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
