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Anatomy: The Vertebral Column

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Please help with following questions.

1. Provide a discussion of the normal anatomy and physiology of the vertebral column.

2. Describe the pathological (disease) processes involved in degeneration and herniation and of the vertebral disks and how these disease processes represent an alteration from the normal physiology of the vertebral column.

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Solution Summary

This essay is about the vertebral column and how it work in the body.

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The normal anatomy and physiology of the vertebral column is made up of a series of irregularly shaped bones. These number 33 or 34 in the child, but because of fusions that occur later in the lower part of the spine there are just 26 separate bones in the adult spinal column. Each of these vertebrae except for the first two cervical vertebrae has a drum-shaped body (centrum) located toward the front (anteriorly) that serves as the weight-bearing part; disks of cartilage between the vertebral bodies act as shock absorbers and provide flexibility. In the center of each vertebrae is a large hole called a ...

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