Anatomy of the Vertebral Column

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What is the posteriorly projecting piece of bone attached to the body of the vertebrae called?
Pedicle (left and right)
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What is the name of the bone which continues on from the pedicles to meeting the middle?
Lamina
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What is the name of the long bony protuberance which points posteriorly?
The spinous process
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What is the name of the beaches of bone pointing out from either pedicle?
Transverse processes
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What are the 2 downward projecting and 2 upward projecting protuberances of bone from the lamina?
The articular processes (superior and inferior)
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How many cervical vertebrae are there?
7
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What are the distinct features of cervical vertebrae?
Small body (not much weight), bifid spinous processes, wide vertebral canal
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How many thoracic vertebrae are there?
12
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What are the distinct features of the thoracic vertebrae?
Heart shaped bodies, articular areas of transverse processes, long spinous process which is directed inferiorly
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How many lumbar vertebrae are there?
5
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What are the distinct features of lumbar vertebrae?
Large kidney shaped body, short square spinous process,
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How many vertebrae are fused in the sacral region of the vertebral column?
5
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Why can the bodies of the sacral vertebrae decrease in size as you travel inferiorly?
They transmit forces to the hip bones through the sacroiliac joints
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Where are there no vertebral disks in the vertebral column?
The sacral region and between atlas and axis
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What type of joint is the intervertebral disk?
Secondary cartilaginous
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What is the name of the fibrous rings which make up a section of the intervertebral disk?
Annulus fibrosis
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What is the name of the centrally located structure within the vertebral disk?
Nucleus pulposis
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What % of the length of the vertebral column do the intervertebral disks make up?
25%
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What are the name of the small synovial joints which allow the vertebrae to articulate with each other?
Zygapophyseal joints
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What are the zygapophyseal joints between?
The articular facets of adjacent vertebrae
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What type of joints are the zygapophyseal joints?
Synovial plane joints so allow gliding movements
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What changes about the zygopophyseal joints as you travel inferiorly?
The orientation moves more horizontally
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What is the name of the spinal curvature which curves posteriorly and where are these found?
Kyphosis, thoracic and sacral
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What is the name of the spinal curvatures which curve anteriorly and where are these found?
Lordosis, cervical and lumbar
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When and why are spinal curvatures formed?
early months of life due to bone and disk formation
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What are the functions of the spinal curvatures?
Hold your head over centre of gravity, absorbs shock forces to protect the brain
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Why does the lumbar lordosis become more pronounced during pregnancy?
The excess weight pulls the vertebral column and therefore line of gravity forwards so the centre of gravity moves out of the body, the lumbar lordosis therefore gets bigger to help counteract this move in centre of gravity
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What is the name of the ligaments which run down the anterior and posterior surfaces of the vertebral bodies?
Longitudinal ligaments (anterior and posterior)
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What is the difference between the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments?
Anterior is broad and attaches to the bodies providing support to anterior part of vertebral disks, posterior is thinner and provides less support to the intervertebral disks
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What is the name of the ligament which can be seen on the posterior of the vertebral column and attaches to the lamina f adjacent vertebrae?
Ligamentum flavum
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What is a characteristic of the ligament flavum?
It is elastic so can be stretched and return to its origin shape
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What is the function of the nucleus pulposis?
Puts the annulus fibrosis under tension even when the vertebral column isn't under load so that the vertebrae are held apart and in alignment
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If a region of the vertebral column was compressed due to extension of vertebral column what would happen to the nucleus pulposis?
It would shift anteriorly
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What would happen if we didn't have a nucleus pulposis?
the vertebral column would have to move more before the ligaments of the ligamentum flavum were put under tension meaning the column would be more mobile and less stable
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What types of forces do the disks and ligaments resist?
Disks- compression Ligaments- tension
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What are movements between adjacent vertebrae guided by?
The zygopphyseal joints
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What is the name of the group of muscles which keep the spine erect?
Erector spinae
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What is the name of the muscle which originates from the lumbar vertebrae and when it contracts flexes/ laterally flexes the vertebral column?
Psoas major
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What is the name of the square shaped lateral flexor muscle which runs from pelvis to lowest rib?
Quadratus lumborum
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What is the most superficial abdominal muscle called and where does it run from and to?
Rectus abdominus (ribcage to pubic bone)
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What is the name of the most superficial oblique muscle and what direction does its fibres run in?
External oblique and inferomedially
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What is the name of the muscle beneath external oblique and in what direction do its fibres run?
Internal oblique and superomedially
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What is the name of the deepest abdominal wall muscle and in what direction do its fibres run in?
Transversus abdominus and almost horizontally
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is the name of the bone which continues on from the pedicles to meeting the middle?

Back

Lamina

Card 3

Front

What is the name of the long bony protuberance which points posteriorly?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is the name of the beaches of bone pointing out from either pedicle?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What are the 2 downward projecting and 2 upward projecting protuberances of bone from the lamina?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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