Vertebral column : viva questions and answers

 

Vertebral column 

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Definition:

The vertebral column, also known as the backbone or spine, is part of the axial skeleton which is formed by  a segmented series of bone: vertebrae separated by intervertebral discs

The vertebral column houses the spinal canal, a cavity that encloses and protects the spinal cord.

Number of vertebra form vertebral column: 33

Cervical vertebra : 7 , Thoracic vertebra : 12 , Lumbar vertebra : 5. Sacral vertebra: 5 , Coccygeal vertebra : 4

Function of vertebral column :

1.       It gives support to the trunk

2.       Provides articulation with ribs and pelvic bones

3.       Lodge and protects spinal cord

4.       Support and transmits body weight

Provides attachments of muscles and ligaments

Extension of the vertebral column:   From the skull to the apex of the coccyx

Content of vertebral canal:

From skull to lower border of the 1^st lumbar vertebra contain spinal cord , spinal meninges  and blood vessels

Below the lower border of 1^st lumbar vertebra : corda equina and filum terminalis (pia mater of meninges

What is corda equine ?

It is the bundle of nerve roots of lower lumbar, sacral and coccygeal spinal nerve  

Regions of vertebral column: it has four regions

Cervical region /Thoracic region/Lumbar region/Sacral region

Curvature of vertebra:

There are two types of curvature present in vertebral column  

Primary curvature: the concavity  of curvature is directed forward.  Primary curvature is present in thoracic and sacral region

 Secondary curvature : the convexity of curvature is directed forward. Secondary curvature is present in cervical and lumbar region

parts of vertebra 

Body and arch

Vertebral arches:

are formed by two pedicle, two lamina,

two superior articular process,

two inferior articular process,

 two transverse process and one spinal process 

Vertebral body :

It has six surfaces anterior , posterior , superior , inferior and two lateral surfaces .

two adjacent vertebral body is separated by intervertebral disc.

Intervertebral foramen : when two vertebrae articulate with each other the inferior vertebral notch of the vertebra above together with the superior vertebral notch of the vertebra below form intervertebral foramen

It is situated below the pedicle

Content : trunk of spinal nerve & vessels  

Intervertebral disc :

It is formed by fibrocartilage. It forms secondary cartilaginous joint which limited movement

Parts : it has outer annulus fibrosus & inner nucleus pulposus

 Number:

There are 23 discs in the human spine:

6 in the cervical region (neck),

12 in the thoracic region (middle back),

5 in the lumbar region (lower back).

Function of intervertebral disc:

·         The intervertebral disc functions to separate the vertebrae from each other

It acts as  shock-absorber

 

Difference between cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebra

Topic	Cervical	Thoracic	Lumbar
body	1. Smallest of all vertebra 2.Transverse measurement is greater than anterior posterior measurement 3.Superior surface is concave	1.Body is heart shaped 2.Anterior posterior measurement is greater than the transverse measurement 3. body bears costal facet	1.Body is big size and kidney shaped 2. Transverse measurement is greater than anterior posterior measurement 3. body is thick in front than behind
Transverse process	1.It is pierce by foramen transversarium 2.It has anterior and posterior root which is connected by costo-transverse bar	1. Big size face laterally and backwards  2. Each process bears a facet which articulate with numerically corresponding tubercle of rib	1. Thin and elongated 2. An accessory process is present at its posterior inferior process
Spinous process	Short , bifid and horizontal	It is directed downward and backward It is end with tubercle	It is quadrangular in shape and lies horizontally
Laminae	Long and narrow	Short , broad & thick	Short , strong and broad
Pedicle	Project laterally and backwards	Project directly backwards	Short and strong and project from postero-lateral aspect of the body
Superior articular process	Faces upwards and backwards	Faces upward, backward & laterally	Concave process face backward and medially
Inferior articular process	Faces downwards and forwards	Faces forwards, medially and downwards	Convex process faces forward and laterally
Vertebral foramen	Triangular in shape Large in proportion to the size of the body	Circular in shape Size is smaller	Triangular in shape Larger than thoracic vertebral but smaller than cervical vertebra
Special feature	Foramen transversarium	Costal facet present on  the body	Massive body Mamillary process is present at the posterior border of superior articular process