vertebral column

(noun)

The series of vertebrae that protect the spinal cord; the spinal column.

Related Terms

Examples of vertebral column in the following topics:

  • General Characteristics of the Spine

    • The vertebral column (also known as the backbone or spine), is a tall, thin organ located dorsally that extends from the base of the spine to the pelvis.
    • Viewed laterally the vertebral column presents several curves that correspond to the different regions of the column.
    • The vertebral column has 33 bones.
    • Each color represents a section of the column.
    • Describe the purpose of the vertebral column and its development from fetus to toddler

  • The Spine

    • Kyphosis is an exaggerated concave (kyphotic) curvature of the thoracic vertebral column; it is commonly known as "humpback."
    • In human anatomy, the vertebral column (backbone or spine) usually consists of 24 articulating vertebrae and nine fused vertebrae in the sacrum and the coccyx.
    • A typical vertebra consists of the vertebral body and vertebral arch.
    • The vertebral arch is formed by a pair of pedicles and a pair of laminae.
    • When viewed laterally, the vertebral column presents several curves corresponding to the different regions of the column: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and pelvic.

  • Human Axial Skeleton

    • The axial skeleton forms the central axis of the human body and consists of the skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage.
    • The vertebral column, or spinal column, surrounds and protects the spinal cord, supports the head, and acts as an attachment point for the ribs and muscles of the back and neck.
    • The adult vertebral column is comprised of 26 bones: the 24 vertebrae, the sacrum, and the coccyx bones.
    • The arched curvature of the vertebral column increases its strength and flexibility, allowing it to absorb shocks like a spring.
    • The axial skeleton consists of the bones of the skull, ossicles of the middle ear, hyoid bone, vertebral column, and rib cage.

  • The Evolution of Craniata and Vertebrata

    • Hagfish are the only known living animals that have a skull, but not a vertebral column .
    • Vertebrates are members of the subphylum Vertebrata, the clade Craniata, and the phylum Chordata.
    • Vertebrates display the four characteristic features of chordates, but they are named for the vertebral column composed of a series of bony vertebrae joined together as a backbone .
    • In adult vertebrates, the vertebral column replaces the embryonic notochord.
    • All vertebrates are in the Craniata clade and have a cranium.

  • Overview of the Axial Skeleton

    • It is composed of: the human skull, the ossicles of the middle ear, the hyoid bone of the throat, the rib cage (including the sternum), and the vertebral column.
    • The vertebral column usually consists of 24 articulating vertebrae and nine fused vertebrae in the sacrum and the coccyx.

  • Characteristics of Vertebrates

    • More than 64,000 species of vertebrates have been described, but the extant vertebrate species represent only a small portion of all the vertebrates that have existed.
    • All vertebrates are built along the basic chordate body plan: a stiff rod running through the length of the animal (vertebral column), with a hollow tube of nervous tissue (the spinal cord) above it and the gastrointestinal tract below.
    • Vertebrates are defined by the presence of the vertebral column.
    • In vertebrates, the notochord develops into the vertebral column or spine: a series of bony vertebrae each separated by mobile discs .
    • Vertebrates are differentiated by having a vertebral column.

  • Limitations of Phylogenetic Trees

    • For example, the tree in the diagram shows that the oldest trait is the vertebral column, followed by hinged jaws, and so forth.
    • So, simply because a vertebral column evolved does not mean that invertebrate evolution ceased.
    • This ladder-like phylogenetic tree of vertebrates is rooted by an organism that lacked a vertebral column.

  • Abnormal Curves of the Vertebral Column

    • Viewed laterally, the vertebral column presents several curves which correspond to the different regions of the column: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and pelvic.
    • Retrolisthesis is a posterior displacement of one vertebral body with respect to the adjacent vertebral segment, but is not a dislocation.
    • Scoliosis is typically classified as either congenital (caused by vertebral anomalies present at birth), idiopathic (cause unknown, subclassified as infantile, juvenile, adolescent, or adult, according to when onset occurred), or neuromuscular (having developed as a secondary symptom of another condition, such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy, or physical trauma).
    • In this procedure, bone (either harvested from elsewhere in the body autograft or from a donor allograft) is grafted to the vertebrae so that when it heals they will form one solid bone mass and the vertebral column becomes rigid.
    • Distinguish among the types of abnormal curvature of the vertebral column

  • Agnathans: Jawless Fishes

    • Jawless fishes or agnathans are craniates that represent an ancient vertebrate lineage that arose over one half-billion years ago.
    • Unlike true vertebrates, hagfishes do not replace the notochord with a vertebral column during development.
    • However, lampreys develop some vertebral elements as an adult.
    • Their notochord is surrounded by a cartilaginous structure called an arcualia, which may resemble an evolutionarily-early form of the vertebral column.
    • These agnathans are classified as Myxini and do not have a vertebral column.

  • Fractures of the Vertebral Column

    • A spinal fracture (or vertebral fracture) is a fracture affecting the bones of the spinal column.
    • A spinal fracture (or vertebral fracture) is a fracture affecting the bones of the spinal column.