Osteology is the study of the structure and function of bones. This branch of descriptive anatomy not only studies bones in general, also includes specific bones. Notches and grooves are unique and characteristic of each bone.
In human osteology we study the anatomy of the skeleton, the physiology and morphology of bone. As well as the growth and development in the available material.
Human osteology is closely linked to archeology, because it allows us to know our ancestors. Human osteology can also be used in paleontology and forensic anthropology.
For example, it is often thought that the skull is just a bone itself, but in reality the same are all the bones of the head, including lower jaw. We are talking about more than 20 bones, that can be divided into two large groups, the facial bones and the bones that make up the neurocranium.
In the development of this article we will focus on the relationship of osteology and spine.
Index
Spinal Osteology
Before entering the spinal region, we must mention the bony structures of the ribs and sternum. These help protect vital structures such as our lungs and heart from damage.. It also helps us breathe.
The ribs and sternum are as diversified as the skull in some way. For instance, the sternum is divided into three distinct sections: handlebar, body and xiphoid process.
The osteology of the spine encompasses all bone structures and their immediate environment.
The spine is located in the posterior midline, extending from the base of the skull to the natal cleft. She holds her head, the scapular waist, the rib cage and joins the pelvis.
This bone system is composed of 24 vertebrae separated by intervertebral discs and sacral segments. The vertebrae are grouped into groups based on osteology in this way: 7 vertebrae in the cervical spine, 12 vertebrae in the thoracic spine and 5 vertebrae in the lumbar spine. The sacrum has 5 fused vertebral segments, and the coccyx has 3 a 5 vertebral segments.
Osteology: Vertebrae
The vertebral body is largely responsible for supporting the weight of the spine and the body above it.. The size of the vertebral bodies increases along the spine in relation to the size and weight of the body it supports.. The intervertebral disc is the one that helps articulate each vertebra up and down.
Then we find the neural arch, which is composed of the bone posterior to the vertebral body and which has several individual components that fuse to form a ring that surrounds the spinal canal.
Osteology: cervical spine
The cervical spine is the upper part of the spinal column that extends from the base of the skull to the thorax at the level of the first vertebra.. In general, consists of seven vertebrae: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7. It fulfills the function of supporting the skull and maintaining the relative position of the spinal cord.
Unlike the atlas, the axis has a vertebral body and an additional process called the odontoid process. This process allows a large degree of rotation between the atlas and the axis.. Opposite the odontoid process is the spinous process bifida.
The atlas and the axis (C1 and C2 respectively) have unique characteristics. The cervical vertebrae C3 through C6 are known as typical vertebrae because they share the same basic characteristics as most of the vertebrae along the spine.. The prominent vertebra (C7) deviates from the general pattern, the most prominent spinous process is frequently found.
The thoracic spine is located in the middle of the spine. Extends below C7 to above L1 in the lumbar spine. The thoracic vertebrae are 12, called T1-T12.
In the lumbar vertebrae the segments are larger. They are characterized by the absence of the transversary foramen and by the absence of facets on the sides of the body.
General characteristics of the thoracic spine: Triangular foramen vertebral form, quadrilateral spinal process and large body with kidney geometry.
The fifth lumbar vertebra has a particular characteristic, and it is that his body is much deeper in front than behind, to facilitate sacrovertebral articulation
The thoracic spine is characterized by its articulation with the ribs, these restrict movement a bit. Each vertebra has three points of articulation with the ribs. This area is the most mobile of all the segments of the spinal column..
The facets are those that are found on the sides of the vertebral body and help the articulation of the ribs. If the facet is between 2 vertebral bodies we name it demifaceta, these look like depressions in the vertebral body.
The superior demifacet of a thoracic vertebra articulates with the corresponding rib, known as the costovertebral joint. This rib then articulates again with the costal facet in a process called the costotransverse joint..
The osteology of the lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae belonging to the middle and lower spine. They play an important role in lumbar lordosis, a natural curve in the spine, which is convex in the anterior sense. It's a necessary curve, because thanks to this the spinal column cushions the many daily loads.
They are similar in shape to other vertebrae, the osteology of each lumbar vertebra can be seen as follows:
- The body is shaped like a kidney, it is convex in the anterior part, flattened at the back. The vertebral canal is triangular.
- The transverse processes are projected laterally on both sides. L3 has the longest transverse processes of the lumbar spine.
- The blade is wide and thick.
- The superior and inferior articular processes are located at the lateral angle of the laminae, in union with the pedicle, connected through the pars interarticularis
- The spinous process is short, gross, and is shaped like an ax.
Facet joints, zygapophyseal calls, allow bending movements, extension and abduction. Rotation is very limited and may occur sparingly in the lumbosacral joints.
Osteology: the sacrum
The sacrum is a large, triangular-shaped bone at the base of the spine, in the upper and posterior part of the pelvic cavity. It inserts like a wedge between the two hip bones.
Its upper part connects with the last lumbar vertebra and the lower part with the coccyx. In children under 15 years, occurs in five unfused vertebrae. These begin to merge between the ages of 16 a 18 years. At the age of 26 years are expected to be completely fused into a single bone.