The spinal cord is made up of 7 cervical vertebrae, 5 lumbar vertebrae, 4 or 5 fused sacral vertebrae, 4 or 5 coccygeal vertebrae and how many thoracic vertebrae?

1. A

   8

2. B

   5

3. C

   12

4. D

   10

Appeared in: AIIMS Nagpur NO- 2020

Explanation

• The human vertebral column is divided into five regions.
• The thoracic region is located in the upper back, between the cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) regions.
• It is composed of 12 vertebrae, designated T1 through T12.
• A key feature of the thoracic vertebrae is that they articulate with the 12 pairs of ribs, forming the protective thoracic cage around vital organs like the heart and lungs.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: The number 8 does not correspond to the number of vertebrae in any section of the adult human spine. It does, however, correspond to the number of pairs of cervical spinal nerves.
• Option B: The number 5 is the count for both the lumbar vertebrae and the fused sacral vertebrae, not the thoracic vertebrae.
• Option D: The number 10 is an incorrect count for any of the vertebral column sections.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Anatomy of the Vertebral Column as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
• Knowledge of the vertebral column's structure is fundamental for nurses in various clinical settings. It is essential for accurately assessing spinal injuries, locating landmarks for procedures like lumbar punctures and epidural anesthesia, and understanding the dermatomal distribution of spinal nerves for neurological assessments.
• The thoracic spine's articulation with the rib cage makes it more rigid and stable compared to the more mobile cervical and lumbar regions. This stability provides protection for the heart and lungs but also means that fractures or dislocations in this area can have severe consequences due to the proximity of these vital organs and the spinal cord.
• What if? If a patient has a fracture at the T4 level, a nurse should be concerned about potential damage to the spinal cord, which could lead to paralysis or sensory loss below the chest line (at the nipple line), as well as potential respiratory compromise due to the involvement of intercostal muscles.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the core question, which is asking for the number of thoracic vertebrae.
• Recall the standard anatomical structure of the human spine.
• A useful mnemonic to remember the number of movable vertebrae is 'Breakfast at 7, Lunch at 12, Dinner at 5', which corresponds to 7 Cervical, 12 Thoracic, and 5 Lumbar vertebrae.
• Systematically review the options provided.
• Select the option that matches the known number of thoracic vertebrae (12).
• Mentally cross-check why the other options are incorrect (e.g., 5 is for lumbar/sacral, 8 relates to cervical nerves).

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Anatomy of the Vertebral Column
• Stem keywords: spinal cord, vertebrae, cervical, lumbar, sacral, coccygeal, thoracic
• Lead-in keywords: how many

Question ID

QJIYbvuRxrZYeXEdHC7-7j

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Physiology Ganong 27e Vol 2 Part 3 p. 49-51

E6 Anatomy Grays 43e Vol 2 Part 2 p. 47-49

E6 Anatomy Grays 43e Vol 1 Part 3 p. 64-66