INTRODUCTION TO ARTHROLOGY

AND OSTEOLOGY III

VERTEBRAL COLUMN

Dr Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas (PhD)

Department of Human Anatomy
FPSK UPM
aris@medic.upm.edu.my
03 89472783
Who are vertebrates?
- Have a backbone

Invertebrates?
- No backbone
 ARRANGEMENT OF THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN

• How is human vertebral column

made up of?

• Human vertebral column is

made up of 33 vertebrae and
intervertebral discs.
 REGIONS OF THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN
• How many vertebrae are there in
each region in human?
- 7 cervical vertebrae (C1-C7) in the neck.
- 12 thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12) in upper part
of the trunk (thorax).

- 5 lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5) in lower part of

the trunk (lumbar).

- 1 sacrum bone (formed by fused sacral 1st-

5th).
- 1 coccyx bone (formed by fused coccygeal
1st-4th).

A total of 26 separate bones. Total vertebrae: 33!

 FLEXIBLE
• Why is the vertebral column flexible?

• Flexible because;
– Vertebral are fused to each other by
cushion-like fibrocartilages called
intervertebral discs.
 COMPONENTS OF A VERTEBRA
• What are the components of a vertebra?

• Vertebrae of each region have their own characteristics

features. However, all have some common basic
components.

• The basic components of a vertebra are having:

– One vertebral body
– One vertebral (neural) arch
– Seven processes
• One spinous process
• Two transverse processes (one on each side)
• Four articular processes (two above & two below)
 BODY OF VERTEBRA
• WHERE IS BODY OF THE VERTEBRA?
• Body of vertebra is at the anterior part.
• DOES EVERY VERTEBRA HAS BODY?
• Every vertebra has a body, except the first cervical vertebra (C1).

Spinous process Vertebral

arch
Lamina
Transverse
process

Superior
articular process

Pedicle

Vertebral
foramen
Body
(centrum)
 BODY OF VERTEBRA
• WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF THE VERTEBRAL BODY?
• Upper and lower parts of the body are expanded.
• The body is slightly constricted at the middle.
• The upper and lower surfaces of the body are flat
covered by hyaline cartilage.
 THE VERTEBRAL (NEURAL) ARCH
• WHERE IS THE NEURAL ARCH? NAME ITS PARTS?
• It is at the posterior part of the vertebra.
• Each half consists of:
– Pedicle (anterior part)
– Lamina (flat, posterior part)
Spinous process Vertebral
arch
Lamina
Transverse
process

Superior
articular process

Pedicle

Vertebral
foramen
Body
(centrum)
 PEDICAL & LAMINA
• Pedical extends posteriorly from the body and
meets the lamina.
• Laminae (one on each side) meet at posterior
median plane.
• Together with the body, vertebral arch encircles the
vertebral foramen.
Spinous process Vertebral
arch
Lamina
Transverse
process

Superior
articular process

Pedicle

Vertebral
foramen
Body
(centrum)
 VERTEBRAL CANAL
• A series of vertebral foramina together form a
vertebral canal.
• What are the contents?
– Spinal cord
– Three layers of meninges
– Cerebrospinal fluid Spinous process Vertebral
arch

– Blood vessels Transverse

Lamina

process

Superior
articular process

Pedicle

Vertebral
foramen
Body
(centrum)
 PROCESSES
• Spinous processes lie along the median plane. It
projects backwards and downwards.
• Transverse processes, project one at either side
from the point where the lamina joins the pedicle.

Spinous process Vertebral

arch
Lamina
Transverse
process

Superior
articular process

Pedicle

Vertebral
foramen
Body
(centrum)
 PROCESSES: ARTICULAR PROCESSES
• DESCRIBE ARTICULAR PROCESSES.
– 4 in number.
• 2 superior
• 2 inferior
– Each process carries an articular facet.
• Superior facets face posteriorly
• Inferior facets face anteriorly.
 INTERVERTEBRAL DISCS
• What are the structures of intervertebral disc?
– It is a fibrocartilage discs (fibrous + cartilage)
– Each lies between two adjacent vertebral bodies
(from the body of C2 vertebra to sacrum).
 INTERVERTEBRAL DISCS
– What are the components?
• Anulus fibrosus
• Nucleus pulposus (jelly like substance)
 INTERVERTEBRAL FORAMINA

• Describe intervertebral
foramina.
– They are lateral
openings of the
vertebral canal.
 INTERVERTEBRAL FORAMINA

– Each is bounded by:

• Above: the pedicle of its
own vertebra.
• Below: the pedicle of
vertebra below.
• In front: body of the
vertebra and
intervertebral disc.
• Behind: adjacent
superior and inferior
articular processes.
 STRUCTURES PASSING THROUGH THE
INTERVERTEBRAL FORAMEN
• NAME THE STRUCUTURES WHICH PASS THROUGH
THE INTERVERTEBRAL FORAMEN.
– Spinal nerve roots.
– Spinal artery.
– Spinal veins.
 FEATURES OF VERTEBRAE OF DIFFERENT
REGIONS
• LIST THE MAIN CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF
VERTEBRAE OF DIFFERENT REGIONS.

• Vertebrae of each region have their own

characteristics features.
• Look at the spine, transverse process & the
body. What do u see?
 FEATURES OF CERVICAL VERTEBRAE

• All 7 cervical vertebrae posses foramen

transversarium (foramen in transverse process).
• C1, C2 & C7 cervical vertebrae are atypical.
– Absent of body (C1), lateral masses (C1, C2)
– C7: spinous process is thick, nearly horizontal,
not bifurcated
• C3 - C6 cervical vertebrae are typical.
– Cervical spinous process short & bifid.
– Vertebral foramen: triangular & large.
 FEATURES OF THORACIC VERTEBRAE

• Costal facets
– For articulation with ribs.
– Side of the body and tip of the transverse
process.
• Spinous process
– Long, slender and directed downward.
 FEATURES OF THORACIC VERTEBRAE

• Body is heart-shaped.
• Vertebral foramen is relatively small and circular.
 FEATURES OF LUMBAR VERTEBRAE

• Body is massive and kidney-shaped.

• Transverse processes are thin and small.
• Spinous processes are thick, broad and directed
backward.
 SACRUM AND COCCYX

• 5 sacral vertebrae.
• S1-S5 fused to form a sacral bone.
• Sacral promontory.
• Sacral foramina: sacral nerves.
• 4 coccygeal vertebrae fused to form a coccyx bone.
 LIGAMENTS OF THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN

• Many ligaments unite the vertebrae.

• What the main ligaments of the vertebral column?
– Anterior longitudinal ligament.
– Posterior longitudinal ligament.
– Ligamentum flavum.
– Interspinous ligament.
– Supraspinous ligament.
– Ligamentum nuchae.
 LIGAMENTS

• Longitudinal ligaments:
– Anterior & posterior.

• Ligamentum flavum.
 LIGAMENTS

Interspinous ligament.
Supraspinous ligament.
Ligamentum nuchae.
 BLOOD SUPPLY OF THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN
• Very richly supplied with blood.
 FUCTIONS OF THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN

• What are the functions of the vertebral body?

– Weight bearing.
– Transmission of force.
– Production of blood cells.
– Carries ribs.
 FUCTIONS OF THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN

• Functions of the vertebral arch;

– Protection
– Attachments
 FUCTIONS OF THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN

• Functions of the processes:

• Spinous and transverse processes
– Attachment
– Levers
– Buttresses & fulcra
• Superior and inferior articular processes
– Restrict displacement
– Weight bearing
 FUCTIONS OF THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN

• Functions of the intervertebral discs;

– Serve as:
• Shock absorbers
– Breaking forces transmitted along the vertebral
column and minimize the damage.
• Ball bearing
– Assist movements between the adjacent bodies.
– Thicker the disc, better the rotation movement.
• Weight bearing
– Together with the bodies, they support the weight.
• Transmission of force
 NORMAL: ANTEROPOSTERIOR CURVATURE

• Primary curvature
– Present in fetal life and at birth.
– The vertebral column is one continuous anterior
concavity.
 NORMAL: ANTEROPOSTERIOR CURVATURE
• Secondary curvature
– Cervical curvature
• At about 3-4 month old.
• when infant raises head at 4 months.
– Lumbar curvature
• At about one year.
• when infant sits up & begins to walk.
 AT OLD AGE
• The intervertebral discs atrophy (become thinner).
• Length of the vertebral column becomes shorten.
• Reduce in height.
• A gradual return of the vertebral column to a
continuous anterior curvature as in infant.
 ABNORMAL VERTEBRAL CURVATURE

• Kyphosis
– Hunchback
– Increased thoracic curvature.
 ABNORMAL VERTEBRAL CURVATURE

• Scoliosis
– Abnormal lateral curvature.
– With some rotation of the vertebrae.
– Kiphoscliosis: combination of kyphosis and
scoliosis.
 ABNORMAL VERTEBRAL CURVATURE

• Lordosis
– Increased lumbar curvature.
– Normally also seen in late stage of
pregnancy.
• counter balancing of heavier weight in
front during pregnancy.
 APPLIED ANATOMY (DISC PROLAPSE)
• Nucleus pulposus is slightly nearer to the posterior part of the
disc.
• Posterior longitudinal ligament is weak at its posterolateral parts.
• Degenerative changes of anulus fibrosus in elderly allows
protrusion of nucleus pulposus through the weak posterolateral
parts of the disc.