Chapter II - Vertebral Column
Structure of Bone and Vertebral Column
Structure of Bone
The center of the bone is called medullary cavity, which contains the bone marrow. This bone marrow looks like blood with gritty and fatty
Chapter II - Vertebral Column
Structure of Bone and Vertebral Column
Structure of Bone
The center of the bone is called medullary cavity, which contains the bone marrow. This bone marrow looks like blood with gritty and fatty particles and is responsible for the hematopoiesis (the process of formation and development of the various types of blood cells.) Bones of the extremities are the examples of long bones. Only the long bones are responsible for the production of blood.
The axial and appendicular portions of the skeleton, put together, have 206 bones. The axial section includes the bones of the skull, thorax, and vertebrae. The appendicular section comprises the bones of the shoulder, upper extremities, hips, and lower extremities. While the axial section forms the body cavities and provides protection for the internal organs, the appendicular section attaches to the axial section as appendages. The vertebral column of adult human being consists of 26 bones and supports the entire body. It also houses the spinal cord.
Detailed know how of the vertebral column is a must to understand the pathology associated with.
The adult vertebral (spinal) column consists of 26 bones that are grouped as follows:
7 cervical vertebrae in the neck
12 thoracic vertebrae that articulate with the 12 pairs of ribs
5 lumbar vertebrae of the lower back
1 sacrum which is actually a fusion of 5 sacral vertebrae
1coccyx or "tailbone" which is a fusion of 4 coccygeal vertebrae
Intervertebral discs are located between adjacent vertebrae. These fibrocartilage discs form strong joints and absorb spinal compression shock.
Various spinal disorders include:
Herniated (slipped) disc - protrusion or rupture of an intervertebral disc
Scoliosis - exaggerated lateral bending of spinal column
Kyphosis - "hunchback" exaggerated thoracic curvature
Lordosis - "swayback" exaggerated lumbar curvature
Spina bifida - congenital defect with incomplete closure of the vertebral column
Epidural anesthesia, often used in obstetrics, is injected into the sacrum at the sacral hiatus.
In a lumbar puncture or spinal tap, spinal fluid is removed using a long needle inserted between L3-L4 or L4-L5.
The first seven vertebrae referred to as the cervical vertebrae make the support framework for the neck. The first cervical vertebra, called atlas, supports the skull, and the second cervical vertebra, called axis, makes the rotation of the skull possible.
Thoracic vertebrae, 12 in toto, are located below the cervical vertebrae and support the chest while also working as the articulation points for the ribs. The five lumbar vertebrae support most of the weight of the torso. The 5 sacral vertebra