Anatomy Lecture 2: Vertebral Column, Spinal Chord, And Meninges

Front 1

Functions of the Vertebral Column

Back 1

1) Protect spinal chord
2) Support skull
3) Has attachments for ribs, muscles, and ligaments.

Front 2

Primary Curvatures of Vertebral Column

Back 2

Present at birth, concave anteriorly. Found in thoracic and sacral region.

Front 3

Secondary Curvatures

Back 3

Develop after birth, convex anteriorly.
Found in cervical and lumbar region.

Front 4

Kyphosis

Back 4

Exaggerated thoracic curvature.

Front 5

Lordosis

Back 5

Exaggerated lumbar curvature

Front 6

Scoliosis

Back 6

Abnormal lateral curvature of vertebral column.

Front 7

Location and Function of Vertebrate Body

Back 7

Anterior, supports wight of body.

Front 8

Location and Function of Vertebral Arch

Back 8

Posterior, protects spinal chord

Front 9

Vertebral Foramen

Back 9

Made from the vertebral body and arch.Where neural structures pass through.

Front 10

Pedicle

Back 10

2 processes which connect the vertebral body to the lamina.

Front 11

Lamina

Back 11

2 flattened processes which connect the pedicles to the spinal processes.

Front 12

Superior and Inferior Vertebral Notches

Back 12

Superior formed by body and superior articular, inferior formed by pedicles; when stacked, create spaces which allow structures to pass into the internal spaces of the vertebral column.

Front 13

Superior and Inferior Articular Processes

Back 13

2 of each per vertebrate. Have smooth facet to allow interface with other process. Interface creates Zygoapophyseal joint.

Front 14

Zygoapophyseal Joint

Back 14

Formed by interface of superior and inferior articular processes. Gives mechanical support, prevents slippage, and permits specific movements. Is a synovial joint.

Front 15

Cervical Vertebrae Characteristics
(Body, Spinous Process, Transverse Process, Articular Processes/Facets Plane, Rotation Limited)

Back 15

-Small body
-Bifid spinous process
-Transverse processes are short and gutted shaped. Have anterior/posterior tubercles and a transverse foramen.
-Articular Processes/Facets are in horizontal plane
-No Rotation inhibited

Front 16

Anterior/Posterior Tubercles

Back 16

Groves on the ends of cervical transverse processes.

Front 17

Transverse Foramen

Back 17

Foramen in transverse process of cervical vertebrae. Where vertebral artery passes from CV6 up to CV1 to brain. Artery does not pass through CV7.

Front 18

Uncovertebral Joint

Back 18

Found at interface of cervical bodies, especially laterally. Not always found but unique to cervical vertebrae.

Front 19

Thoracic Vertebrae Characteristics
(Body, Spinous Process, Transverse Process, Articular Processes/Facets Plane, Rotation Limited)

Back 19

-Large, heart-shaped bodies
-Spinous processes are long, triangular, and bent downwards
-Transverse process has costal facets. Vertebrae also have superior and inferior costal facets. Where ribs connect to spine.
-Articular Processes/Facets in vertical plane
-Limit extension

Front 20

Costal Facets

Back 20

Where ribs connect to spine. Found in thoracic vertebrae.

Front 21

Lumbar Vertebrae Characteristics
(Body, Spinous Process, Transverse Process, Extra processes Articular Processes/Facets Plane, Rotation Limited)

Back 21

-Large, bean-shaped body
-Short, thick spinous process
-Short, think transverse process
-Has mammilary process and accessory process
-Articular processes/facets in medial plane
-Rotation limmited

Front 22

Sacral Vertebrae Characteristics

Back 22

-All vertebrae are fused
-Have anterior/posterior sacral foramen which allow passage of neural elements (act as intervertebral foramen).
-Vertebral canal becomes sacral canal.
-Has sacral hiatus where sacral canal ends.

Front 23

Mammillary Process

Back 23

Extra process on the superior articular process of the lumbar vertebrae. For attachments of muscles.

Front 24

Accessory Process

Back 24

Extra process on the transverse process of the lumbar vertebrae. For Attachment of muscles.

Front 25

Intervertebral Foramen

Back 25

Spaces on both sides formed by pedicles when vertebrae are stacked. Allow passage of neural elements. Found in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae.

Front 26

Intervertebral Joint Components

Back 26

Cartilage plate between disk and bone and intervertebral disk.

Front 27

Intervertebral Disk Components and Function

Back 27

Nucleus pulposus - Watery in center of disk. Shock Absorber.
Anullus Fibrosis - Fibrous outer layer which contains contents of disk.

Front 28

Capsular Ligament

Back 28

Encapsulates zygapophysial joint.

Front 29

Synovial Joint

Back 29

Has a cartilage structure between bones filled with synovial fluid. Fluid lubricates cartilage and allows gliding of joints.

Front 30

Anterior Longitudinal Ligament

Back 30

Runs on anterior surface of vertebrae bodies from CV1 to sacrum. Limits hyper extension.

Front 31

Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

Back 31

Runs on posterior surface of vertebrae bodies within vertebral canal from CV2 to sacrum. Broadens over intervertebral disks and narrows over vertebral bodies.

Front 32

Ligamentum Flavum

Back 32

Yellow ligament in vertebral canal connecting the lamina of adjacent vertebrae. Extends from midline to articular processes. Very Strong. Start at level of CV2-CV3.

Front 33

Ligamentum Nuchae

Back 33

Upward extension of supraspinous ligament from spinous process of CV7 to external occipital protuberance. Midline structure serves for attachment of muscles. Inhibits extreme flexion.

Front 34

Supraspinous Ligament

Back 34

Strong fiborous chord connecting spinous processes from CV7 to Sacrum Midline structure serves for attachment of muscles. Inhibits extreme flexion.

Front 35

Interspinous Ligaments

Back 35

Connect adjacent spinous processes.

Front 36

Intertransverse Ligaments

Back 36

Connect adjacent transverse processes.

Front 37

CV1 - Atlas

Back 37

-No spinous process or body
-Has anterior and posterior arches -Widest vertebra, supports occipital condyles of skull on its superior articular process facet.
-Has a wide vertebral foramen to accomidate Dens of CV2

Front 38

CV2 - Axis

Back 38

-Strongest cervical vertebra
-Has Dens/odontoid process - prjection from body which is rotational point of skull
-Dens is held in place by transverse ligament of atlas.

Front 39

Transverse Ligament

Back 39

Extend between superior articular processes of CV1. Holds Dens against anterior arch of CV1. Prevents Dens from compressing spinal chord.

Front 40

Occipital Condyles

Back 40

Facets on occipital bone of skull which rest on superior articular process fact of Atlas.

Front 41

Alar Ligament

Back 41

Connect Dens to Occipital Condyle.

Front 42

Cruciform Ligament

Back 42

Composed of transverse ligament along with longitudinal fibers.

Front 43

Tectorial Ligament/Membrane

Back 43

Continuation of posterior longitudinal ligament which connects to occipital bone.

Front 44

Vertebra Prominens

Back 44

CV7. Has a very long spinous process which can be palpated from the skin.

Front 45

Numbering of Spinal Nerves

Back 45

First spinal process goes above CV1. Therefore, cervical nerves are named for the bones below them until last one is C8.
After that, all others named after bone above them.

Front 46

Do spinal nerves lengthen or shorten going caudally down the spine?

Back 46

Lengthen because the spinal chord becomes farther from from its corresponding vetebral entrances.

Front 47

Ventral Root

Back 47

Motor Neurons. Cell bodies located in grey matter of ventral horn.

Front 48

Dorsal Root

Back 48

Sensory Neurons. Unipolar. Cell bodies located in dorsal root ganglion.

Front 49

Dermatome

Back 49

Areas of sensation on skin supplied by a single spinal segment.

Front 50

Myotome

Back 50

Area of skeletal muscle innervated by a single spinal segment.

Front 51

Which spinal nerve has no cutaneous branch?

Back 51

C1

Front 52

Spinal Nerve Proper

Back 52

Formed from dorsal and ventral roots. Divides into dorsal (smaller) and ventral (larger) rami.

Front 53

Conus Medullaris

Back 53

Tapered caudal end of the spinal chord. Found between LV1-2.

Front 54

Cauda Equina

Back 54

Bundle of nerves caudal to the Conus Medullaris which look like the tail of a horse.

Front 55

Filum Terminale

Back 55

Fibrous tissue that extends caudally from the Conus Medullaris to the end of the subarachnoid space/dura sac at SV2. Continues as coccygeal ligament.

Front 56

3 Spinal Chord Membranes (Meninges) and additional protective layer.

Back 56

(From inside out) Pia Matter, Arachnoid, and Dura Matter.
Also surrounded by Epidural Fat which has many veins.

Front 57

Denticulate Ligaments

Back 57

Outer folding of Pia matter. Help anchor spinal chord to inner aspect of dura. Also separate the dorsal and ventral roots.

Front 58

Where is cerebrospinal fluid located?

Back 58

In the subarachnoid space.

Front 59

Anterior Spinal Artery

Back 59

Once vertebral arteries join each other inside skull, one pair merge, descend and become Anterior Spinal Artery.

Front 60

Posterior Spinal Artery

Back 60

Once vertebral arteries join inside skull, 2 branch off, descend, and become the Posterior Spinal Artery.

Front 61

Dura Matter

Back 61

Tough outer covering of spinal chord, seperated from arachnoid layer by thin subdural space. Attached to the coccyx through coccygeal ligament. Fuses to spinal nerves at intervertebral foramen.

Front 62

Arachnoid Membrane

Back 62

Seperated from Pia by subarachnoid space where cerebrospinal fluid is located. Is a delicate, spiderweb structure.

Front 63

Pia Matter

Back 63

Innermost layer covering spinal chord. Forms denticulate ligaments which anchor the spinal chord to the dura matter. Also forms the filum terminale which becomes the coccygeal ligament.

Front 64

Coccygeal Ligament

Back 64

Dura extension of the filum terminale which anchors the spinal chord to the coccyx.