ANP 1106 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Pelvic Cavity, Toe, Flat Bone
6 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Anatomy and Physiology 1106
Notes: Lecture 4
Prof: J. Carnegie
Vertebral Column
➢ 33 bones of which 24 remain separate (allows for flexibility) and the remaining 9 fuse to
form composite bones (the sacrum and the coccyx), the spine is 70 cm long
➢ 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, ¾ coccyx
➢ 3 main functions:
o Weight-bearing
o Anchor for muscles and ligaments
o Protection of the spinal chord
➢ Curvatures allow for resilience and flexibility
o Cervical and lumbar: concave
o Thoracic and sacral: convex
Supporting elements of the vertebral column
➢ Ligaments
o Strap-like, it supports the column of bones so it stays uprights
o The major supporting ligaments are the anterior and posterior longitudinal
o Ligaments continuously band down the front and back of the vertebral bodies
from the neck to the sacrum
o Their broad anterior is strongly attached to the bony vertebrae and the discs,
this prevents hyperextension of the spine
o The posterior is narrow, weaker and attached only to discs, this prevents
hyperflexion of the spine
➢ Intervertebral discs
o Offer cushioning between the bony vertebral bodies (shock absorbers), 25% of
the length of the vertebral column
o Each one is circular with a nucleus pulposus in the centre and an annulus
fibrosus around the periphery
o The nucleus pulposus is like a rubber ball, it offers elasticity and compressibility
o The annulus fibrosus holds together the successive vertebrae and resists tension
in the spine
o The discs are thicker in the lumbar/cervical regions which allow for flexibility
o A herniated disk is when there annulus fibrosus is ruptured followed by a
protrusion by the nucleus pulposus through the annulus
A typical vertebra
➢ They get larger as you descend the column
➢ They have a weight-bearing body and a vertebral arch
➢ The body and the arch enclose the vertebral canal which is made up of ____, the spinal
nerves pass through it
➢ 2 pedicles and 2 laminae make up each vertebral arch
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
➢ Pedicles have notches on the superior and inferior surfaces, the lateral openings
between the adjacent vertebrae are called the intervertebral foramina and the spinal
nerves pass through it
7 processes that project from each vertebral arch
➢ 1 spinous process for muscle attachment
➢ 2 transverse processes, 1 per side for muscle attachment
➢ Paired superior and inferior articular processes that link the vertebrae above and below,
they are smooth collagen-coated facets for articulation
Cervical Vertebrae
➢ 7 in total, the first and second have an unusual structure and no intervertebral disc
➢ #3-7 are considered typical
o Oval body, broader side-to-side than front-to-back
o Spinous process short and split at the end (except #7 which sticks out/not split)
o The vertebral foramen is large
o Each transverse process contains a transvers foramen for the passage of the
vertebral artery to the brain
➢ Atlas (#1)
o No body and no spinous process
o Posterior and anterior neural arches
o Lateral masses with superior and inferior facets allow for articulation with the
brain and C2 which allows you to nod your head
➢ Axis (#2)
o More like the others except for the dens projection
o It allows your head to pivot so you can say no
Thoracic Vertebrae
➢ 12 in total, they all have different ribs attached and increase in size from the first to the
last
o The body is roughly heart-shaped and bears facets for the ribs (paired demi-
facets)
o The vertebral foramen is circular
o The spinous process is long and points downwards
o The transverse processes have facets for articulation with the tubercles of the
ribs (except #11 and 12)
Lumbar Vertebrae
➢ In the lower back for the major weight bearing function
➢ The body is kidney-shaped and increases in size from top to bottom
o The pedicles and laminae are shorter and thicker than those of other vertebrae
o The spinous processes are flat ad short and project directly back
o The vertebral foramen is triangular
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
33 bones of which 24 remain separate (allows for flexibility) and the remaining 9 fuse to form composite bones (the sacrum and the coccyx), the spine is 70 cm long. 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, coccyx. 3 main functions: weight-bearing, anchor for muscles and ligaments, protection of the spinal chord. Curvatures allow for resilience and flexibility: cervical and lumbar: concave, thoracic and sacral: convex. They get larger as you descend the column. They have a weight-bearing body and a vertebral arch. The body and the arch enclose the vertebral canal which is made up of ____, the spinal nerves pass through it. 2 pedicles and 2 laminae make up each vertebral arch. Pedicles have notches on the superior and inferior surfaces, the lateral openings between the adjacent vertebrae are called the intervertebral foramina and the spinal nerves pass through it. 7 processes that project from each vertebral arch. 2 transverse processes, 1 per side for muscle attachment.
