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64 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Functions of the Vertebral Column
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1) Protect spinal chord
2) Support skull 3) Has attachments for ribs, muscles, and ligaments. |
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Primary Curvatures of Vertebral Column
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Present at birth, concave anteriorly. Found in thoracic and sacral region.
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Secondary Curvatures
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Develop after birth, convex anteriorly.
Found in cervical and lumbar region. |
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Kyphosis
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Exaggerated thoracic curvature.
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Lordosis
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Exaggerated lumbar curvature
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Scoliosis
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Abnormal lateral curvature of vertebral column.
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Location and Function of Vertebrate Body
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Anterior, supports wight of body.
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Location and Function of Vertebral Arch
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Posterior, protects spinal chord
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Vertebral Foramen
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Made from the vertebral body and arch.Where neural structures pass through.
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Pedicle
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2 processes which connect the vertebral body to the lamina.
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Lamina
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2 flattened processes which connect the pedicles to the spinal processes.
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Superior and Inferior Vertebral Notches
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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.
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Superior and Inferior Articular Processes
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2 of each per vertebrate. Have smooth facet to allow interface with other process. Interface creates Zygoapophyseal joint.
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Zygoapophyseal Joint
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Formed by interface of superior and inferior articular processes. Gives mechanical support, prevents slippage, and permits specific movements. Is a synovial joint.
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Cervical Vertebrae Characteristics
(Body, Spinous Process, Transverse Process, Articular Processes/Facets Plane, Rotation Limited) |
-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 |
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Anterior/Posterior Tubercles
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Groves on the ends of cervical transverse processes.
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Transverse Foramen
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Foramen in transverse process of cervical vertebrae. Where vertebral artery passes from CV6 up to CV1 to brain. Artery does not pass through CV7.
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Uncovertebral Joint
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Found at interface of cervical bodies, especially laterally. Not always found but unique to cervical vertebrae.
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Thoracic Vertebrae Characteristics
(Body, Spinous Process, Transverse Process, Articular Processes/Facets Plane, Rotation Limited) |
-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 |
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Costal Facets
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Where ribs connect to spine. Found in thoracic vertebrae.
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Lumbar Vertebrae Characteristics
(Body, Spinous Process, Transverse Process, Extra processes Articular Processes/Facets Plane, Rotation Limited) |
-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 |
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Sacral Vertebrae Characteristics
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-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. |
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Mammillary Process
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Extra process on the superior articular process of the lumbar vertebrae. For attachments of muscles.
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Accessory Process
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Extra process on the transverse process of the lumbar vertebrae. For Attachment of muscles.
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Intervertebral Foramen
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Spaces on both sides formed by pedicles when vertebrae are stacked. Allow passage of neural elements. Found in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae.
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Intervertebral Joint Components
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Cartilage plate between disk and bone and intervertebral disk.
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Intervertebral Disk Components and Function
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Nucleus pulposus - Watery in center of disk. Shock Absorber.
Anullus Fibrosis - Fibrous outer layer which contains contents of disk. |
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Capsular Ligament
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Encapsulates zygapophysial joint.
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Synovial Joint
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Has a cartilage structure between bones filled with synovial fluid. Fluid lubricates cartilage and allows gliding of joints.
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Anterior Longitudinal Ligament
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Runs on anterior surface of vertebrae bodies from CV1 to sacrum. Limits hyper extension.
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Posterior Longitudinal Ligament
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Runs on posterior surface of vertebrae bodies within vertebral canal from CV2 to sacrum. Broadens over intervertebral disks and narrows over vertebral bodies.
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Ligamentum Flavum
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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.
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Ligamentum Nuchae
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Upward extension of supraspinous ligament from spinous process of CV7 to external occipital protuberance. Midline structure serves for attachment of muscles. Inhibits extreme flexion.
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Supraspinous Ligament
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Strong fiborous chord connecting spinous processes from CV7 to Sacrum Midline structure serves for attachment of muscles. Inhibits extreme flexion.
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Interspinous Ligaments
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Connect adjacent spinous processes.
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Intertransverse Ligaments
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Connect adjacent transverse processes.
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CV1 - Atlas
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-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 |
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CV2 - Axis
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-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. |
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Transverse Ligament
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Extend between superior articular processes of CV1. Holds Dens against anterior arch of CV1. Prevents Dens from compressing spinal chord.
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Occipital Condyles
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Facets on occipital bone of skull which rest on superior articular process fact of Atlas.
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Alar Ligament
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Connect Dens to Occipital Condyle.
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Cruciform Ligament
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Composed of transverse ligament along with longitudinal fibers.
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Tectorial Ligament/Membrane
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Continuation of posterior longitudinal ligament which connects to occipital bone.
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Vertebra Prominens
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CV7. Has a very long spinous process which can be palpated from the skin.
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Numbering of Spinal Nerves
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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. |
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Do spinal nerves lengthen or shorten going caudally down the spine?
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Lengthen because the spinal chord becomes farther from from its corresponding vetebral entrances.
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Ventral Root
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Motor Neurons. Cell bodies located in grey matter of ventral horn.
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Dorsal Root
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Sensory Neurons. Unipolar. Cell bodies located in dorsal root ganglion.
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Dermatome
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Areas of sensation on skin supplied by a single spinal segment.
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Myotome
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Area of skeletal muscle innervated by a single spinal segment.
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Which spinal nerve has no cutaneous branch?
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C1
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Spinal Nerve Proper
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Formed from dorsal and ventral roots. Divides into dorsal (smaller) and ventral (larger) rami.
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Conus Medullaris
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Tapered caudal end of the spinal chord. Found between LV1-2.
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Cauda Equina
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Bundle of nerves caudal to the Conus Medullaris which look like the tail of a horse.
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Filum Terminale
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Fibrous tissue that extends caudally from the Conus Medullaris to the end of the subarachnoid space/dura sac at SV2. Continues as coccygeal ligament.
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3 Spinal Chord Membranes (Meninges) and additional protective layer.
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(From inside out) Pia Matter, Arachnoid, and Dura Matter.
Also surrounded by Epidural Fat which has many veins. |
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Denticulate Ligaments
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Outer folding of Pia matter. Help anchor spinal chord to inner aspect of dura. Also separate the dorsal and ventral roots.
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Where is cerebrospinal fluid located?
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In the subarachnoid space.
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Anterior Spinal Artery
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Once vertebral arteries join each other inside skull, one pair merge, descend and become Anterior Spinal Artery.
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Posterior Spinal Artery
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Once vertebral arteries join inside skull, 2 branch off, descend, and become the Posterior Spinal Artery.
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Dura Matter
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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.
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Arachnoid Membrane
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Seperated from Pia by subarachnoid space where cerebrospinal fluid is located. Is a delicate, spiderweb structure.
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Pia Matter
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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.
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Coccygeal Ligament
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Dura extension of the filum terminale which anchors the spinal chord to the coccyx.
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