Assessment Description:
Describe the structural and functional differences between the vertebral types (cervical/thoracic/lumbar).
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SOLUTION to BIO-201: Human Anatomy and Physiology I: Lab - Topic 3 DQ 1.
SAMPLE 1
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The vertebral column is among the most important structures in the human body and comprises a series of different vertebrae that are differently structured and function. Such vertebral types are categorized into cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions, and all the vertebral areas have unique functions.
The cervical vertebrae are seven in the neck region and numbered C1 to C7. These are smaller and less robust in structure than thoracic and lumbar vertebrae due to their supportive role of the head and the associated mobility. The first cervical vertebra is called the atlas, and the second cervical vertebra is called the axis, which allows for the rotation of the human head (Ovsepyan et al., 2022). The cervical vertebrae possess transverse foramen, holes that pass the vertebral arteries and veins that supply to the brain. The vertebrae in this region have a smaller body with larger vertebral foramen because the cervical spinal cord is thick due to so many nerves.
T1 to T12 are the twelve thoracic vertebrae located in the upper and middle areas of the back. Lafage et al. (2020) state that these vertebrae are similar to the cervical vertebrae. Still, they are larger and have extended spinous processes, which are directed in the downward position for muscle and ligamentous attachment. Another characteristic of thoracic vertebrae is that the bodies and the transverse processes at the sides of the bodies bear costal facets that form the attachments for the ribs and contribute to the stability of the rib cage and the protection of thoracic organs. Compared to the cervical region, the thoracic has relatively little mobility to provide rigidity and strength for the upper half of the body.
Lumbar vertebrae: These are five vertebrae referred to as L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5 and are located in the lower back. According to Griffith et al. (2022), these are the largest and strongest vertebrae in the vertebral column, for they offer the most support to our body weight and are under much strain when lifting or walking. The lumbar vertebrae are characterized by large and massive bodies, and their spinous processes are short and broad at their bases. The lumbar vertebrae do not contain transverse foramina and costal facets present in the cervical and thoracic vertebrae, respectively, implying that their primary function is weight-bearing without much regard for complex movements and rib-related articulations. The lumbar region has limited motion, mainly in flexion and extension, but it is not as flexible as the cervical region in providing stability.
References
Griffith, J. F., Xiao, F., Hilkens, A., Griffith, I. H. Y., & Leung, J. C. S. (2022). Increased vertebral body area, disc and facet joint degeneration throughout the lumbar spine in patients with lumbosacral transitional vertebrae. European Radiology, 32(9), 6238-6246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-022-08736-0
Lafage, R., Steinberger, J., Pesenti, S., Assi, A., Elysee, J. C., Iyer, S., ... & Lafage, V. (2020). Understanding thoracic spine morphology, shape, and proportionality. Spine, 45(3), 149-157. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0000000000003227
Ovsepyan, A. L., Smirnov, A. A., Pustozerov, E. A., Mokhov, D. E., Mokhova, E. S., Trunin, E. M., ... & Starchik, D. A. (2022). Biomechanical analysis of the cervical spine segment as a method for studying the functional and dynamic anatomy of the human neck. Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger, 240, 151856. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aanat.2021.151856