anatomy - neuro > Vertebrae > Flashcards

Vertebrae Flashcards

(52 cards)

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1
Q

what are the 5 regions of the vertebral column?

A
  • 7 cervical
  • 12 thoracic
  • 5 lumbar
  • 5 sacral
  • 4 coccygeal
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2
Q

which vertabrae are fused to form what structures in adults?

A
  • the 5 sacral vertebrae are fused in adults to form the sacrum
  • the 4 coccygeal vertebrae are fused to form the coccyx
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3
Q

what are the structural differences of the vertebrae in different regions related to?

A
  • the size/structure is related to how much body weight they need to carry
  • ie the vertebrae reach the max size towards the sacrum
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4
Q

what is the lumbosacral angle?

A

this is located at the junction of the lumbar region of the vertebral colum and sacrum

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5
Q

what are the 2 main curvatures of the spine?

A
  • thoracic and sacral curvatures - Kyphoses - concaves anteriorly
  • cervical & lumbarcurvatures (lordoses) concave posteriorly
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6
Q

what are primary curvatures?

give example

A

curvatures that develop during the fetal period
eg thoracic and sacral

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7
Q

why is the presacral region of the vertebral column so flexible?

A

consists of vertebrae that are joined together via intervertebral (IV) discs

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8
Q

what does a typical vertebrae consist of?

A
  • vertebral body
  • vertebral arch
  • 7 processes
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9
Q

what is the function of the vertebral body?

A
  • gives strength to the vertebral column & supports body weight
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10
Q

what is the vertebral arch formed from?

A

the left and right pedicles & lamina

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11
Q

what are the pedicles?

A

they are short, stout processes that join the vertebral arch to the vertebral body

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12
Q

what do the pedicles project posteriorly to come into contact with?

A

they project posteriorly to come into contact with laminae ( 2 broad pieces of flat bone)

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13
Q

what does the **succession of the vertebral foramen form **& what does it contain ?

A

forms the **vertebral canal **- which contains the spinal cord, meninges, spinal nerve roots and vessels

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14
Q

what are the vertebral notches?

A

they are indentations formed by the projection of the body & articular processes

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15
Q

what 7 processes arise from the vertebral arch of a typical vertebra?

A
  • one median spinous process projects posteriorly
  • 2 transverse processes projecting posterolaterally
  • 4 articular processes - 2 superior & two inferior
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16
Q

what do the 4 articular processes contain?

A

an **articular surface - facet **

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17
Q

what do the spinous process & 2 transverse processes provide attachment for?

A
  • they project from the vertebral arch and provide attachments for deep back muscles - serving as levers in moving the vertebrae
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18
Q

which are the atypical vs typical vertebrae of the cervical region of the vertebral column?

A
  • atypical - **C1 (atlas) **& C2 (Axis) AND C7
  • typical - C3-C6
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19
Q

Describe the regional characteristics of the typical cervical vertebrae

ie C3-C6

A
  • small and wide vertebral body
  • large and traingular vertebral foramen
    also have transverse foramina
  • superior facets directed superoposteriorly
  • IV discs are thick
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20
Q

what is the function of the cervical region?

A

supports the weight of the head

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21
Q

Describe the characteristics of C1 (atlas)

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A
  • no spinous process & no body
  • ring like
22
Q

what does the concave superior articular facet of C1 articulate with & as a result what joint does these 2 structures form?

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A
  • articulates with the occipital condyle
  • called the atlantooccipital joint
23
Q

what does the inferior articular facet of the C1 vertebrae articulate with ? and what joint does it form as a result?

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A
  • articulates with the superior facet of C2 (the axis)
  • forms the atlantoaxial joint
24
Q

Describe the characteristics of C2 (axis)

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A
  • strongest cervical vertebra
  • has a distinctive ‘dens’ or the otontoid process
  • the spinous process attaches to the nuchal ligament - a unique ligament in the cervical spine
25
what 2 cervical vertebrae contribute to 50% of cervical rotation?
* C1 - atlas * C2 - axis
26
what is occipitalisation of the atlas?
* abnormality that occurs at the base of the skull * results in a narrower foramen magnum * therefore can compress the spinal cord or brain stem
27
what are the regional characteristics of the thoracic vertebrae?
* body is larger * smaller vertebral foamen * spinous process is long and fairly thick they contain articular facets for the ribs
28
Describe the regional characteristics of the lumbar vertebrae
* largest body * the spinous process is large and blunt * missing articular facets for ribs 1 vertebral foramen
29
what is spina bifida?
* congenital disorder * the laminae of L5 and or S1 fail to develop normally and fuse
30
what are IV discs & what is their function?
* they are strong attachments between vertebral bodies that permit movement between adjacent vertebrae * also act as shock absorbes
31
what are zygopophysial joints?
joinst between the superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae
32
what is a clinical point about the uncovertebral joints?
* they are frequent sites of spur formation (projecting processes of bone) - causing neck pain
33
what is the anterior longitudinal ligament?
* a strong, broad, fibrous band that covers & connects the anterolateral aspects of the vertebral bodies and IV discs
34
what are the 2 parts of the anterior longitudinal ligament?
* superficial - bridge between vertebrae * deep - short, between each vertebrae
35
what is the posterior longitudinal ligament ?
* much** narrower and somewhat weaker band** than the ALL * the ligament runs** within the vertebral canal** along the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies * **from C2- sacrum** * the** short fibres attach to the IV disc**
36
what are the 3 accessory ligaments of the vertebral column?
1. interspinous ligament 2. intertransverse ligament 3. ligamentum flavum
37
Describe the ligamenta flava | structure, function
* yellow elastic fibrous tissue * connects laminae of the adjacent vertebrae * helps to preserve posture travels from C2-sacrum
38
Describe the intertransverse ligament along the different regions of the spine ## Footnote ie cervical, thoracic, and lumbar
* cervical - scattered / irregular fibres * thoracic- form more distinct bands - blend with muscle * lumbar - well developed but thin
39
what is the transverse ligament?
* located in the atlas * strong band anchoring dens to ring of atlas * provides C1 and C2 with stability
40
Describe the cruciate ligament
* together the transverse ligament and the longitudinal bands form the cruciate ligament
41
Describe the **atlanto-occipital joint**
* located between the **lateral masses of C1 (atlas) and the occipital condyles ** * permit nodding of the head * ie flexion and extension of the head
42
Describe the atlanto-axial joint
* there are 3 joints * 2 median AAJ for rotation movement * 1 lateral AAJ for gliding movement
43
what is a jefferson fracture?
* fracture of C1 * main mechanism is by placing a bar or weight on shoulders
44
what are odontoid fractures?
* fractures of C2 * mainly due to trauma * unstable fracture - may need surgical intervention * can happen via hyperextension, hyperflexion etc
45
what is hangmans fracture?
* bilateral fracture of C2 * common mechanism - hyperextension, axial loading , contact sports etc
46
what is a clinical marker of C spine trauma?
prevertebral soft tissue swelling (PSTS)
47
what blood vessels are the vertebrae supplied by? | think of layers of dura matter - outer layer name
* the periosteal and equatorial branches of the major cervical and segmental arteries and their spinal branches
48
what are the 2 spinal venous plexus' ?
* internal vertebral epidural venous plexus * external vertebral venous plexus
49
what are the basivertebral veins?
* form within the vertebral bodies, emerge from the foramina and drain into both venous plexuses
50
what is the vertebral column innervated by?
* meningeal branches of the spinal nerves * some of the meningeal branches run back into the IV foramen (recurrent) and some dont * the ones that stay outside the canal innervate the ALL * recurrent branches supply the ligamenta flava etc
51
describe the arterial supply of the vertebrae
-anterior spinal artery -posterior spinal arteries - x2 -segmental arteries
52
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