How many sections are there to the verebral column?
Five
How many bones in the cervical section(the neck)
7
How many bones in the thoracic section (the trunk)
12
How many bones in the lumbar section (lower back)
5
How many bones in the Sacrum (pelvic girdle)
5 (fused together)
How many bones in the Coccyx section (below sacrum)
4 (fused together)
How many vertebrae does an adult have as the sacrum and coccyx are fused bones?
33 child and 24 adult (minus 5 sacrum - 4 coccyx as these bones fuse toether to make one bone each)
Name the abnormalities affecting the alignment of the spine
Scoliosis - Lordosis - Kyphosis
Describe Scoliosis
abnormal curvature of the thoracic vertebrae - causing spine to lean to one side
Lordosis
abnormal curvature of the lumbar causing lumbar to curve and tilting pelvis fwd (looks like a fat Lord with fat tummy)
Kyphosis
abnormal curvature of the thoracic vertebrae where the vertebrae is so rounded the shoulders are infront of the hips
the vertebrae structure is made up of
1.the body (centrum) 2. the betebral (neural)arch 3. the processes
describe the body or centrum
thick, disc shaped anterior portion, weight bearing part of vertebrae
interverebral discs
attach in between the bodies of each verebra and blood vessels enter laterally
vertebral or neural arch
extends posteriorly leaves a space for spinal cord, fat and connective tissue and blood vessels
How many processes does the verebra have?
7 in total - 2 transverse (horizontal) 1 singe spinous process projects posteriorly acting as points of attachments for muscles. 2 pairs (4) above and below to form joints with other verebrae.
Interverebral discs are made up of?
consist of an outer fibrous ring and inner soft pulpy highly elastic structure.
Intervertebral discs functions?
Form strong joints, allow various movements, absorb vertical shock. They flatten, broaden and bulge in order to deal with force.
How many nature curves does the spine have?
three
What are the curves?
2 lordotic (hollow curves) one at the cervial vertebrae and one at the lumbar vertebrae
