Trachea SCOLIOSIS – lateral deviation of the normal alignment

of the vertebral column.

- Hollow tube about 4.5 inches in length.
- Extending form larynx to bronchi below. SCOLIOKYPHOSIS or KYPHOSCOLIOSIS – combined
lateral scoliosis and posterior kyphosis curvature of
Anatomical position:
the spine.
- It commences opposite the 6th cervical
STRUCTURE OF A VERTEBRA:
vertebra (C6) and extends down to the fourth
dorsal body (T4).  Body of vertebra
 Pedicles or root
*Muscle fibers fill in the gap behind.
 Two laminae or plates
Vertebral column  Vertebral foramen
 Vertebral notches
- Measures approx. 60-70 cm in length
 Transverse process (2)
- 18-28 inches
 Superior articular surface (2)
- 33 vertebrae
 Inferior articular surface
24 vertebrae- separate bone are “TRUE VERTEBRAE”,  Spinous process
also movable vertebrae.  Pars interarticularis

9 remaining – FALSE VERTEBRAE
- Become fused to form one segment of the
vertebLORDOTIC CURVE –rae, they are the
Sacrum and Coccyx.
- FIXED VERTEBRAE
BODY OF VERTEBRA – solid anterior part, shaped like a
cylinder with flat posterior surface.
PEDICLES OR ROOT – thick rounded extensions passing
back, one on each lateral border pf the flattened
posterior surface of the body.

DIVISION S OF VERTEBRAL COLUMN: TWO LAMINAE OR PLATES – two flattened plates pf

bone one passing towards the midline from the
1. Cervical spine – 7
posterior end of each pedicle.
2. Thoracic/Dorsal spine – 12
3. Lumbar spine – 5 VERTEBRAL FORAMEN - opening behind the body,
4. Sacrum – 5 (fused) enclosed by the arch.
5. Coccyx – 4-5 incomplete
- Along with similar openings in the other
CURVATURES OF VERTEBRAL COLUMN: vertebrae, it forms a canal for spinal cord.

- CERVICAL VERTEBRAE form forward curve
called “LORDOTIC CURVE”
- THORACIC VERTEBRAE form backward curve
called “KYPHOTIC CURVE”
- LUMBAR VERTEBRAE form forward curve like
cervical called “lordotic curve”
- SACRUM AND COCCYX, like the thoracic
vertebrae form a curve with concave anterior
border.
VERTEBRAL NOTCHES – formed by the curved upper
and lower border of the pedicles.
- A similar curves of the pedicle above or below,
complete an opening called the “
intervertebral foramen”
TRANSVERSE PROCESS – two bones, one on each side
extending laterally from the junction of the pedicle
and lamina.

KYPHOSIS OR HUNCHBACK – exaggerated thoracic SUPERIOR ARTICULAR SURFACE – projects upward to

curve. the head from the bases of transverse process.

LORDOSIS OR SWAYBACK – exaggerated lumbar INFERIOR ARTICULAR SURFACE - projects downward

curve. to the head from the base of transverse process.
SPINOUS PROCESS – extend posteriorly or back from - They have no facet for ribs and becomes
the posterior border of the vertebral arch, at the larger/bigger from L1 to L5.
junction of two laminae. - In lateral view, the spinous processes appear
almost square.
PARS INTERARTICULARIS - “par” for short
TRUE OBLIQUE of the lumbar vertebrae, demonstrate
- Part of vertebra located between the interior
the “SCOTTY DOG” sign.
and superior articular processes. This
corresponds as an imaginary line that Transverse process – nose
represents the neck of the “scotty dog” sign.
Pedicle – eye
CERVICAL VERTEBRAE:
Pars interarticularis – neck
- Have small somewhat oblong bodies with their
Superior articular surface – ear
spinous processes may be forked or double or
bifid to cradle the strong ligaments supporting Inferior articular surface – front leg
the head.
First cervical vertebra or C1 or Atlas
SACRUM
- No body but has a ring of bone with hollow
- Made up of five vertebral bodies which have
center, an anterior and posterior arches and 2
united to form one bone.
lateral masses.
- …condyles of the occipital bone wherein PARTS OF THE SACRUM:
flexion and extension occur.
 Body of sacrum
nd
2 cervical vertebra or C2 or Axis or Epistropheus  Sacral promontory
 Sacral canal
- Process shaped like a large tooth projecting
 Sacral Foramina
upward from its body called the “Odontoid
 Lateral masses
process/Dens Odontoid” that fits into the
 Ala/wing/Alae
Anterior arch of the atlas wherein rotation of
 Superior articular process
the head takes place at this joint.
 Cornua/cornu
Seventh cervical vertebrae or vertebra prominence
- Long spinous process which extends back
BODY OF SACRUM
beyond the spinous processes pf the other
cervical vertebrae. - Made up of five fused bodies.
THORACIC VERTEBRAE (DORSAL VERTEBRAE) SACRAL PROMONTORY
- Have small pits or depression. - Prominent upper anterior edge of the sacrum
- The bodies of the thoracic vertebrae are longer
SACRAL CANAL
and more rounded than those with cervical.
- Facet present on the front of each transverse - Passage that extends from top to bottom of
processes to join the heads and tubercles of the sacrum.
the ribs.
SACRAL FORAMINA
LUMBAR VERTEBRAE:
- Are 16 openings.
- Are much larger and is considered strongest of
LATERAL MASSES
the different types.
 - Are those parts of sacrum lateral to the A. Inferior articular process of one
foramina than corresponds to a fused vertebrae
transverse processes. B. Superior articular process of vertebra
below
ALA/ALAE/WING
 Lumbo-Sacral joint
- Wing like upper parts A. Inferior surface of L5
B. Superior surface of the sacrum
SUPERIOR ARTICULAR PROCESSES
 Sacro-coccygeal joint
- 2 processes which extend up from the A. Lower surface of sacral body
posterior part of the upper sacrum to form the B. Upper surface of the 1st coccygeal segment
joint with the 5th lumbar body.
CONGENITAL ANOMALIES IN VC:
CORNUA/CORNU
Fusion vertebrae
- Two small projections that extend down from
- Two or more vertebrae may be united forming
lower sacrum.
one bone with no join between. Called
“bamboo spine”.

COCCYX: Hemivertebrae

- Diminished in size from base inferiorly to its - Maybe the right or left half of a vertebra
apex. maybe absent… called “butterfly vertebrae”.

Cornua (Horn) Spina Bifida

- Extend up from posterior border - Lack of uninom or mal-uniom pf laminae.

- Occurs usually between L5-S1
- Incomplete with a gap in the midline and the
JOINTS OF V.C.:
spinal cord may bulge or herniated out through
 Atlanto-occipital joint – lateral part of C1 this defect resulting on a swelling in the
 Atlanto-epistropheal joint – Odontoid process midline posteriorly called the “MENINGOCELE”
of C2 and the Anterior arch of the atlas.
Inter-articular defect
 Intervertebral joints – lie between bodies of
adjacent vertebra that form cushion. - A defect maybe present between superior and
inferior articular process of a vertebra. Usually
These 3 helps to form intervertebral joint:
occur at L5.
o Articular cartilages – layer of cartilage covera
Absence of sacrum
the upper and lower surface of each vertebral
body. - Lower part of the sacrum may fail to develop, if
o Annulus Fibrosus – layer of fibrous tissue and so the coccyx will also be absent.
cartilage forms a pad between the articular
Sacralization
cartilages on the adjacent vertebra.
o Nucleus polposus – pulpy center of the - Last lumbar vertebrae may be partly or
annalus fibrosus. completely fused with the first sacral segment.
 Accessory Cervical joints – cervical area on - The reverse may also occur where the first
each side of the intervertebral disc between sacral body may form aa a separate bone,
the lateral margina of the adjacent bodies. resulting in 6 lumbar vertebrae----
 Inter-articular joint/ apophyseal joint “LUMBARIZATION”