Vertebral ColumnThoracic Cage Vertebral Column Connects skull to
Vertebral Column/Thoracic Cage
Vertebral Column: • Connects skull to pelvis • Composed of vertebra(e) and intervertebral disks • Function: (1) supports head, neck, & trunk • (2) Protects spinal cord
Typical Vertebrae • Body: thick, anterior portion • IV discs: cusion and soften forces (walking, jumping) • Laminae: fuse to become spinous process (when laminae do not fuse = spina bifida)
…continued • Spinous process: posterior projection • Vertebral foramen: spinal cord passes through this • Intervertebral foramina: spinal nerves pass through this
Cervical Vertebrae (c 1 -c 7) • Transverse foramina: in transverse process; for arteries leading to brain • Spinous processes of 2 -5 are forked (provides muscle attachments)
…continued • 1 st: atlas • Supports the head / facets articulate with occipital condyles • 2 nd: axis – Has toothlike dens (odontoid process) that lies in atlas (functions to pivot head)
Thoracic Vertebrae (T 1 -T 12) • Larger than cervical • How many? 12 • Characteristics: – Spinous processes pointed and downward -T 3 on…get larger
Lumbar Vertebrae (L 1 -L 5) • • How many? 5 Characteristics: Larger/stronger bodies Support more weight
Sacrum • Made up of 5 fused vertebrae • Characteristics: – Spinous processes fuse to form tubercles Dorsal sacral foramina: nerves/blood vessels; posterior Pelvic sacral foramina: nerves/blood vessels; ventral Sacral canal: formed from vertebral foramina Sacral hiatus: tip of sacral canal
Coccyx • 3 -5 fused vertebrae • Characteristics: • -ligaments attach to hiatus
Thoracic Cage • Includes: – Sternum – Ribs – Vertebral column – Function: support shoulder Girdle and arms, protect viscera, Play role in breathing
Ribs • How many pairs? 12 • 12 pairs align with each of the 12 thoracic vertebrae • Ribs 1 -7 = True Ribs – Join sternum directly by costal cartilage
Ribs 8 -12= False Ribs -Do not directly join sternum Ribs 8, 9, 10 = join 7 th rib Ribs 11, 12 = do not join = FLOATING Ribs
Sternum • Aka breastbone, chestbone Manubrium: most superior portion Body: middle; majority of the sternum Xiphoid process: inferior tip of sternum
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