Vertebral Column

There are ___ lumbar vertebrae

5

There are ___ cervical vertebrae

7

apex of sacrum

articulates with coccyx

Xiphoid process of sternum

articulates with the distal portion of the sternum

Kyphosis

exaggerated thoracic curvature

Lordosis

exaggeration of the lumbar curvature

False ribs

last 5 pairs of ribs; attach indirectly to sternum

floating ribs

last two pairs of ribs; do not attach to sternum

Scoliosis

lateral bending of the vertebral column

Vertebral arch

pedicle and lamina

Intervertebral discs

sit between vertebrae and absorb vertical shock

tubercle

small rounded projection

facet

smooth, nearly flat articular surface

rib articulation with thoracic vertebrae

tubercle articulates with transverse process. Head articulates with vertebral bodies.

There are ___ thoracic vertebrae

12

Atlas

C1, support the skull

Axis

C2, allows you to turn your head 'no'

Manubrium of sternum

Connects the ribs via the costal cartilages forming the anterior rib cage. The manubrium is the broad superior segment.

foramen

Round or oval opening through a bone

C7

Vertebra prominens

Spina bifida

a congenital defect that occurs during early pregnancy when the spinal canal fails to close completely around the spinal cord to protect it

Thoracic vertebrae

bigger body than cervical, longer transverse and spinous processes

Thorax

chest

sacral canal

continuation of the vertebral canal in the sacrum

True ribs

first 7 pairs of ribs; attach directly to sternum

lumbar vertebrae

strongest and biggest, short thick spinous and transverse processes.

median sacral crest

the fused spinous processes of the sacral vertebrae