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Axial Skeleton and Vertebral Column - Anatomy & Physiology

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Terms in this set (16)

  • Functions of the axial skeleton
    Supports and protects organs in dorsal and ventral body cavities, contains special sense organs, provides muscle attachment sites for posture, respiration, and stabilizing the appendicular skeleton.
  • Number of facial bones in the skull
    The skull contains 14 facial bones, including paired bones like maxillae, palatine, nasal, zygomatic, lacrimal, inferior nasal conchae, and single bones like vomer and mandible.
  • Purpose of paranasal sinuses
    Reduce skull weight, produce mucus, and allow air to resonate for voice production; located in frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, and maxillary bones.
  • Bones forming the cranium
    Eight bones: occipital, parietal (2), frontal, temporal (2), sphenoid, and ethmoid.
  • Composition of the adult vertebral column
    26 bones total: 24 vertebrae, 1 sacrum (5 fused vertebrae), and 1 coccyx (3–5 fused vertebrae).
  • Functions of the vertebral column
    Encloses and protects the spinal cord, supports the skull and body weight, transfers weight to lower limbs, and maintains upright posture.
  • Regions of the vertebral column from superior to inferior
    Cervical (7), thoracic (12), lumbar (5), sacral (1, fused), and coccygeal (1, fused).
  • Primary spinal curves
    Thoracic and sacral curves that sweep posteriorly; develop before birth to accommodate abdominopelvic organs.
  • Secondary spinal curves
    Cervical and lumbar curves that sweep anteriorly; develop after birth as the infant holds up the head and begins walking.
  • Characteristics of cervical vertebrae
    Smallest vertebrae with bifid spinous processes, costal processes, and transverse foramina for vertebral arteries.
  • Unique features of the atlas (C1)
    No body, articulates with occipital condyles allowing 'yes' head movement, has anterior and posterior vertebral arches.
  • Unique features of the axis (C2)
    Has the dens (odontoid process) formed by fusion with atlas body; allows 'no' head rotation; no intervertebral disc between atlas and axis.
  • Vertebra prominens (C7) characteristics
    Last cervical vertebra with a long, slender spinous process, resembles thoracic vertebra, may have transverse foramina, and ligamentum nuchae attachment.
  • Features of thoracic vertebrae
    12 vertebrae with heart-shaped bodies, long slender spinous processes angled posterocaudally, dorsolateral transverse processes, and rib articulation facets.
  • Features of lumbar vertebrae
    Largest vertebrae with thick oval bodies, small triangular vertebral foramen, laterally pointing transverse processes, and stumpy, flattened spinous processes.
  • Functions of the thoracic cage
    Protects heart, lungs, thymus; serves as attachment for muscles involved in respiration, vertebral column positioning, and upper limb movement.