Download VERTEBRAL COLUMN

VERTEBRAL COLUMN
Gross Anatomy
28 inches in length
 Medial border of scapula:

Runs parallel to vertebral column
Crosses ribs 2-7
Vertebral Column Regions
Cervical (7)
 Thoracic (12)
 Lumbar (5)
 Sacral (5)
 Coccygeal (3-4)

Primary Normal Curvatures
Present at birth
 Convex posteriorly
 Examples:

Thoracic
Sacral

Exaggeration:
Kyphosis
Secondary Normal Curvatures
Acquired later
 Concave posteriorly
 Examples:

Cervical
Lumbar

Exaggeration:
Lordosis
Curvatures
Scoliosis
 Spondylosis:

Refer to text: p 496
Intervertebral Articulations
 Disc
(symphysis)
 Synovial
 Sacroiliac:
Part synovial and part fibrous
 Costal
facets and demifacets
Disc (symphysis)
20-30% of length of the column
 Thicker in cervical and lumbar regions:

Greater flexibility

Thinner in thoracic region:
Reduced flexibility

Structure:
Annulus fibrosus (fibrocartilage)
Nucleus pulposus (avascular)
Synovial Joints
Plane joints
 No joint capsules
 Between superior and inferior articulating
facets:

Direction of motion determined by orientation
of facets
Motion Segment
Functional unit of the spine
 Consists of:

Two vertebrae
Intervening soft tissue
Anterior segment:
Two bodies, disc, longitudinal ligaments.
Posterior segment:
Two neural arches, apophyseal joints,
intervening ligaments.
Cervical Vertebrae

Transverse foraminae:
For vertebral arteries
Oblique articular facets
 C2-C6 spines usually bifid
 C7 = vertebra prominens
 C1 = atlas
 C2 = axis

Thoracic Vertebra

Have ribs attached:
Bicipital ribs:
To centrum
To transverse process
Centrum is heart-shaped
 Articular facets more horizontal
 Spinous processes longer and narrower

Typical Thoracic Vertebra

Has two costal demifacets on body:
Superior:
For articulation with head of own rib.
Inferior:
For articulation with head of inferior rib.

Has costal facets for tubercle of rib on
transverse process for own rib.
Atypical Thoracic Vertebrae

#1:
Complete costal for own rib.
Inferior costal demifacet on body for rib 2.

#10:
Complete costal facet on pedicel and body.
May have costal facet on transverse process.

#11, 12:
Costal facet on each pedicle.
No costal facets on transverse processes.
Lumbar Vertebra
Large, bulky centrum
 Broad spinous processes
 No rib articulations
 Articular facets are sagittal
 Mamillary processes:

On back rim of each superior articular
process.
Origins for multifidi.
Sacrum
Consists of 5 fused vertebrae
 Wing-like processes of each vertebra=

Alae
For attachment to ilium

Lip of body of first sacral vertebra =
Sacral promontory
Sacrum

Posterior crests:
Median crest:
Fused spinous processes
Intermediate crests:
Fused articular (zygopophyseal) processes
Lateral crests:
Fused transverse processes

Sacral hiatus