Primary curvatures present at – Thoracic convex – Sacral convex – Secondary curvatures develops after birth – Cervical concave – Lumbar concave – Abnormal curvatures of spine Kyphosis Lordosis Scoliosis Structure of a Typical Vertebra Body anterior rounded portion – Vertebral foramen opening for the spinal cord – Transverse process lateral projections – Spinous process single, medial, posterior projection – Intervertebral foramina between 2 adjacent vertebrae, passageway for spinal nerves – Cervical vertebra Transverse foramina Only in cervical vertebra Atlas or C1 No body the head and provides for range of motion (when you nod to say yes) Axis or C2 Odontoid process or dens allows rotation of the head (when you nod to say no) – Thoracic Vertebrae Long spinal process oriented downward No transverse foramen Lumbar Vertebrae Massive body Short, thick, more horizontal spinous processes No rib facets No transverse foramina Superior and inferior articular processes present Sacrum Medial sacral remnant of spinous processes – Alae formed by fusion of transverse processes, articulate with hip bones – Sacral foramina passageway for blood vessels and nerves – Sacral canal continuation of the vertebral canal – Sacrum and coccyx Sacral hiatus inferior opening of sacral – Sacral promontory rim on anterior and superior part of sacrum – Coccyx attached to sacrum by ligaments – The Thoracic Cage Sternum Manubrium articulates with the clavicle – Xiphoid process inferior end made of hyaline cartilage in children but ossified in adults – Jugular notch
Primary curvatures – present at Thoracic – convex Sacral – convex Secondary curvatures – develops after birth Cervical – concave Lumbar – concave Abnormal curvatures of spine Kyphosis Lordosis Scoliosis Structure of a Typical Vertebra Body – anterior rounded portion Vertebral foramen – opening for the spinal cord Transverse process – lateral projections Spinous process – single, medial, posterior projection Intervertebral foramina – between 2 adjacent vertebrae, passageway for spinal nerves Cervical vertebra Transverse foramina Only in cervical vertebra Atlas or C1 No body the head and provides for range of motion (when you nod to say yes) Axis or C2 Odontoid process or dens – allows rotation of the head (when you nod to say no) Thoracic Vertebrae Long spinal process oriented downward No transverse foramen Lumbar Vertebrae Massive body Short, thick, more horizontal spinous processes No rib facets No transverse foramina Superior and inferior articular processes present Sacrum Medial sacral – remnant of spinous processes Alae – formed by fusion of transverse processes, articulate with hip bones Sacral foramina – passageway for blood vessels and nerves Sacral canal – continuation of the vertebral canal Sacrum and coccyx Sacral hiatus – inferior opening of sacral Sacral promontory – rim on anterior and superior part of sacrum Coccyx – attached to sacrum by ligaments The Thoracic Cage Sternum Manubrium – articulates with the clavicle Xiphoid process – inferior end made of hyaline cartilage in children but ossified in adults Jugular notch
Axial%20Skeleton.docx