Lab 2, Station 1: Vertebral Column

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David Conley
PhD · Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Translational Medicine & Physiology
Office: PBS 41A
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Headshot of Shannon Helbling, PhD · Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Translational Medicine & Physiology
Shannon Helbling
PhD · Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Translational Medicine & Physiology
Office: PBS 41C
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Lab 2 navigation

The Vertebral Column as a Whole

Complete anatomy

Vertebral column

Identify these features of the vertebral column:

■Primary curvatures

■Thoracic and sacral

Question

Primary curvatures = What is the concept?

■Secondary curvatures

■Cervical and lumbar

 

Question

Secondary curvatures = When are these acquired?

■Cervical vertebrae (7)

■Thoracic vertebrae (12)

■Lumbar vertebrae (5)

Question

Food always helps one to learn, eh? Try this one out: Cereal @ 7, Tacos at 12, Lasagna @ 5

■Sacrum

■Coccyx

■Vertebral canal—what does it contain?

■Intervertebral foramina—which structures traverse these?

Figure 2.1. Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 7th ed., Figure 4.1.

Common Features of All Vertebrae

Identify these characteristics of a typical vertebra:

■Vertebral body

■Vertebral arch

■Pedicle

■Laminae

■Transverse processes—note the articular facets for ribs

■Spinous process

■Superior and inferior articular processes

■Superior and inferior notches

Figure 2.2. Characteristics of a typical vertebra. Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 7th ed., Figure 4.2.

Question

Stack two vertebrae on one another: How are the intervertebral foramina formed?

Note

Make sure you can identify the above structures in vertebrae from different regions.

Unique Features of Specific Vertebrae

Certain characteristics are specific to regions of the vertebral column or individual vertebrae. Review the unique features of cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae in the sections below. 

Cervical Vertebrae

Complete anatomy

Cervical vertebra

A typical cervical vertebra has the following features:

■Small square bodies with a large vertebral foramen

■Presence of a foramen in each transverse process (foramen transversarium) — What do they contain?

■Short bifid spinous process 

Figure 2.3.

Because the first two cervical vertebrae have special articulations to allow for head movement, they have some unique features: 

■Atlas (C-1): has no body—instead, it has anterior and posterior arches

■Axis (C-2): the body has a vertical extension called the dens

Figure 2.4.

Thoracic Vertebrae

Complete anatomy

Thoracic vertebra

Note the sloping, overlapping, spinous processes.

■Identify the costal facets on the vertebral bodies and on the transverse processes. Which structures articulate on the costal facets?

Figure 2.5.

Lumbar Vertebrae

Complete anatomy

Lumbar vertebra

These are wide and stout, with blunt spinous processes.

Figure 2.6.

Exercise

Can you match an isolated vertebra to the region it belongs to?

Station 6

Station 2

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