| Question | Answer |
| What passes through the intervertebral foramina? | spinal nerves and blood vessels |
| What is a secondary or compensatory curve? | one that develops after birth |
| How is the vertebral column held together? | via ligaments |
| What is a primary curve? | the curve present at birth |
| When does the lumbar curve begin to develop? | 1 to 1 1/2 years when the child begins to walk |
| What are the functions of the vertebral column? | encloses and protects the spinal cord, acts as a support for the trunk, supports the skull, provides for attachment of deep muscles of the back and ribs. |
| Alternate name of zygapophyseal joints | interarticular facet joints |
| What is the difference between female and male lumbar curves? | females have a more pronounced lumbar curve and have a more acute angle at the lumbosacral junction |
| Which are the false vertebrae? | the fixed or fuzed lower sections – sacrum and coccyx |
| Why kind of curve is the lumbar curve? | convex anteriorly, lordotic curve |
| Which way are laminae projected from the pedicles? | posteriorly and medially |
| What type of marrow is contained in irregular bones? | red |
| What is the inside of the intervertebral disk called? | nucleus pulposus |
| What is a slipped disk? | herniation of the nucleus pulposus |
| What is the outer fibrocartilage of the intervertebral disk called? | annulus fibrosus |
| Is the pelvis part of the axial or appendicular skeleton? | appendicular |
| What is the function of an irregular bone? | muscle, tendon, bone and ligament attachment |
| How many sacral vertebrae are there? | 5 |
