Osteology- vertebral column Q&A

1)

1.1) what are the curvatures of the vertebral column?

1.2) what is the order of appearance of these curvatures?
1.3) what are the functions of the vertebral curves?

2)

2.1) Describe the typical cervical vertebra

2.2) list the atypical cervical vertebrae
2.3) discuss the atypical features of these vertebrae

3)

3.1) discuss the features of typical thoracic vertebrae

3.2) what are the articular facets present in thoracic vertebrae?
3.3) list the structures articulating with the above facets

4)

4.1) Describe the features of a typical lumbar vertebra

4.2) list the features that enable it to bare weight

5)

Describe the general structure of the human sacrum

6)

Compare the human thoracic and lumbar vertebrae

7)

7.1) what is the composition of the vertebral column

7.2) what are the two pathological conditions associated with the curvatures
of the spine

Answers
1) 1.1)
Two primary curvatures and two secondary curvatures
primary curves are convex posteriorly
secondary curves are concave posteriorly
Primary curvatures (2) thoracic curvature
Sacral curvature
Secondary curvatures (2) Cervical curvature
Lumbar curvature
1.2) Primary curves are present at birth
1st secondary curve or the cervical curve appears at 3-4 months when infant
raises the head
2nd secondary curve appears at 8 months when the infant raises the trunk
1.3) helps to effectively transmit the weight of the body
1st secondary curve keeps head upright
2nd secondary curve keeps trunk upright

2) 2.1) key identification criteria

presence of a transverse foramen on the transverse process
body is oval with the long axis on the transverse axis, very much reduced.
Superior surface concave and lateral margins are raised.
pedicle is short and project backward from postero-lateral aspects of the body.
Laminae are long and rectangular
Spinous processes are short and bifid
Transverse processes are less prominent and a foramen is present on them,
the transverse
foramen. This foramen transmits vertebral
arteries and veins. Have anterior and posterior
tubercles.
Vertebral foramen is large and triangular as the spinal cord is thickest in the
cervical region
2.2) 1st cervical vertebra or atlas
2nd cervical vertebra or axis
7th cervical vertebra or vertebra prominence
2.3) Atlas
no body, consists of two lateral masses connected by an anterior and
posterior arch.
Body represented by the dens of the axis.
Laminae and pedicle form the posterior arch.

Anterior and posterior arches have tubercles on the crests, the anterior
tubercle on the anterior
arch and posterior tubercle on posterior arch.
2.3) contd.
superior side of the posterior arch has two grooves behind the lateral masses
for the vertebral
arteries. (Identification criteria)
The anterior arch has a facet on the posterior surface for articulation with the
articular facet of
the dens of the axis. (Identification criteria)
Superior articulator facets are large and oval and face superior-medially and
articulate with the
occipital condyles of the skull.
Inferior articulator facets are comparatively smaller, flattened and round.
Medial projection from the lateral masses provide attachment transverse
ligament.
Transverse processes are longer and the transverse foramina are more
laterally placed.
Axis
presence of a dens on the antero-superior surface. (Identification criteria).
Dens articulate with the articular facet on the posterior surface of the anterior
arch of atlas.
Pedicle is thick and is covered by the superior A.F which is facing superior
dorsally and is slightly
convex.
Vertebra prominence
long non-bifid spinous process. (Identification criteria)
Absence of an anterior tubercle on the transverse process.

3) 3.1)