Vertebral Column Lecture – Fill-in-the-Blank Flashcards

A set of fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering vertebral anatomy, curvatures, ligaments, joints, and related clinical conditions.

The human skeleton contains a total of _ bones.

206

The axial skeleton includes the skull, vertebrae, ribs, and .

sternum

The appendicular skeleton is composed of the and girdles.

limbs

A curvature that is concave anteriorly is called .

kyphosis

A curvature that is concave posteriorly is called .

lordosis

Cervical and lumbar regions exhibit a normal curvature.

lordotic

Thoracic and sacral regions exhibit a normal curvature.

kyphotic

There are cervical vertebrae in the human spine.

7

There are thoracic vertebrae in the human spine.

12

There are lumbar vertebrae in the human spine.

5

The sacrum is formed by fusion of sacral vertebrae.

5

The coccyx is typically formed by fusion of up to coccygeal vertebrae.

4

Facet joints are also known as joints.

zygapophysial

Intervertebral joints are classified structurally as .

symphyses

The outer fibrocartilaginous ring of an intervertebral disc is the .

annulus fibrosus

The inner gel-like core of an intervertebral disc is the .

nucleus pulposus

The nucleus pulposus is embryologically derived from the .

notochord

The annulus fibrosus originates from the portion of somites.

sclerotome

The ligament that limits spinal extension along the anterior surface of vertebral bodies is the ligament.

anterior longitudinal

The ligament that runs within the vertebral canal and limits spinal flexion is the ligament.

posterior longitudinal

The elastic ligament connecting adjacent laminae is the .

ligamentum flavum

The ligament connecting the tips of spinous processes is the ligament.

supraspinous

Typical cervical vertebrae possess a spinous process.

bifid

Cervical transverse processes contain a for passage of the vertebral artery.

transverse foramen

Atlas (C1) lacks a vertebral .

body

The odontoid process (dens) projects upward from the vertebra.

axis (C2)

The atlanto-occipital joint primarily permits and extension of the head.

flexion

The atlanto-axial complex consists of one median and two joints.

lateral

Thoracic vertebrae have facets on their bodies for articulation with ribs.

costal (hemifacets)

Ribs 1–7 are termed ribs because they attach directly to the sternum.

true

Ribs 8–10 are termed ribs because they attach indirectly via cartilage.

false

Ribs 11 and 12 are termed ribs because they lack sternal attachment.

floating

Sacral flexion is also referred to as .

nutation

Exaggerated lumbar lordosis can result from tight muscles.

hip flexor (psoas/iliacus) muscles

Age-related compression fractures of thoracic vertebrae can lead to excessive .

kyphosis

Loss of bone mass and deterioration of trabecular architecture characterize .

osteoporosis

An abnormal lateral curvature of the spine greater than 10° is termed .

scoliosis

Most cases of scoliosis are classified as in origin.

idiopathic

Damage to the annulus fibrosus can lead to herniation of the pulposus.

nucleus

The synovial capsule surrounding a facet joint is called the ligament.

facet capsulary