23_Axial Skeleton_Vertebral Column and Thoracic Cage

Anatomy of the Vertebrae and Thoracic Cage

• The vertebrae consist of the spinous process, transverse process, vertebral arch, vertebral foramen, and intervertebral foramen.
• Each vertebra has intervertebral foramen, superior and inferior articular facets, and articulates with adjacent vertebrae.
• Intervertebral discs absorb stress and prevent vertebrae from grinding against each other, with anulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus as their components.
• The cervical vertebrae include the Atlas (C1) and Axis (C2), with distinct features such as the absence of a body or spinous process in Atlas and the dens elevation in Axis.
• Thoracic vertebrae have costal facets for articulation with the ribs and resemble the head of a giraffe.
• Lumbar vertebrae have large transverse processes and short spinous processes, resembling the head of a moose.
• The sacrum has various features including the superior border, promontory, sacral canal, and sacral foramina, and articulates with the coccyx at the apex.
• The thoracic cage, consisting of ribs, sternum, and thoracic vertebrae, protects the heart and lungs.
• The sternum includes different regions such as the manubrium, body, xiphoid process, and costal notches for articulation with the ribs.
• Ribs are classified into true ribs (1-7) and false ribs (8-12), and articulate with the thoracic vertebrae via their head and tubercle.
• The articulation between thoracic vertebrae and ribs involves the head of the rib and the tubercle articulating with costal facets and demifacets of the vertebrae.
• The anatomy of the vertebrae and thoracic cage is essential for understanding the structure and function of the spine and ribcage.

Anatomy of the Vertebrae and Thoracic Cage

• The vertebrae consist of the spinous process, transverse process, vertebral arch, vertebral foramen, and intervertebral foramen.
• Each vertebra has intervertebral foramen, superior and inferior articular facets, and articulates with adjacent vertebrae.
• Intervertebral discs absorb stress and prevent vertebrae from grinding against each other, with anulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus as their components.
• The cervical vertebrae include the Atlas (C1) and Axis (C2), with distinct features such as the absence of a body or spinous process in Atlas and the dens elevation in Axis.
• Thoracic vertebrae have costal facets for articulation with the ribs and resemble the head of a giraffe.
• Lumbar vertebrae have large transverse processes and short spinous processes, resembling the head of a moose.
• The sacrum has various features including the superior border, promontory, sacral canal, and sacral foramina, and articulates with the coccyx at the apex.
• The thoracic cage, consisting of ribs, sternum, and thoracic vertebrae, protects the heart and lungs.
• The sternum includes different regions such as the manubrium, body, xiphoid process, and costal notches for articulation with the ribs.
• Ribs are classified into true ribs (1-7) and false ribs (8-12), and articulate with the thoracic vertebrae via their head and tubercle.
• The articulation between thoracic vertebrae and ribs involves the head of the rib and the tubercle articulating with costal facets and demifacets of the vertebrae.
• The anatomy of the vertebrae and thoracic cage is essential for understanding the structure and function of the spine and ribcage.