Vertebral Column Anatomy & Bone Structure w/ Matching & Labeling (RAD 1101)

The vertebral column has 2 functions:

(1.) support (at the head) and (2.) protection (serves as attachment for ribs, heart, and lungs)

The vertebral column occupies the

midportion of the ___________ _____, the posterior portion of the _______, ________ and _______.

posterior neck, thorax, and abdomen & pelvis

How many bones and what type of bones compose the vertebral column?

33 irregular shaped bones

The 33 vertebrae are separated into _____ true vertebrae meaning they are not fused together

24

The 33 vertebrae are separated into _____ false vertebrae meaning they are fused together

9

The ______ and ______ are a part of the false vertebrae

sacrum and coccyx

The cervical vertebrae has ____ vertebra

7

The cervical vertebrae is located in the _______

neck

The thoracic vertebrae has ____ vertebrae

12

The thoracic vertebrae is located in the _______

posterior chest

The lumbar vertebrae has ____ vertebrae

5

The lumbar vertebrae is located in the _________

lower posterior back

The sacrum vertebrae has ____ vertebrae

5 fused

The sacrum vertebrae is located in the ________

pelvis

The coccyx vertebrae has ____ vertebrae

4 fused

The coccyx vertebrae is located in the _________

pelvis

kyphotic curve

posterior curve (concave)

lordotic curve

anterior curve (convex)

At birth, the vertebral column has only 2 curves. What type of curve is it and where are they located at?

both kyphotic curves; at the thoracic and pelvic

The __________ lordotic curve begins to form when a child lifts its head

cervical

The __________ lordotic curve begins to form when a child learns to walk

lumbar

An adult has 4 curves when viewed from the lateral aspect. The lordotic curve is at the _______ and ________.

cervical and lumbar

An adult has 4 curves when viewed from the lateral aspect. The kyphotic curve is at the _______ and ________.

thoracic and sacrum-coccyx

Structures Of A Typical Vertebrae

Lateral View of A Typical Vertebrae

body (anterior portion)

block shape of the anterior aspect that increases in size as you go down the vertebral column and supports the weight of the vertebrae above it

pedicle

part of the vertebral arch that is posterior to body of the vertebrae on the lateral aspect

lamina

part of the vertebral arch that is posterior to the pedicle and unites in midline to complete the arch/foramen

vertebral notches

curved areas on superior and inferior surface of the pedicle helps to form the interverbal foramen

spinous processes

sharp pointed process that projects posteriorly and extends from junction of lamina in midline and is the only process that is palpable

transverse processes (2)

extending laterally at junction of pedicle and lamina (goes across)

superior articular processes (2)

extend upward at the junction of pedicle and lamina

inferior articular processes (2)

extend downward at the junction of pedicle and lamina

vertebral foramen

opening is posterior to the body and formed by pedicle, lamina, and the body and is used to transmit and protect the spinal cord

intervertebral foramen

formed by vertebral notches of pedicles between vertebrae and transmits spinal nerves

zygapophyseal joint (apophyseal or interarticular joints)

formed by the articulation between the superior and inferior articulating processes

Breakdown of Apophyseal Joint (zygapophyseal or interarticular joint)

What type of joint is the zygapophyseal joints (apophyseal or interarticular joints)?

diarthrodial joint (gliding)

intervertebral joint

located between the bodies of the vertebrae acting as cushions between each one

articular cartilage

part of the intervertebral joint as a layer of cartilage that covers the surface of the upper and lower vertebral body

intervertebral disk

part of the intervertebral joint consisting of the annulus fibrosis and nucleus pulposus

annulus fibrosis

part of the intervertebral disk as a layer of fibrous tissue and cartilage that forms a pad between the vertebral bodies

nucleus pulposus

center of the annulus fibrosis that is soft pulpy, highly elastic substance

Motion in the spine is somewhat limited between the vertebrae known as an _____________ joint

ampiarthrodial

What motion is the complete spine capable of?

rotation, flexion, and extension

The complete spine is a _________ joint

diarthrodial

Cervical Vertebrae

lordotic or anterior curve and has the greatest flexion

The cervical vertebra has ____ vertebrae

7

C-2 through C-6

bifid spinous process

bifid spinous process

the split in the back of the process of C-2 through C-6

C-1 through C-7

transverse foramina

transverse foramina

transmits the vertebral artery to the brain of C-1 through C-7

C-1

very first bone in the vertebral column is the circle of bone

C-1 is also known as the _________

atlas

C-1 contains/composed of:

- lateral mass (2)

- arch (2)

- transverse processes (2)

- articulating processes (4)

- tubercle (2)

- transverse foramina (2)

- no body or spinous process

lateral mass of C-1 (2)

on each side (right and left) of the arch under the superior articulating process

arch of C-1 (2)

anterior and posterior

anterior arch of C-1

narrow arch for placement of the odoentoid process

posterior arch of C-1

large arch for spinal cord to go through

transverse processes of C-1 (2)

on each side

articulating processes of C-1 (4)

2 inferior and 2 superior

tubercle of C-1 (2)

posterior and anterior

There is NO __________ or ___________ of the C-1 (atlas)

body or spinous process

TRUE/FALSE: The atlas has a body and spinous process in its bone structure

false

What acts as the body for C-1?

C-2 (axis)

C-1 joints include:

- atlantoocipital joint

- atlantaoaxial or atlantoepistropheal joint

atlantoocipital joint

joint between C-1 and skull that helps flexion and extension (bending head back and forth)

atlantaoaxial or atlantoepistropheal joint

joint between C-1 and C-2 that helps side to side rotation of the head

C-2

forms body of C-1

Another name for C-2 is ________ ( __________ or ____________)

axis or epistropheus or axial

odontoid process (dens)

apart of C-2 that are the "tooth"-like projects superiorly and fits into the anterior arch of C-1

Another name for odontoid process is ________

dens

C-7

prominent to spinous process and can be palpated

Another name for C-7 is _____

vertebral prominens

cervical rib

apart of C-7 that is the transverse process that continues to grow anteriorly and sometimes attaches to the sternum

Thoracic Vertebrae

kyphotic or posterior curve (concave)

The thoracic vertebra has ____ vertebrae

12

The thoracic vertebra contains/is composed of:

- facets on body of vertebrae

- facets on transverse processes

- spinous processes

facets on body of thoracic vertebrae

on each side of the body that articulates with the head of the rib

facets on thoracic transverse processes

on each side that articulates with tubercles of ribs (only T1-T10)

spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae

point/project inferiorly and are long

Thoracic vertebrae joints include:

- costalvertebral joint

- costaltransverse joint

costalvertebral joint

towards front of thoracic vertebrae that attaches the head of the rib

costaltransverse joint

towards back of thoracic vertebrae that attaches the tubercle of the rib

Lumbar Vertebrae

lordotic or anterior curve that is the weightbearing bone of the spine

The lumbar vertebrae are __________ bones

weightbearing

The lumbar vertebra has ____ vertebrae

5

The lumbar vertebrae is the _________ of the true vertebrae

largest

There is NO ________ or __________ of the lumbar vertebrae

facets or transverse foramina

Sacrum

located in the pelvic region

The sacrum has ____ ______ vertebrae which is one solid bone

5 fused

The 24 other vertebrae _________ on the sacrum

rest

The sacrum is _________ shaped

triangular

base of sacrum

broader part at the top

apex of sacrum

peak part at the bottom

The sacrum consists/is composed of:

- sacral promontory

- superior articular process

- body

- lateral masses

- ala

- 16 sacral foramina

- sacral canal

- sacral crest

- cornu

sacral promontory

prominent anterior edge of the body of the SI

superior articular process of sacrum

articulates with L5

body of sacrum

main portion of 5 fused bodies in midline

lateral masses of sacrum

fused transverse processes lateral to the foramina