Spinal Column

Question 1

7 Functions of spinal column

Answer 1

-protection of spinal cord
-imposes structural form
-muscles work through attachment to vertebral column to change body shape and create locomotion
-allows force transfer
-segmented for control of rigidity
-allows lateral bending for manoeuvrability during locomotion
-flexion and extension can increase stride length and allows storage of elastic strain energy

Question 2

Vertebrae in the body

Answer 2

-Vertebral column (spine) consists of individual vertebrae located in the midline of the body from the base of the skull to the tip of the tail
-unpaired bones separated by intervertebral discs

Question 3

5 types of vertebrae in dog skeleton

Answer 3

-cervical
-thoracic
-lumbar
-sacrum
-coccygeal

Question 4

How many vertebrae in cervical section of dog?

Answer 4

7

Question 5

How many vertebrae in thoracic section of dog?

Answer 5

13

Question 6

How many vertebrae in lumbar section of dog?

Answer 6

7

Question 7

How many vertebrae in sacrum of dog?

Answer 7

3

Question 8

How many vertebrae in coccygeal section of dog?

Answer 8

20-23

Question 9

Dog/cat spinal formula

Answer 9

C7 T13 L7 S3 Cx6-23

Question 10

General anatomy of vertebrae

Answer 10

-cylindrical body
-neural arch dorsally helps to form the vertebral foramen
-processes (spinous, transverse, articular)

Question 11

Name 1-6 of vertebrae

Answer 11

1-spinous process
2-transverse process
3-body
4-vertebral foramen
5-articular process
6-lamina

Question 12

Intervertebral discs

Answer 12

Disc between bodies of vertebrae

Question 13

Function of intervertebral discs

Answer 13

-prevents damage to spinal cord (fibrocartilaginous shock absorbers)
-spread compressive forces
-flexion of spine compresses ventral aspect of disc

Question 14

What do intervertebral discs contain?

Answer 14

Annulus fibrosus - outer tough fibrous connective tissue - becomes under tension during compressive force
Nucleolus purposes - inner gelatinous core material

Question 15

Name 1-4 of intervertebral discs

Answer 15

1-vertebral body
2-intervertebral foramen
3-anulus fribrosus
4-nucleus pulposus

Question 16

Nuchal ligament

Answer 16

-fibroelastic connective tissue that supports the head and neck

Question 17

Structure of atlas

Answer 17

-no body
-no spinous process
-two large transverse processes

Question 18

Function of atlas

Answer 18

-articulates with skull
-occipital condyles = Atlanto-occipital joint
-allows nodding movement of head

Question 19

Structure of axis

Answer 19

-elongated spinous process
-odontoid process

Question 20

Function of elongated spinous process in axis

Answer 20

For the attachment of neck muscles and nuchal ligament

Question 21

Function of odontoid process in axis

Answer 21

-projection of bone on the cranial aspect which articulates with the atlas
-acts as pivot to allow rotation of head

Question 22

Name 1-4 of atlas

Answer 22

1-wing
2-intervertebral foramen
3-alar notch
4-ventral tubercle on ventral arch

Question 23

Name 1-5 of axis

Answer 23

1-odontoid process
2-spinous process
3-body
4-costo-transverse process on atlas
5-transverse foramen

Question 24

Name 1-4 of cervical vertebrae

Answer 24

1-spinous process
2-costo-transverse foramen
3-costo-transverse process
4-body

Question 25

Features of cervical vertebrae

Answer 25

-longer than other vertebrae -similar basic appearance with increasing length of spinous process

Question 26

Features of thoracic vertebrae

Answer 26

-short bodies -distinctive tall dorsal spinous processes that gradually decrease in height -transverse processes very small - articulate with ribs

Question 27

Name 1-5 of thoracic vertebrae

Answer 27

1-transverse process 2-dorsal spinous process 3-caudal vertebral notch 4-costal arch 5-body

Question 28

Features of lumbar vertebrae

Answer 28

-longer bodies that increase in width through the series -transverse processes are large and point cranio-ventrally -spinous processes point cranially

Question 29

Function of transverse processes in lumbar vertebrae

Answer 29

Muscle attachment

Question 30

Features of sacrum

Answer 30

-three fused vertebrae -articulates with ilium of pelvis and the sacroiliac joint

Question 31

Name 1-9 of lumbar vertebrae

Answer 31

1-transverse process 2-cranial articular process 3-mammillary process 4-spinous process 5-neural arch 6-caudal articular process 7-accessory process 8-caudal vertebral notch 9-body

Question 32

Function lumbar vertebrae

Answer 32

-longer bodies that increase in width through the series -transverse processes are large and point cranio-ventrally -spinous processes point cranially

Question 33

Features of coccygeal vertebrae

Answer 33

-vary in shape and number -make up tail -progressively smaller and less complex

Question 34

Function of coccygeal vertebrae

Answer 34

-balance and locomotion in some species -highly mobile -behavioural movements

Question 35

Name 1-4 of coccygeal vertebrae

Answer 35

1-spinous process 2-vertebral foramen 3-transverse process 4-body

Question 36

What is the increased mobility of the spine associated with in carnivores?

Answer 36

-short spinous and transverse processes -thick IV discs -small vertebral bodies -asternal ribs

Question 37

Why is there decreased mobility in the cranial thoracic region of dog?

Answer 37

Due to spinal processes and costovertebral articulations

Question 38

Why is there decreased mobility in lumbar region of dog?

Answer 38

Due to longer transverse processes

Question 39

What regions of spine have high mobility in dogs?

Answer 39

Cervical and coccygeal regions

Question 40

Flexibity of spine in carnivores compared to herbivores

Answer 40

Carnivores have more flexible spine with increased dorsal-ventral flexion and extension

Question 41

Translational movements along spine as well as longitudinal compression and extension

Answer 41

-dorso-ventral flexion and extension -lateral bending -axial rotation