Vertebral Column and Body Wall Vocabulary - 70 Flashcards

70 vocabulary flashcards covering planes, directions, movements, vertebral anatomy, and spinal vasculature

Median plane

The midsagittal plane that passes through the body's midline and divides it into equal left and right halves.

Sagittal plane

A vertical plane parallel to the median plane that divides the body into left and right portions.

Frontal (coronal) plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.

Transverse (axial) plane

A horizontal plane that divides the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) parts.

Superior (cranial)

Toward the head or upper part of a structure.

Inferior (caudal)

Toward the feet or lower part of a structure.

Anterior (ventral)

Toward the front of the body.

Posterior (dorsal)

Toward the back of the body.

Proximal

Closer to the trunk or to the point of origin.

Distal

Farther from the trunk or from the point of origin.

Superficial

Nearer to the surface of the body.

Intermediate

Between superficial and deep structures.

Deep

Farther from the surface; inner.

Dorsal surface (dorsum)

Back surface of the hand or foot.

Palmar surface (palm)

The palm of the hand surface.

Plantar surface (sole)

The sole of the foot.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline; toward the outer sides.

Extension

Straightening of a joint; increasing the angle between parts.

Flexion

Bending a joint; decreasing the angle between parts.

Abduction

Movement away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

Movement toward the midline of the body.

Medial rotation

Rotation toward the midline of the body.

Lateral rotation

Rotation away from the midline of the body.

Supination

Forearm rotation that turns the palm upward or forward.

Pronation

Forearm rotation that turns the palm downward or backward.

Opposition

Movement of the thumb across the palm to touch another finger.

Reposition

Returning the thumb to the anatomical position after opposition.

Circumduction

Circular movement combining flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.

Lateral bending

Sideways bending of the trunk or neck.

Inversion

Turning the sole of the foot inward.

Eversion

Turning the sole of the foot outward.

Dorsiflexion

Flexion of the foot toward the shin.

Plantarflexion

Pointing the toes downward; extension of the ankle.

Cervical lordosis

Secondary inward curvature of the cervical spine.

Thoracic kyphosis

Primary outward curvature of the thoracic spine.

Lumbar lordosis

Secondary inward curvature of the lumbar spine.

Sacral kyphosis

Posterior curvature of the sacral region.

Spinous process

Posterior bony projection of a vertebra.

Transverse process

Lateral bony projection of a vertebra.

Vertebral arch

The ring surrounding the vertebral foramen; composed of pedicles and laminae.

Vertebral body

The thick, anterior portion of a vertebra bearing weight.

Pedicle

Stout bony bridge connecting the vertebral body to the arch.

Lamina

Part of the vertebral arch between the transverse and spinous processes.

Superior articular facet

Facet on a vertebra that articulates with the vertebra above.

Inferior articular facet

Facet on a vertebra that articulates with the vertebra below.

Intervertebral foramen

Opening between adjacent vertebrae for spinal nerve exit.

Intervertebral disc

Cartilaginous disc between adjacent vertebral bodies.

Nucleus pulposus

Inner gel-like core of the intervertebral disc.

Anulus fibrosus

Outer fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc.

Epiphysial rim

Edge of the vertebral end plate.

Zygapophysial joint

Facet (apophyseal) joint between vertebrae.

Ligamentum flavum

Ligament uniting adjacent laminae in the vertebral column.

Posterior longitudinal ligament

Ligament running along the back of the vertebral bodies inside the canal.

Anterior longitudinal ligament

Ligament running along the front of the vertebral bodies.

Interspinous ligament

Ligament between adjacent spinous processes.

Supraspinous ligament

Ligament running along the tips of spinous processes.

Spinal nerve

Mixed nerve formed by dorsal and ventral roots that exits via the intervertebral foramen.

Dorsal (posterior) root

Afferent (sensory) root of a spinal nerve.

Ventral (anterior) root

Efferent (motor) root of a spinal nerve.

Spinal ganglion

Dorsal root ganglion: cluster of sensory neuron cell bodies.

Denticulate ligament

Pia mater extensions that tether the spinal cord laterally.

Cauda equina

Bundle of spinal nerve roots in the lumbar cistern.

Epidural space

Fat-filled space between the dura mater and the bones of the vertebral canal.

Internal vertebral (epidural) venous plexus

Venous network inside the vertebral canal.

Basivertebral veins

Veins within the vertebral body.