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A&P Vocabulary words
anatomy
Term | Definition |
---|---|
vertebral column or spine | the spine, formed of a number of individual bones called vertebrae and two composite bones |
vertebrae | the spine consists of 33 separate bones called vertebrae |
intervertebral discs | the individual vertebrae are separated by pads of flexible fibrocartilage |
herniated discs | drying of the discs, along with weakening of the ligaments of the vertebral column |
primary curvatures | spinal curvatures in the thoracic and sacral regions |
secondary curvatures | curvatures in the cervical and lumbar regions |
body or centrum | weight-bearing part of the vertebra facing anteriorly in the vertebral column |
vertebral arch | arch formed from the joining of all posterior extensions, the laminae and pedicles from the vertebral body |
vertebral foreman | canal through which the spinal cord passes |
transerverse processes | two lateral projections from the vertebral arch |
spinous process | single projection arising from the posterior aspect of the vertebral arch |
superior & inferior articular processes | paired projections lateral to the vertebral foramen, allowing a vertebra to form joints with adjacent vertebrae |
cervical vertebrae | forms the neck region of the spine |
atlas | the first cervical vertebra; articulates with the occipital bone of the skull and the second cervical vertebra |
axis | (1) the second cervical vertebra; has a vertical projection called the dens around which the atlas rotates; (2) the imaginary line about which a joint or structure revolves |
dens | acts as the pivot point |
thoracic vertebraae | larger than the cervical vertebrae and are distinguished by the fact that they are the only vertebrae to articulate with the ribs |
lumbar vertebrae | short, hatched-shaped spinous processes make them look like a moose head from the latt |
sacrum | formed by the fusion of five vertebrae |
coccyx | formed from the fusion of three to five tiny, irregularly shaped vertebrae |