• Structure consists of an outer, tough fibrocartilage disc filled with a gel-like material that functions as a shock absorber

• Located between the bodies of adjacent vertebra• Herniation of this can exert pressure on the

nearby spinal cord and/or spinal nerve, causing extreme pain and sometimes numbness and even paralysis

• Intervertebral disc

• The passageway formed by the vertebral foramina through which the spinal cord passes is called the ________

• Vertebral canal

• Blood supply to the brain (artery) passes through the _______

• Transverse foramina

• What passes through the intervertebral foramina?

• Spinal nerves

• Which vertebral curvature develops when a child begins to stand?

• Lumbar curvature

How many curvatures are in the vertebral column?

4

• The two large articular facets on the superior surface of the Atlas articulate with the _______

• Occipital condyles (of the skull)

• The dens of the Axis articulates with the _____

• Atlas

• The auricular surface of the sacrum articulates with the _____________.

• Ilium (of the hip bone)

• The head of the rib articulates with the ______

• Vertebral body of the thoracic vertebra

• The tubercle of the rib articulates with the _____

• Transverse process of the thoracic vertebra

• Ribs 1-7 are called “True ribs” because their anterior ends articulate with the ______

• Sternum

• Ribs 8-10 are called “False ribs.” Their anterior ends articulate with ________

• Rib 7

• Ribs 11 & 12 are called “Floating ribs” because their anterior ends articulate with _____.

• Nothing

• A life-threatening traumatic injury in which there are multiple fractures of two or more adjacent ribs and which results in paradoxical breathing is called _______

• Flail chest

• When performing a thoracentesis (chest tap), the needle should be inserted just above the superior edge of a rib to avoid laceration of the _______

• What is located in the costal groove of each rib?

• Costal artery

• Exaggerated thoracic curvature is called ____

• Kyphosis

• Exaggerated lumbar curvature is called _____

• Lordosis

• Lateral curvature of the vertebral column is called ________

• Scoliosis

• The spinous process of the C7 vertebra (cervical vertebra #7) is an important landmark for doctors and is called the ________

• Vertebra prominens

• Which part of the vertebral column moves forward when you sit down, thus acting as a shock absorber?

• Coccyx

• How many cervical vertebrae do humans have?

• 7

• How many thoracic vertebrae do humans have?

• 12

• How many lumbar vertebrae do humans have?

• 5

• Which curvature of the vertebral column develops when a baby holds it head up?

• Cervical curvature

• 1. cervical curvature• 2. thoracic curvature• 3. lumbar curvature• 4. sacral (pelvic) curvature• 5. vertebra prominens• 6. rib facet• 7. intervertebral disc• 8. intervertebral foramina• 9. sacrum• 10. coccyx• 11. cervical vertebrae• 12. thoracic vertebrae• 13. lumbar vertebrae

• 14. cervical vertebra• 15. thoracic vertebra• 16. lumbar vertebra• 17. bifid spinous process• 18. transverse foramen• 19. spinous process• 20. facet that articulates with rib tubercle• 21. lamina• 22. body• 23. pedicle

• 24. body• 25. transverse process• 26. vertebral foramen• 27. facet that articulates with rib head• 28. superior articular facet

• 29. Atlas• 30. Axis• 31. Dens of the Axis• 32. Occipital condyles (skull)• 33. Dens• 34. Dens• 35. Atlas

• 36. Sacrum• 37. coccyx• 38. Sacral promontory• 39. Sacral canal• 40. Auricular surface• 41. Ilium (hip bone)

• 42. true ribs• 43. false ribs• 44. floating ribs• 45. sternum• 46. manubrium• 47. body• 48. xiphoid process• 49. costal cartilage

• 50. rib tubercle• 51. shaft• 52. costal groove• 53. costal artery• 54. neck• 55. head

Review• What passes through each of these openings:• 1. Vertebral foramen – spinal cord• 2. Transverse foramen – arteries to the brain• 3. Intervertebral foramen – spinal nerve• 4. Sacral canal – spinal nerves and blood vessels

Review • Know the articulations (what connects with what):• With what does the superior articular facet on a vertebra, (and the

sacrum) articulate? The posterior articular facets of the vertebra above it.

• The facets on the superior aspect of the atlas? Occiptal condyles• The dens of the axis? Atlas• The auricular surface on the sacrum? Ilium (hip bone) • The tubercle of the rib? Transverse process of thoracic vertebra• The head of the rib? Vertebral body of thoracic vertebra• The anterior end of ribs 1-7? sternum• The anterior end of ribs 8-10? Rib 7• The anterior end of ribs 11-12? Nothing