vertebral arch

Examples of vertebral arch in the following topics:

• Parts of a Vertebra

  • A vertebra consists of two parts: an anterior segment, or the vertebral body; and a posterior part, or the vertebral (neural) arch.
  • The posterior vertebral or neural arch that encloses the spinal cord.
  • The intervertebral discs that act as ligaments between the vertebral bodies.
  • The vertebral arch is formed from two, short, thick processes called pediments that extend posteriorly from the lateral sides of the vertebral body, before joining together at the midline with the laminae.
  • A single spinous process projects backwards and downwards from the center of the vertebral arch and it serves as a major attachment point for muscles and ligaments of the back.

• The Spine

  • Kyphosis is an exaggerated concave (kyphotic) curvature of the thoracic vertebral column; it is commonly known as "humpback."
  • A typical vertebra consists of the vertebral body and vertebral arch.
  • These parts together enclose the vertebral foramen that contains the spinal cord.
  • The vertebral arch is formed by a pair of pedicles and a pair of laminae.
  • Two transverse processes and one spinous process are posterior to (behind) the vertebral body.

• Overview of the Spinal Cord

  • The spinal cord runs along the inside of the vertebral column and serves as the signaling conduit between the brain and the periphery.
  • The birth defect spina bifida is a failure of the vertebral arch to close, exposing the spinal cord.
  • The spinal cord, protected by the vertebral column, begins at the occipital bone and extends down to the space between the first and second lumbar vertebrae.
  • The cauda equina ("horse's tail") is the name for the collection of nerves in the vertebral column that extends beyond the cord.
  • Relationship between the spinal cord and vertebral column, delineating the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar sections.

• Thoracic Aorta

  • The thoracic aorta forms part of the descending aorta and is continuous with the aortic arch at its origin before becoming the abdominal aorta.
  • Contained within the posterior mediastinal cavity it begins at the lower border of the fourth thoracic vertebra where it is continuous with the aortic arch, and ends in front of the lower border of the twelfth thoracic vertebra at the aortic hiatus in the diaphragm.
  • At its commencement, the thoracic aorta is situated on the left of the vertebral column; it approaches the median line as it descends, and at its termination lies directly in front of the column.
  • The thoracic aorta's relation, from above downward, is as follows: anteriorly with the root of the left lung, the pericardium, the esophagus and the diaphragm; posteriorly with the vertebral column; on the right side with the hemiazygos veins and thoracic duct; and on the left side with the left pleura and lung.

• Arch of the Aorta

  • The arch of the aorta follows the ascending aorta and begins at the level of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side.
  • The arch of the aorta, or the transverse aortic arch, is continuous with the upper border of the ascending aorta and begins at the level of the upper border of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side.
  • Three vessels come out of the aortic arch: the brachiocephalic artery, the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery.
  • In approximately 20% of individuals the left common carotid artery arises from the brachiocephalic artery rather than the aortic arch, and in approximately 7% of individuals the left subclavian artery also arises here.
  • This diagram shows the arch of the aorta and its branches.

• Anastomoses

  • Arterio-arterial anastomoses include actual joins (e.g. palmar arch, plantar arch) and potential ones, which may only function if the  normal vessel is damaged or blocked (e.g. coronary arteries and cortical branch of cerebral arteries).
  • Blood flows up to the brain through the vertebral arteries and through the internal carotid arteries.

• Arches of the Feet

  • The arches of the foot are formed by the tarsal and metatarsal bones.
  • The longitudinal arch of the foot can be broken down into several smaller arches.
  • The main arches are the antero-posterior arches, which may, for descriptive purposes, be regarded as divisible into two types—a medial and a lateral.
  • In contrast, the lateral longitudinal arch is very low.
  • In addition to the longitudinal arches, the foot presents a series of transverse arches.

• Autonomic Plexuses

  • The superficial part of the cardiac plexus lies beneath the arch of the aorta, in front of the right pulmonary artery.
  • Superior hypogastric plexus: The superior hypogastric plexus (in older texts, hypogastric plexus or presacral nerve) is a plexus of nerves situated on the vertebral bodies below the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta.

• Development of the Cardiovascular System

  • The aortic arches or pharyngeal arch arteries are a series of six paired, embryological vascular structures which give rise to several major arteries .
  • The third aortic arch constitutes the commencement of the internal carotid artery, and is named the carotid arch.
  • The fourth left arch constitutes the arch of the aorta between the origin of the left carotid artery and the termination of the ductus arteriosus.
  • The fifth arch disappears on both sides.The proximal part of the sixth right arch persists as the proximal part of the right pulmonary artery, while the distal section degenerates.
  • A double aortic arch occurs with the development of an abnormal right aortic arch, in addition to the left aortic arch, forming a vascular ring around the trachea and esophagus, which usually causes difficulty breathing and swallowing.

• Flatfoot and Clawfoot

  • Flatfoot and crowfoot are medical conditions that appear as flat and high arches, respectively.
  • The appearance of flat feet is normal and common in infants, partly due to "baby fat" which masks the developing arch, and partly because the arch has not yet fully developed.
  • Flat arches in children usually become proper arches and high arches while the child progresses through adolescence and into adulthood.
  • A high arch is the opposite of a flat foot, and somewhat less common.
  • High arch in foot of a person with a hereditary neuropathy.