Question

What is avertebral column? Briefly discuss the anatomy of the Vertebral column.

Answer 1

Vertebral Column:

• The vertebral column is made up of a series of independent, irregular bones, called the vertebrae, intervened by fibro-cartilaginous discs, termed the intervertebral discs.
• The vertebrae are firmly connected to one another in such a manner that very little movement is possible between adjacent bones.
• The vertebral column supports the weight of the body and transmits it to the pelvis and lower extremities.
• It also protects the spinal cord and its membranes.
• A typical vertebra consists of a body and a vertebral arch.
• These two enclose a foramen, termed the vertebral foramen through which the spinal cord is passed.
• The vertebral arch presents a pair of pedicles and a pair of laminae.
• It has a spinous process, two transverse processes and four articular processes.
• The vertebrae derive their names from the respective regions where they lie.
• Accordingly they can be grouped under the names of:
  • Cervical - They are seven in number. They are the smallest of the moveable vertebrae.
  • Thoracic - Twelve in number.
  • Lumbar - Five in number.
  • Sacral - The five sacral vertebrae fuse with one another to form a large, triangular bone, called the sacrum.
  • Coccygeal or Caudal - The rudimentary vertebrae of this region form a small triangular bone by fusion.The number of vertebrae is usually 4, but it may be 5 or even 3.
• The vertebrae of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions are independent and are called true vertebrae while the other vertebrae, i.e., the sacral and coccygeal vertebrae are termed false vertebrae as they are fused together.
• When looked at from the lateral side, the vertebral column presents four curves, namely, cervical, thoracic, lumbar and pelvic.
• The thoracic and pelvic curves develop during foetal life, and are termed primary curves while the cervical and lumbar are secondary as they appear later.
• The cervical curve appears when the child endeavours to hold up its head and to sit upright, while the lumbar curve develops when the child begins to walk.
• These four curves make the vertebral column S-shaped as the cervical curve is convex forwards, the thoracic one is concave forwards, the lumbar is convex forwards, while the pelvic curve is again concave forwards.

Vertebral column:

• The structure which encloses the spinal cord and the fluid surrounding the spinal cord is called the vertebral column.
• This is also known as backbone, spinal column, and spine.