Lecture 5- AXIAL SKELETON and VERTEBRAL COLUMN FLASHCARDS

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Q: How many bones are in the adult vertebral column?

A: 26 bones

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Q: Breakdown of vertebral column bones?

A:

• 7 cervical

• 12 thoracic

• 5 lumbar

• 1 sacrum (5 fused)

• 1 coccyx (3–5 fused)

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Q: Main functions of the vertebral column?

A:

• Protect spinal cord

• Support skull

• Support head, neck, trunk

• Transfer weight to lower limbs

• Maintain upright posture

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Q: Four spinal curves?

A: Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral

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Q: Which curves are PRIMARY (before birth)?

A: Thoracic & Sacral

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Q: Which curves are SECONDARY (after birth)?

A: Cervical & Lumbar

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Q: When does cervical curve develop?

A: When infant lifts/holds head

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Q: When does lumbar curve develop?

A: When infant stands/walks

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Q: Direction of curves?

A:

• Cervical → anterior

• Thoracic → posterior

• Lumbar → anterior

• Sacral → posterior

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Q: Function of spinal curves?

A: Balance, posture, shock absorption, weight distribution

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Q: Parts of a typical vertebra?

A: Body, vertebral arch, spinous process, transverse processes, articular processes

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Q: Vertebral body function?

A: Weight bearing

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Q: Vertebral arch formed by?

A: Pedicle + Lamina

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Q: Vertebral foramen?

A: Opening for spinal cord

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Q: Vertebral canal?

A: Formed by stacked vertebral foramina; houses spinal cord

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Q: Spinous process?

A: Posterior projection you can feel on back

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Q: Transverse processes?

A: Lateral projections for muscle attachment

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Q: What connects vertebrae together?

A: Articular processes + facets

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Q: Intervertebral disc function?

A: Shock absorption

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Q: Intervertebral foramen?

A: Opening where spinal nerves exit

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Q: Two parts of disc?

A: Nucleus pulposus + Annulus fibrosus

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Q: Nucleus pulposus?

A: Gel-like center; absorbs shock

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Q: Annulus fibrosus?

A: Outer fibrous ring

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Q: Are discs vascular?

A: No — avascular; get nutrients via osmosis

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Q: What is a herniated disc?

A: Nucleus pushes through annulus → compresses nerve

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Q: Causes of intervertebral foramen occlusion?

A: Herniation, arthritis, tumor, lesions

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Q: Number of cervical vertebrae?

A: 7

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Q: Function of cervical vertebrae?

A: Support head

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Q: Spinous processes in cervical vertebrae?

A: Bifid (split) except C1 & C7

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Q: Unique feature of cervical vertebrae?

A: Transverse foramina

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Q: What passes through transverse foramina?

A: Vertebral vessels

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Q: Name of C1?

A: Atlas

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Q: Does atlas have a body?

A: No

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Q: Motion of atlas?

A: “YES” nodding

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Q: Why is C1 largest vertebral foramen?

A: Spinal cord largest near brain

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Q: Atlas articulates with?

A: Occipital condyles of skull

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Q: Name of C2?

A: Axis

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Q: Unique structure of axis?

A: Dens (odontoid process)

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Q: Motion of axis?

A: “NO” head rotation

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Q: Function of transverse ligament?

A: Holds dens against atlas

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Q: What is C7 called?

A: Vertebra prominens

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Q: Why is C7 important?

A: Long palpable spinous process

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Q: Ligament attached to C7?

A: Ligamentum nuchae

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Q: Number of thoracic vertebrae?

A: 12

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Q: Main feature of thoracic vertebrae?

A: Rib articulation

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Q: T1–T8 facets?

A: Superior & inferior costal facets

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Q: T9–T12 facets?

A: One costal facet

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Q: Spinous process direction?

A: Points inferiorly

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Q: Number of lumbar vertebrae?

A: 5

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Q: Function of lumbar?

A: Support body weight

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Q: Vertebral body size?

A: Large

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Q: Spinous process direction?

A: Posterior

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Q: Sacrum made of?

A: 5 fused vertebrae

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Q: Sacrum joints?

A: Lumbosacral, sacroiliac, sacrococcygeal

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Q: Coccyx made of?

A: 3–5 fused vertebrae

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Q: Male coccyx direction?

A: Points anteriorly

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Q: Female coccyx direction?

A: Points inferiorly

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Q: Functions of thoracic cage?

A: Protection + muscle attachment

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Q: True ribs numbers?

A: 1–7 (vertebrosternal)

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Q: False ribs numbers?

A: 8–12

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Q: Vertebrochondral ribs?

A: 8–10

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Q: Floating ribs?

A: 11–12

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Q: Parts of a rib?

A: Head, neck, body, tubercle, angle, costal groove

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Q: Parts of sternum?

A: Manubrium, Body, Xiphoid process

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Q: Jugular notch location?

A: Superior sternum