Vertebral Fractures

3 Vertebral Fractures



Anatomy of the Vertebral Column



image

Vertebral Column and Spine



Articulated Vertebrae and Spine



• Number: 31 = C7 + T12 + L5 + S5 + Co4

• Primary curvatures: thoracic, sacral; present in utero

• Secondary curvatures: cervical, lumbar; develop postnatally

• Curvatures dependent on body shapes and sizes and disc shapes and sizes

• Consequences of upright gait, large head, high-speed travel: major fracture forces typically are on cervical or lumbar vertebrae

• Physical landmarks for surgery
image C2-C3 disc: level of mandible

image C3 body: level of hyoid bone

image C4-C5 bodies: level of thyroid cartilage

image C7 spine: vertebra prominens

image T7 body: level of inferior angle of scapula

image L4-L5 disc: level of iliac crest


Typical Vertebrae



• Parts and landmarks: body, pedicles, lamina(e), spine, transverse processes, superior articular facets, inferior articular facets

• Associated rib components (variable): developmental (homeobox) anomalies can produce cervical and lumbar ribs.


Cervical Vertebrae



• C1, atlas
image No body, thin anterior and posterior arches, posterior tubercle, no laminae or spine

image Lateral masses with superior (atlantooccipital) and interior (atlantoaxial) articular facets

image No transverse foramina grooves for vertebral arteries entering foramen magnum

• C2, axis
image Body includes dens or odontoid process representing developmental C1 body.

image Broad lamina with bifid posterior process

image Large interarticular part with planar superior articular facet for C1, more typical inferior articular process for C3

image Strongest cervical vertebra

• Foramina transversaria
image Contain vertebral arteries from C6 through C2

image Anterior rims are rib components.

• C3-C7, typical cervical vertebrae
image Large, upward-cupped bodies

image Bifid spinous processes

image C6 and C7 spines are longest of the cervical vertebrae.

image Superior and inferior articular facets constrain flexion, extension, and lateral flexion.


Thoracic Vertebrae



• “Typical” vertebrae

• Synovial hemifacets on upper and lower body for heads of ribs; vertebral-costal joints

• Synovial facets on transverse processes for costotransverse joints with tubercles of ribs

image

Lumbar Vertebrae and Intervertebral Disc



Lumbar Vertebrae



• Largest bodies of all regional vertebrae, bear weight of body above

• Spinal foramina are larger superiorly, and spinal roots are larger inferiorly: L5 spinal nerves fit tightest.


Sacral Vertebrae



• Fusion of sacral bodies typically occurs in adulthood, though disc remnants can remain visible on imaging.

• Parts and landmarks
image Ala

image Sacroiliac articular surfaces

image Lumbosacral articular (disc) surface

image Promontory

image Fused bodies (5)

image Anterior and posterior foramina

image Coccyx (~4 segments)

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  3. Small Intestine Diseases
  4. Ankle and Foot Fractures

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Aug 12, 2016 | Posted by in ANATOMY | Comments Off on Vertebral Fractures

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