w12 vertebral column + C-spine

how many true vertebrae are there

24

which sections of the spine are known as true vertebrae

cervical, thoracic, lumbar

how many cervical vertebrae are there

7

how many thoracic vertebrae are there

5

how many fused vertebral segments are there (opposite of true vertebrae)

9

what sections of the spine are known as fused segments

sacral, coccygeal

how many sacral vertebrae are there

5

how many coccygeal vertebrae are there

3-4

describe the curves of the spine in the fetal stage

concave anteriorly; primary curve

describe the curves of the spine into infancy and adulthood

secondary curvatures develop that are convex anteriorly

which sections of the spine are primary curves

thoracic, sacral/coccygeal

which sections of the spine are secondary curves

cervical, lumbar

describe the curvatures of the spine in the elderly stage

secondary curves start to disappear, primary curve of the upper back becomes pronounced to make a hunchback

describe kyphosis

exaggerated concave curvature of the thoracic spine; hunchback

causes of kyphosis (3)

old age, osteoporosis, trauma

describe lordosis

abnormal curvature of the lumbar spine; causes swayback deformity

causes of lordosis (3)

old age, osteoporosis, trauma

describe scoliosis

lateral S shape curve of the spine (primarily in the thoracic spine)

shape of the vertebral body

short cylinder

structure of the body

spongy bone surrounded by cortical bone

describe the body superior and inferior surfaces

roughened for intervertebral disc attachment

what are the pedicles (structurally)

short rounded bony processes

where are the pedicles located

project backwards from the vertebral body

on an AP radiograph, what do the pedicles look like

oval

what are laminae

flat plates of bone

where are laminae found

extend from pedicles to join at midline

which directions do laminae project

posteriorly and medially

what structure do laminae form at midline

spinous process

what are the transverse processes

bony projections from the junction of the pedicle and lamina

role of transverse processes

attachment site of longitudinal ligaments and muscles

what are spinous processes

projections from midline

what are spinous processes formed by

fusion of the laminae

what is another term for the vertebral arch

neural arch

where is the vertebral/neural arch found

posterior to the vertebral body

what structures form the vertebral arch

pedicles, laminae

within the body, what structure does the vertebral arch form

vertebral foramen

what structure passes through the vertebral foramen

spinal cord

list the two articular processes found on each vertebra

superior, inferior

where are the superior and inferior articular processes found

project superiorly and inferiorly from the junction of the pedicle and lamina

what structures are found on the superior and inferior processes

facets

what direction does the superior facet face

posteriorly

what direction does the inferior facet face

anteriorly

what does the superior articulating facet articulate with

the inferior articulating facet of the vertebra above it

name the joint of the superior and inferior articular facets (2 names)

zygapophyseal, apophyseal

what type of joint are zygapophyseal joints

synovial plane joints

what are articular pillars

vertebral column of bone between the superior and inferior articular processes on both sides of the spine

where are the articular pillar and zygapophyseal joints located

lateral and posterior to the vertebral bodies

role of articular pillars

support the spine

what is the intervertebral foramina

small hole formed by the superior and inferior vertebral notches of adjacent vertebrae

what structure anteriorly borders the intervertebral foramina

vertebral body and disc

what structure posteriorly borders the intervertebral foramina

zygapophyseal joint

role of intervertebral foramina

passageway for spinal nerves and blood vessels exiting from the spinal cord

structure of intervertebral discs

circular pad of fibrocartilage; outer fibrous ring surrounding an inner gelatinous layer

what type of joint is the intervertebral disc

symphysis

in the cervical spine from c3-c7, there is another type of joint. name this

uncovertebral joint

describe uncovertebral joints

on the top left and right edges of the body are raised ridges of bone which articulate with the inferolateral edge of the body above it

to form uncovertebral joints, on the top left and right edges of the cervical vertebral body are raised ridges of bone. what are these called

uncinate processes

role of uncovertebral joints

provide stability and mobility during movement, limit lateral movement of cervical vertebrae

what is this

body

what is this

pedicles

what is this

laminae

what is this

transverse process

what is this

spinous process

what is the red circle

vertebral foramen

what is this

articular pillar

what is this

intervertebral foramina

which C vertebrae are the typical ones

3-6

describe the body of a typical c vertebrae

more wide than deep

body size for c vertebrae

small

neural arch size for c vertebrae

large

neural foramen shape for c vertebrae

triangular

describe the spinous process of c spine (2)

short, bifid

size of transverse processes of c spine

short

c spines have small foramen. what are these called

foramen transversarium

role of foramen transversarium

vertebral arteries go through these

what direction is the intervertebral foramina (2)

face 45 degrees from the midsagittal plane, 15 degrees inferiorly from the horizontal plane

what direction do the zygapophyseal joints point

inferiorly from anterior to posterior

what is c1 called

atlas

shape of the atlas

ring shaped

describe the sizes of the anterior and posterior arches of the atlas

anterior is smaller, posterior is larger

what feature does each arch of the atlas contain

small tubercle

what does the posterior tubercle of the atlas represent

underdeveloped spinous process

what surface feature does the anterior arch of the atlas have

small articular facet

the anterior arch of the atlas has a small articular facet. what is this for

the odontoid/dens of c2

describe the transverse processes of the atlas

longer than other c vertebrae

role of transverse processes of the atlas

act as levers for muscles that turn the head

what surface feature is found on either side of the arches on the atlas

lateral masses

superiorly, what do the lateral masses of the atlas articulate with

the base of the skull (occipital bone)

the lateral masses of the atlas articulate superiorly with the occipital bone of the skull. what joint is this

atlanto-occipital

inferiorly, what do the lateral masses of the atlas articulate with

superior facets of c2

the lateral masses of the atlas articulate inferiorly with the superior facets of c2. what joint does this form

atlanto-axial

what structure is located within the vertebral foramen of the atlas

transverse ligament

where is the transverse ligament of the atlas located

divides the vertebral foramen into anterior and posterior halves

the transverse ligament divides the vertebral foramen into anterior and posterior halves. what does the anterior part hold

the dens of c2

the transverse ligament divides the vertebral foramen into anterior and posterior halves. what does the posterior part hold

the spinal cord

what is c2 called

the axis

T or F: there is no intervertebral disc between c1 and c2

true

what special feature does c2 have

has the odontoid

what is another term for the odontoid of c2 (2)

peg, dens

structurally, what is the odontoid of c2

large finger-like process