Vertebral Column MCVSD (PowerPoint)

							Vertebral Column

  By: Alex Bond, Rob
   DeSanctis, Athina
   Krimitzi and Maria
              Spinosi
Name the Parts of
   the Vertebral
          column
Spine

• 5 regions
• Function: axial
  support for the
  body and
  balance
• Protect spinal
  cord
• Flexible motion
• Also known as
  vertebral
Cervical Vertebrae

• 7 cervical
  vertebrae
• Identified as
  C1-C7
• First 2 are
  called atlas and
  axis because
  they perform
  different
  functions
Thoracic

• Larger than
  cervical
  vertebrae
• Articulate to ribs
• T1-T12
Lumbar

• L1-L5
• Massive block-
  like bodies
• Short-hatchet
  shaped spinous
  process
• Sturdiest
Sacral

• Fusion of 5
  vertebrae
• Ala connects to
  hip
• Forms pelvic
  posterior wall
• Superior to coccyx
• It is between the
  two hip bones
  connecting the
  spine to the pelvis
• Ends the vertebral
Coccyx

• Tailbone
  – Fusion of 3-5
    irreglar
    invertabrae
  – Remnant of the
    tail that other
    vertebrae
    animals have
   Explain how the
cervical, thoracic,
        and lumbar
   vertebrae differ
 from one another
Cervical

• Neck region
• Protects the brain stem and the
  spinal cord
• Supports the skull
• Very mobile
  – Is responsible for movement of the
    head
  – Allows for a wide range of
    movement
Thoracic

• Thoracic cavity
• Rib attachments and longer
  spinous processes add to the
  thoracic strength
• These structures make the
  thoracic spine more stable and
  larger than the cervical or lumbar
  regions
Thoracic

• Distinguished because they are
  the only vertebrae to articulate
  with the ribs
• The spinous process is long and
  hooks sharply downward
• The rib cage and ligament system
  limit the thoracic spine’s range of
  motion and protects vital organs.
Lumbar

• Lower back
• Larger range of motion than the
  thoracic, less than the cervical
• Joints allow for significant flexion
  and extension movement but
  limits rotation
Lumbar

• Have massive blocklike bodies
• Short hatchet shaped spinous
  processes
• Because they have the most
  stress, they are sturdiest
     Discuss the
  importance of
  intervertebral
discs and spinal
      curvatures
Intervertebral Discs

• Pads of flexible
  fibrocartilage
  which separate
  individual
  vertebrae                      QuickTime™ and a
                       TIFF (Un compressed) decompressor
                          are neede d to se e this picture.

  – Cushion
    vertebrae,
    absorb shocks,
    allow for spine
    flexibility
Changes in Discs
                                          • Structure changes
                                            with age
                                            – In a young person,
                                              ~90% is water
                                               • Spongy and flexible
           QuickTime™ an d a
  TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor          – Water content
     are need ed to see this p icture .
                                              decreases with age,
                                              discs become harder
                                              and less
                                              compressible
                                            – More susceptible to
                                              herniated, or
                                              “slipped”, discs
Curvatures

• Discs and S-shaped structure prevent shock
to the head when we walk or run, make the
body flexible
• Primary             • Secondary
  – Curvatures of the     – Curvatures of cervical
    thoracic and sacral     and lumbar regions
    regions               – Develop after birth
  – Present at birth      – Allow us to center body
                            weight on lower limbs
     • C-shape of a
       newborn               • Cervical - Baby begins to
                               raise head
                             • Lumbar - Baby begins to
                               walk
          QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Un compressed) decompressor
   are neede d to se e this picture.
 Identify the joints
that connect bones
   of the vertebral
            column
  Facet Joints
• Each vertebra has two sets of facet
  joints. One pair faces upward
  (superior articular facet) and one
  downward (inferior articular facet).
• There is one joint on each side
  (right and left).
• Facet joints are hinge–like and link
  vertebrae together.
• They are synovial joints.
   – This means each joint is surrounded
     by a capsule of connective tissue and
     produces a fluid to nourish and
     lubricate the joint.
• The joint surfaces are coated with
  cartilage allowing joints to move or
  glide smoothly articulate against
  each other.
Lumbo-sacral Joints
  • Special joint between S1
    and L5
  • The lumbosacral region of
    the spine consists of 5
    lumbar vertebrae and the
    sacrum (5 bones joined
    together).
  • The sacral segment is
    inclined anteriorly and
    inferiorly forms an angel
    with the horizontal called
    the lumbo-sacral angle
  Explain how the
  abnormal spinal
 curvatures differ
from one another
Scoliosis, Lordosis & Kyphosis
• Scoliosis
  – a sideways
    curvature of the
    spine. These
    curves are often
    S- or C-shaped.
• Lordosis
  – inward curve of the
    lumbar spine (just
    above the
    buttocks).
• Kyphosis
  – outward curve of
    the thoracic
    spine (at the
    level of the ribs)
Video!

• http://www.spineuniverse.com/anat
  omy/spinal-anatomy-animation
References

• http://www.coloradospineinstitute
  .com/subject.php?pn=anatomy-
  spinalregions14
• http://rebuildhealth.com/casestud
  y2.html
• http://www.spineuniverse.com/an
  atomy/facet-joints-spine-
  anatomy
• http://www.spineuniverse.com/an
  atomy/spinal-anatomy-animation
• A&P Textbook