The document summarizes the key components of the vertebral column. It notes that the vertebral column is composed of 33 vertebrae, including 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar vertebrae, and 5 fused sacral vertebrae. Between each vertebra are intervertebral discs that act as cushions and shock absorbers. Together with bones, cartilage, joints, and ligaments, the vertebral column provides structure and protection to the spinal cord.

1. THE
VERTEBRAL
COLUMN

2. The Skeleton
• Consists of bones, cartilage, joints, and
ligaments
• Composed of 206 named bones grouped into
two divisions
• Axial skeleton (80 bones)
• Appendicular skeleton (126 bones)

3. The Axial and Appendicular Skeleton
The axial skeleton includes the skull,
the hyoid bone, the vertebral column
(spine, sacrum, and coccyx), the
sternum, and the ribs.
Its components are aligned along the
long axis of the body.
The appendicular skeleton includes the
bones of the upper extremities (arms,
forearms, and hands), the pectoral
(shoulder) girdle, the pelvic (hip)
girdle, and the bones of the lower
extremities (thigh, knee, leg, and foot).
Its components are outside the body
main axis.

4. The Vertebral Column
The vertebral column is composed of a
series of 33 separate bones known as
vertebrae.
There are seven cervical or neck vertebrae,
Twelve thoracic vertebrae,
and five lumbar vertebrae.
The sacrum is composed of five fused
vertebrae,
and there are four fused coccygeal vertebrae

5. Normal Curvatures
NORMAL CURVATURES OF THE
VERTEBRAL COLUMN
In the early embryo, the vertebral
column is C-shaped; pre-natal and
post-natal growth accounts for 4
distinct curvilinear regions in the adult

6. Normal Curvatures
NORMAL CURVATURES OF THE VERTEBRAL
COLUMN
1. Primary curvatures:
Posterior convexities present at birth
Immobile: attach. to skeletal components (rib cage and pelvis)
Thoracic and Sacral
2. Secondary curvatures:
Anterior convexities that develop after birth
Flexible: lack of skeletal connections
Cervical (child hold head erect) and Lumbar (child stand erect/walk)

7. Abnormal Curvatures
SCOLIOSIS, KYPHOSIS AND LORDOSIS
Presence of an abnormal
lateral curvature is called
scoliosis.
Exaggeration of curvatures
for example in
thoracic region is called
kyphosis and
in lumbar region is called
lordosis.

8. General Structure of Vertebrae
VERTEBRAL PROCESSES: 7 IN NUMBER ON TYPICAL VERTEBRAE
Spinous Processes (1 per
vertebra)
project posteriorly or
posteroinferiorly in the median plane
arise from the point of union of left
and right laminae
Transverse Processes (2 per
vertebra: left and right)
extend posterolaterally from the
point of union of pedicles and
laminae
Articular Processes
(Zygapophyses) (4 per vertebra)
Left and right, superior and inferior
also arise from the junction of
pedicles and laminae
Superior processes project
superiorly and inferior processes
project inferiorly

9. General Structure of Vertebrae
Encircled by the body
anteriorly, vertebral arch
posteriorly and the pedicles
laterally is the vertebral
foramen, which lodges the
spinal cord with its
membranes and blood
vessels.
The vertebral foramina of
the successive vertebrae
form the vertebral canal.

10. TYPICAL CERVICAL VERTEBRAE.
There are 4 typical and 3
atypical (atlas, axis and
C7) cervical vertebrae.
Typical cervical vertebra
has a bifid spine.
Only cervical vertebrae
have foramina in their
transverse processes .

11. TYPICAL CERVICAL VERTEBRAE.
The vertebral artery, a
venous plexus and
autonomic nerve fibres
pass through the
transverse foramina of the
majority of cervical
vertebra.
However, the vertebral
artery does not pass
through the transverse
foramen of C7.

12. ATLAS
The first cervical vertebra
(C1) is called the Atlas.
The Atlas is ring-shaped and
supports the skull.
Axis is C2. The axis is non-
typical because it has an
extra protruding process
known as the dens (dental -
looks like a tooth).

13. C7
C7 is non-typical
1. It does not have a bifid
spine and the
2. The vertebral artery
does not pass through its
transverse foramen.
1. Spinous process
2. Lamina
3. Transverse process
4. Pedicle
5. Body
6. Vertebral formen

14. THORACIC VERTEBRAE
There are 8 typical and 4 non-typical
(T1, 10, 11 & 12) thoracic vertebrae.
The body of a thoracic vertebra is
heart-shaped and
typical thoracic vertebra have a round
vertebral foramen.

15. THORACIC VERTEBRAE
1. Spinous process 2. Lamina 3. Transverse process
4. Pedicle 5. Body 6. Vertebral foramen

16. 5 LUMBAR VERTEBRAE
There are 5 lumbar vertebrae.
It has a distinct large body.
vertebral foramen is triangular and
Costal facets are absent.

17. LUMBAR VERTEBRA
1. Spinous process
2. Lamina
3. Transverse process
4. Pedicle
5. Body
6. Vertebral foramen

18. 5 FUSED SACRAL VERTEBRAE AND COCCYX
There are 5 sacral vertebrae that are fused
together.
Distinguishable from other vertebra by its
large size, sacral foramen and triangular
vertebral foramen.
This bone is the base of the vertebral column
and part of the pelvis.

19. 5 FUSED SACRAL VERTEBRAE AND COCCYX
1. Ala
2. Anterior sacral
foramen
3. Coccyx

20. 5 FUSED SACRAL VERTEBRAE AND COCCYX
1. Articular surface
2. Median sacral crest
The iliac bones articulate
with the articular surfaces of
the sacrum forming the
sacroiliac joints.

21. Intervertebral Discs
The bodies of adjacent
vertebrae are
connected by
specialized
cartilaginous joints
known as
intervertebral discs.
Cushion-like pads between vertebrae
Act as shock absorbers
Compose of about 25% of height of vertebral column

22. Intervertebral Discs

23. Intervertebral Discs
• Composed of nucleus pulposus and annulus
fibrosis
The annulus is a sturdy tire-like
structure that encases a gel-like center,
the nucleus pulposus.
The annulus enhances the spine’s
rotational stability and helps to resist
compressive stress.
The intervertebral discs are the largest
structures in the body without a vascular
supply.

24. Intervertebral Discs
Normally body weight is
transmitted through the disc by
loading the nucleus pulposus,
which is then compressed and
transfers its loading to the
annulus fibrous.
In most individuals, the fibers
of the annulus fibrosus
effectively resist this load, but
in some people they do not and
the nucleus pulposus is forced
out of the disc, or is herniated.
A herniated nucleus pulposus
can have a profound effect on
the adjacent spinal nerves

25. Ligaments
Ligament Name Description
Anterior Longitudinal Ligament About one-inch wide, the ALL runs the
(ALL) entire length of the spine from the base of
A primary spine stabilizer the skull to the sacrum. It connects the front
(anterior) of the vertebral body to the front of
the annulus fibrosis.
Posterior Longitudinal Ligament About one-inch wide, the PLL runs the entire
(PLL) length of the spine from the base of the skull
A primary spine stabilizer to sacrum. It connects the back (posterior) of
the vertebral body to the back of the annulus
fibrosis.
Supraspinous Ligament This ligament attaches the tip of each
spinous process to the other.
Interspinous Ligament This thin ligament attaches to another
ligament called the ligamentum flavum that
runs deep into the spinal column.
Ligamentum Flavum This yellow ligament is the strongest. It runs
The strongest ligament from the base of the skull to the pelvis, in
front of and between the lamina, and protects
the spinal cord and nerves. The ligamentum
flavum also runs in front of the facet joint
capsules.

26. Zygapophyseal (facet) joints (4 per vertebra)
(4 per vertebra)
joints between articular
processes of adjacent vertebral
arhces
permit gliding movements
between vertebrae

27. Atlanto-occipital joints
superior articular facets of the
atlas articulates with the
occipital condyles of the skull
facilitate nodding (flexion) of
the head

28. Atlanto-axial joint
The dens of the axis (C2)
articulates with he body
of the atlas (C1)
facilitates pivoting of the
head

29. REMEMBER THESE TERMS
Osteology - Lt. Ossis a bone, i.e the study of bones.
Arthrology - The branch of anatomy dealing with the joints and ligaments
of the body.
Myology - Gr. Myo(s) a mouse, muscle + logos (word, speech, reason) a
combining form designating a specified science or study, i.e the study of
muscles.

30. MENINGES
The spinal cord lies within the
vertebral canal and is covered
by three membranes, known as
meninges.
The outermost layer is the
dura mater, a tough fibrous
sheath closely applied to the
inner layer of bone
surrounding the spinal canal.
Between the dura and the bone
is a potential space, the
epidural space, which
normally contains a small
amount of fat and vertebral
veins.
Beneath the dura mater is a
thin and delicate membrane
called the arachnoid mater

31. MENINGES
Normally the arachnoid mater is
closely applied to the underside
of the dura mater, but a potential
space exists, the subdural space,
which can fill with blood or pus
under pathologic conditions
Beneath the arachnoid mater and
intimately applied to the spinal
cord is the pia mater.
The space between the arachnoid
mater and pia mater is the
subarachnoid space (normally
filled with cerebrospinal fluid,
which surrounds the entire brain
and spinal cord).
A rope like extension of the pia
mater, the filum terminale
attaches the end of the spinal cord
to the caudal end of the dura
mater.

32. Lumbar spinal puncture
In the adult the spinal cord usually ends (4) at the L1/2
disc, but at L2/3 in the infant.
Under aseptic conditions CSF sample is collected
from the subarachnoid space by inserting a
specific needle in the midline between the spinous
processes of L3 and L4 (or L4 and L5).
At these levels there is little danger of damaging
the spinal cord in adults.

33. BLOOD SUPPLY OF THE SPINAL CORD
The spinal cord receives its arterial supply from three small,
longitudinally running arteries-
the two posterior spinal arteries and
one anterior spinal artery.
The posterior spinal arteries, which arise either directly or
indirectly from the vertebral arteries, run down the side of the spinal
cord, close to the attachments of the posterior spinal nerve roots.
The anterior spinal arteries, which arise from the vertebral arteries,
unite to form a single artery, which runs down within the anterior
median fissure.
The veins of the spinal cord drain into the internal vertebral venous
plexus.

34. BLOOD SUPPLY OF THE SPINAL CORD

35. SPONDYLYSIS; SPONDYLOSIS
oChronic
degenerative
disease of
intervertebral
discs and/or
vertebral bodies
oMay compress
spinal cord,
nerves, or roots

36. SPINAL CORD TRANSECTION
Results in loss of all sensation and voluntary
movement inferior to the lesion
Paraplegia
Paralysis of lower body including
both lower extremities
Results from spinal cord transection
between cervical and lumbosacral
enlargements
Quadriplegia
Paralysis of all four limbs
Results from spinal cord transection
superior to C3

37. SCIATICA
Pain resulting from irritation of the
sciatic nerve
Usually caused by compression or
trauma to the sciatic nerve or its roots

38. RADICULOPATHIES
Shooting pain that radiates down one or
both legs in a dermatomal distribution, often
with associated sensory and motor
impairment
oUsually caused by compression or
stretching of spinal nerves or roots

39. OSTEOPOROSIS
Most common in postmenopausal women
Loss of endogenous estrogen leads to severe decrease in
vertebral bone density, due to demineralization
Can be prevented or slowed by hormone replacement
therapy.

40. THANK YOU