Cervical and Thoracic Spine

number of thoracic vertebrae

12 (T1-T12)

there are _____ pairs of spinal nerves that pass through the intervertebral foramen

31

number of coccyx

4 fused

LPO - right (upside) intervertebral foramina demonstrated

45° oblique cervical

the cervical intervertebral foramina are situated at a _____° angle to midsagittal plane and also directed at a 15° ___________ angle because of shape and overlapping of cervical vertebrae

45°, inferior (a 45° oblique position combined with a 15° cephalad angle of the x-ray tube would be required)

number of lumbar vertebrae

5 (L1-L5)

number of sacrum

5 fused

number of cervical vertebrae

7 (C1-C7)

LPO - right (upside) zygapophyseal joints demonstrated

70° oblique thoracic

AP open-mouth radiograph

A. odontoid process (dens) B. left transverse process of C1 C. left lateral mass of C1 D. inferior articular surface of C1 E. left atlantoaxial joint F. body of C2 G. right superior articular surface of C2

the zygapophyseal joints of C1 and C2 are called the atlantoaxial joints and can only be seen on what projection?

AP open mouth projection

the articular pillar is called the lateral mass for C__

C1

the spinous process of C__ through C__ end in bifid tips

C2 through C6

of the 7 cervical vertebrae, C__ to C__ are typical cervical vertebra

C3 to C6

the outer fibrous portion of the intervertebral disk

annulus fibrosus

the thick arch of bone and tubercle instead of a body on the atlas

anterior arch (with anterior tubercle)

a typical vertebra consists of two main parts, the body and the vertebral _________

arch

instead of two laminae and a spinous process, C1 (atlas) has a posterior ______ and posterior _______________

arch, tubercle

a short column (pillar) of bone between the superior and inferior articular processes of the cervical vertebrae

articular pillar

the joint between C1 and C2

atlantoaxial joint

the articulations between the superior facets and the occipital condyles are called ___________________ joints

atlantooccipital

a name derived from the Greek god who bore the world on his shoulders

atlas

the first cervical vertebra is called the ________

atlas

the thick, weight-bearing anterior part of the vertebra with superior and inferior surfaces that are flat and rough for attachment of the intervertebral disks

body

the term of when the annulus fibrosus is bulging out

bulging disk

if a RAO cervical spine is done, a 15° ___________ angle would be needed

caudad

if a LPO cervical spine is done, a 15° ___________ angle is needed

cephalad

T1 - T4 resemble ____________ vertebrae

cervical

all typical adult vertebrae are separated by intervertebral disks except for the first and second ______________ vertebrae

cervical

left lateral zygapophyseal joints demonstrated

cervical

if a RAO cervical spine is done, the foramina ___________ to the IR would be open

closest (downside)

as children begin to raise their heads and sit up, the first _________________ concave curve forms in the ____________ region

compensatory, cervical

when children learn to walk, the second ___________________ concave curve develops in the _____________ region

compensatory, lumbar

a rounded inward or depressed surface like a cave

concave (the top and bottom of the curve is closest to posterior)

a rounded outward or elevated surface

convex (the top and bottom of the curve is farther away from posterior)

articulation of the ribs to the thoracic vertebrae

costal joints

the tubercles of the rib and the coinciding transverse process facets they articulate with form the ___________________ joints

costotransverse

ribs 11 and 12 only articulate at the _________________ joints

costovertebral

the vertebral facet and head of the rib form the _____________________ joint

costovertebral

each left and right C1 superior articular processes has a large depressed surface called a superior _________

facet

the vertebral column is divided into _______ sections

five

the ________ of each rib connects to a full facet or demifacets located on the body of each thoracic vertebrae

head

the term for when the soft inner part protrudes through the outer fibrous layer and presses on the spinal cord, causing pain

herniated disk (herniated nucleus pulposus - HNP)

forms the superior part of the left and right zygapophyseal joints

inferior articular processes

a half-moon-shaped area along the lower surface of each pedicle

inferior vertebral notch

located within the intervertebral joints and tightly bound to adjacent vertebral bodies for spinal stability

intervertebral disks

a single opening, one on each side, formed by the two half-moon-shaped areas of the inferior and superior vertebral notches

intervertebral foramen

amphiarthrodial joints that are found between the vertebral bodies

intervertebral joints

an abnormal condition characterized by exaggerated convexity of the thoracic spine curvature - "humpback"

kyphosis

the thoracic and sacral/coccyx regions have convex curvatures and are described as ________________

kyphotic

two somewhat flat layers of bone that form the posterior part of the vertebral arch

laminae

the segment of bone between the superior and inferior articular processes of C1

lateral masses

an exaggerated anterior concavity of the lumbar spine curvature - "swayback"

lordosis

the cervical and lumbar regions have concave curvatures and are described as _______________

lordotic

T9 - T12 resemble _____________ vertebrae

lumbar

thoracic zygapophyseal joints form an angle of 70° - 75° from the _______________ plane

midsagittal

The soft, semigelatinous inner part of the intervertebral disk

nucleus pulposus

the superior facets of C1 articulate with the left and right _____________ condyles

occipital

the conical process that projects up from the superior surface of the body on the axis (C2)

odontoid process (dens)

C3 - C6 vertebral bodies are small and oblong in shape with the anterior edge slightly more inferior, which causes slight ________________ of vertebral bodies

overlapping

extend posteriorly from either side of the vertebral body and forms most of the sides of the vertebral arch

pedicles

the curvature of the vertebral column is described from the ______________ perspective

posterior

the thoracic and sacral/coccyx curves begin to develop soon after birth and are called _____________ curves

primary (thoracic - first primary, sacral/coccyx - second primary)

could not occur without the spine, which serves as a pivot point for arclike movement of the ribs:

respiration

the zygapophyseal joints of C2 - C7 are located at __________ angles to the midsagittal plane

right (90° - and this visualized only in true lateral)

a LPO cervical spine opens up the intervertebral foramina on the _______ side

right (upside)

the openings of the intervertebral foramina on the thoracic vertebrae are located at ___________ angles, or _____° to the midsagittal plane

right, 90°

abnormal lateral curvature

scoliosis

extends posteriorly at the midline junction of the two laminae

spinous process

forms the inferior aspect of the left and right zygapophyseal joints

superior articular processes

a half-moon-shaped area along the upper surface of each pedicle

superior vertebral notch

the joints where the ribs articulate with the vertebrae are _____________ joints and are _______________

synovial, diathrodial (allow slight gliding movement)

left lateral - intervertebral foramina demonstrated

thoracic

one unique characteristic of all cervical vertebrae is that each has ___________ foramina that run vertically

three (left and right transverse foramen and the single large vertebral foramen)

vertebral arteries and certain nerves pass through these foramen:

transverse foramen

extends laterally from approximately the junction of each pedicle and lamina

transverse process

T1 - T10 also have facets on each transverse process that articulate with the ______________ of ribs

tubercles

between every vertebrae are _____ intervertebral foramina, through which important spinal nerves and blood vessels pass

two (one on each side)

T5 - T8 are considered ___________ thoracic vertebrae

typical

the last cervical vertebra (C7) which has many thoracic vertebrae features

vertebra prominens

a ring or arch of bone that extends posteriorly from the vertebral body

vertebral arch

when several vertebrae are stacked, the succession of vertebral foramina forms a tubelike opening

vertebral canal

the posterior surface of the body and the arch form a circular opening which contains the spinal cord

vertebral foramen

the five aspects of the vertebral column that are important radiographically

• body • vertebral arch • joints • intervertebral foramina • intervertebral disk

distinctive features of all 12 thoracic ribs:

• facets for articulation with ribs • caudally pointed spinous processes

the vertebral arch is formed by these parts:

• pedicles • laminae

typical cervical vertebrae have unique characteristics such as:

• transverse foramina • bifid spinous process tips • overlapping vertebral bodies