COLUMNA VERTEBRALIS

Nadia Unitassia Holifah

182010101039

Faculty of Medicine
Universitas Jember
 General Characteristics
• Formed from 26 irregular bones
• Axial support of trunk
• Surrounds and protects spinal chord
• Provides attachment points for ribs and
muscles of back
• 33 bones in infants
• 26 bones in adults
• 5 sections:
– Cervical (7 bones)
– Thoracic (12 bones)
– Lumbar (5 bones)
– Sacrum (5 fused bones)
– Coccyx (4 fused bones)
Vertebral Curvatures

Primary – those present

at birth:
• thoracic
• pelvic
Secondary – develop
after birth:
• cervical – develops as
baby holds head up
• lumbar – develops as child
begins to stand
 Intervertebral Articulations
• Disc (symphysis)
• Synovial
• Sacroiliac:
Part synovial and part fibrous
• Costal facets and demifacets
 Disc (symphysis)
• 20-30% of length of the column
• Thicker in cervical and lumbar regions:
Greater flexibility
• Thinner in thoracic region:
Reduced flexibility
• Structure:
Annulus fibrosus (fibrocartilage)
Nucleus pulposus (avascular)
 Synovial Joints
• Plane joints
• No joint capsules
• Between superior and inferior articulating
facets:
Direction of motion determined by orientation of
facets
 Motion Segment
• Functional unit of the spine
• Consists of:
Two vertebrae
Intervening soft tissue
Anterior segment:
Two bodies, disc, longitudinal ligaments.
Posterior segment:
Two neural arches, apophyseal joints,
intervening ligaments.
 Features of Typical Vertebrae

body – for support

intervertebral arch – for articulation of next vertebrae
sup. & inf. articulating processes – for articulation w/vert.
above or below
 Features of Typical Vertebrae

rib facet – for articulation with ribs- only in THORACIC vertebrae

transverse process-
for muscle attachment;
project laterally
spinous process - sharp projection for muscle attachment
projects posteriorly
lamina – 2 plates that fuse to become spinous process
pedicle – projection from body
vertebral foramen – opening for spinal cord
intervertebral disc – composed of cartilage for cushion
 Features of Atlas (C1)

Atlas – supports skull

• Fovea dentis – notch for dens
• Facet for articulation with occipital condyles
• No body
 Features of Axis (C2)

Axis – pivot point

• Dens (odontoid
process); fits into
C1 for rotation
of the skull
 Cervical Vertebrae (7)
Features:
• smallest
• most dense
• transverse foramina – for arteries to brain
• bifid (forked) spinous process (C2-C5)- (for muscle attachment)
 Thoracic Vertebrae (12)

Features:
• larger than cervical
• long spinous process
projects posteriorly
and inferiorly
• facets for ribs
 Lumbar Vertebrae (5)

Features:
• Largest, strongest
bodies
• Transverse process
thinner & project laterally
• Spinous process
short, thick, nearly
horizontal
 Sacrum & Coccyx

Sacrum – triangular-shaped bone at base of vert. column

•Consists of 5 fused vertebrae
•Sacral foramen – for b.v. & nerves
•Sacral canal – spinal cord travels through
•Sacral hiatus – where spinal cord exits
Coccyx (tailbone) – consists of 4 fused vertebrae
References :
Moore, K. L., A. F. Dalley, A. M. R. Agur. 2014.
Moore Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Seventh
Edition. Philadelhia: Lippincott Williams and
Wilkins