

n/a

n/a

Name, anterior attachment, posterior attachment: ribs 8-10

Vertebrochondral/false

indirect via rib 7 cartilage

Thoracic vertebrae

Name, anterior attachment, posterior attachment: ribs 11 and 12

Floating ribs

none

T12 vertebra

Based on their shape, the sternum and ribs are classified as _____ bones.

flat bones

Name two organs protected by the thoracic cage.

heart and lungs

What bones, besides the ribs, articulate with the sternum?

clavicles

Describe the region of the vertebral column that is affected:

Scoliosis

lateral curvature, ususally in the thoracic region

Describe the region of the vertebral column that is affected:

Kyphosis

Exaggerated posterior curvature of the thoracic region

Describe the region of the vertebral column that is affected:

Lordosis

Exaggerated anterior curvature of the lumbar region

Identify the 4 curves of the Vertebral Column

Cervical

Thoracic

Lumbar

Sacral

what is vertebrae?

individual bones of the spine

what is the vertebral canal?

is formed by aligned vertebral foramina; which contains the spinal cord

What is an intervertebral disc?

cartilage pads between vertebrae that absorbs shock

What are intervertebral foramen?

openings between adjacent vertebrae for spinal nerves

What are the different markings of the vertebral column?

Vertebrae

Vertebrae canal

Intervertebral disc

Intervetebral foramen

What are typical vertebrae?

irregular bones

Identify the centrum/body of typical vertebra

weight-bearing portion

Identify the lamina of typical vertebra

posterior part of vertebral arch

Identify the pedicles of typical vertebra

it connects the body to vertebral arch

Identify the spinous process of typical vertebra

the posterior projections for muscle attachment

Identify the transverse process of typical vertebra

lateral projections for muscle attachment

What are superior and inferior articular facets of typical vertebra?

they form joins with adjacent vertebrae

Identify the Vertebral foramen → Vertebral canal

opening for spinal cord → forms vertebral canal

What vertebrae are the cervical vertebrae?

C1-C7

What is special about C1 (Atlas)?

No centrum, ring-shaped, transverse foramen

What is special about C2 (Axis)?

Has dens (odontoid process), transverse foramen

Features of C3–C6?

Small centrum, bifid spinous process, transverse foramen

What is C7 called?

Vertebra prominens

What vertebrae are thoracic?

T1–T12

What vertebrae are lumbar?

L1–L5

Key features of thoracic vertebrae?

Long spinous process angled inferiorly, rib facets

Key features of lumbar vertebrae?

Largest centrum, broad flat spinous process

What is the sacrum?

5 fused sacral vertebrae

What are transverse fusion lines?

Lines showing where the 5 sacral vertebrae fused.

What are the sacral ala?

Wing-like lateral projections of the sacrum.

What is the sacral canal?

Continuation of the vertebral canal through the sacrum.

What are the anterior and posterior sacral foramina?

Openings for spinal nerves and blood vessels.

What is the coccyx made of?

4 coccygeal vertebrae fused into 1–2 bones.

What is the thoracic cage?

Sternum + ribs + thoracic vertebrae.

What type of bone is the sternum?

Flat bone

What are the three parts of the sternum?

Manubrium, body, xiphoid process.

What type of bones are ribs?

Flat bones.

Where do ribs articulate posteriorly?

With thoracic vertebrae.

Where do ribs articulate anteriorly?

With sternum, other ribs, or not at all

What are intercostal spaces?

Spaces between ribs

What is costal cartilage?

Cartilage connecting ribs to sternum