5: Anatomy - Back, vertebral column and spinal column Flashcards
What specifically is the back?
Posterior aspect of the trunk
What are the main functions of the back?
Maintenance of posture
Movement of upper and lower limbs; trunk
What bony feature are dimples a landmark of?
PSIS
posterior superior iliac spines
What are the extrinsic back muscles?
What is their function?
Levator scapulae
Rhomboids major and minor
Trapezius
Latissimus dorsi
Attach trunk to the pectoral girdle and move the upper limbs
What are the two groups of intrinsic back muscles?
Erector spinae (superficial)
Transversospinalis (deep)
What is the function of the intrinsic back muscles?
Maintenance of posture
Spine movement
What is the common inferior attachment for all three erector spinae muscles on each side?
Sacrum and iliac crest
How do you tell the difference between the three erector spinae muscles?
Where they insert superiorly
Where are the transversospinalis muscles found?
Between the transverse and spinous processes i.e very close to the spinal column
Which branch of spinal nerves supply the intrinsic back muscles?
Posterior rami of anterior rootlets
Motor fibres come from anterior horn but they need to get round to the back via the posterior rami of those rootlets
What does flexion of the spine look like?
Bending over forwards
Any anterior movement above the knee is a flexion
What type of joint is a facet joint?
What do they attach to?
Plane-type synovial joint
Articular processes of vertebrae
Which features of the vertebral column do spinal nerves emerge from?
Intervertebral foramen
Where are the rhomboids found relative to trapezius?
Deep
Where is trapezius found relative to the rhomboids?
Superficial
What are the three parts of trapezius?
Descending (superior)
Middle
Ascending (inferior)
What gives a motor nerve supply to trapezius?
CN XI
Which muscle is one of the widest in the body and is activated in pull-ups?
Latissimus dorsi
What are the actions of
a) Levator scapulae
b) Trapezius
c) Latissimus dorsi
d) Rhomboids major and minor?
a) Elevates scapula
b) Elevates, stabilises and depresses scapula (depends)
c) Adducts and internally rotates shoulder joint, extends arm
d) Elevate scapula
What muscles surround a vertebral body?
Transversospinalis - deep, spinous process to transverse process
Erector spinae - more superficial
Psoas major - medial
Quadratus lumborum - lateral
Name the muscles of the abdominal wall from superficial to deep.
External oblique
Internal oblique
Rectus abdominis (anteriorly) / Transversus abdominis (laterally)
Fill in the following using the words kyphosis or lordosis:
cervical ___
thoracic ___
lumbar ___
sacral ___
cervical lordosis
thoracic kyphosis
lumbar lordosis
sacral kyphosis
The thoracic and sacral kyphoses are described as primary - what does this mean?
Present shortly after birth, the cervical and lumbar lordosis take longer to come in
What are the inner and outer parts of intervertebral discs called?
Inner - nucleus pulposus
Outer - annulus fibrosus
What are the two ligaments found anterior to the intervertebral foramen?
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Posterior longitudinal ligament
What are the three ligaments found posterior to the intervertebral foramen?
Ligamentum flavum
Interspinous ligament
Supraspinous ligament
What hole is only found in cervical vertebrae?
What does it transmit?
Transverse foramen
Vertebral artery, vein and sympathetics
What is special about the spinous process of cervical vertebrae?
Bifid
Split in two
What are the names and special features of C1, C2 and C7?
C1 - Axis - no spinous process or vertebral body; anterior and posterior arches instead
C2 - Atlas - has odontoid process / dens which projects superiorly into anterior arch of C1
C7 - Vertebrae prominens - first palpable spinous process in most people
Which joints connect the superior articular process of C1 to the occipital bone?
Atlanto-occipital joints
Which movements occur at the atlanto-occipital joints?
Flexion
Extension
Rotation
Lateral flexion
Yes/No movements and ears to the shoulders
Which vertebral level is the hyoid bone found at?
C3
Which joints are found between C1 and C2?
Atlanto-axial joints
Which space in the sacrum does the cauda equina pass through?
Sacral canal
Does the cauda equina have meninges?
Yes
At which level are lumbar punctures usually carried out to avoid damaging the spinal cord?
L3/4
L4/5
because the spinal cord ends at L2
Which brain structure is the spinal cord continuous with?
Brainstem
Medulla specifically
In relation to the spinal cord, what is the fatty layer found superficial to the dura mater?
Epidural fat
