Anatomy: Back Flashcards
Vertebral Column:
What are the functions of the vertebral column?
How many vertebrae are there?
Give the divisions
Vertebral Column:
Functions of the vertebral column: axis, support, movement, protect the CNS
33 vertebrae in total
7 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
4 coccyx
What is the C1 vertebrae also called
C2 vertebrae also called
C1: ATLAS (remember it holds up the world)
C2: axis
The vertebrae are derived from ______
What are dermatomes?
The vertebrae are derived from somites
Dermatomes are the skin innervated by one spinal nerve
What are the primary curvatures?
What are the secondary curvatures?
Primary curvatures are called kyphosis (sacral and thoracic) you are born with these
Secondary curvatures are called lordosis (cervical and lumbar) you develop these as you develop
Describe the following abnormal curvatures of the spine:
Excessive kyphosis
Excessive lordosis
Scoliosis
Excessive kyphosis: hunchback
Excessive lordosis: sway back
Scoliosis: abnormal lateral curvature
Common features of the typical vertebrae:
The vetebral body is anterior/posterior
The veterbral arch is anterior/posterior
The vertebral body is anterior
The vertebral arch is posterior
Label the parts on a typical vertebrae
Down the line:
- Spinous process
- Transverse process
- Articular process
- Lamina pedicule
- Vertebral body
The open space is the vertebral foramen
Parts of the vertebrae:
Describe the pedicle
Describe the transverse processes
The pedicle is the part of the vertebral arch that attach the transverse processes to the body
Transverse process: lateral extensions from the union of the pedicle and the lamina
Parts of the vertebrae:
Explain the lamina
Explain the spinous process
Lamina: paired portions of the vertebral arch that connect the transverse process to the spinous process
Spinous process: an projection that extends posterioly by the union of the two lamina
What are the articular processes?
Articular processes are two superior and two inferior facets for articulation with adjacent vertebrae
Describe the vertebral foramen.
The vertebral foramen is a canal formed by the vertebral arch that contains the spinal cord, meningeal coverings, and blood vessels supplying the spinal cord
Common features of Cervical Vertebrae:
_____ size
______ body (shape)
_______ spinous process
large ________ foramen (shape)
They have an opening called the _______ where the vertebral artery snakes through
Cervical Vertebrae:
small size
rectangular body
bifid spinous process
large triangular foramen
They have an opening called foramen transversarium where the vertebral artery snakes through
The vertebral artery ascends through the ________
That artery branches off the ______ artery
The vertebral artery enters the vertebral column at _______ (which vertebrae)
The vertebral artery ascends through the FORAMEN TRANSVERSARIUM
it branches off the subclavian artery
The vertebral artery enters at C6
Thoracic Vertebrae:
____ shaped body
long spine directed ______
costal facets for ribs
small oval _______
Thoracic Vertebrae:
heart shaped body
long spine directed inferiorly
costal facets for rubs
small oval vertebral foramen
Lumbar vetebrae:
_____ shaped body
short _____ shaped spinous process
Lumbar vertebrae:
kidney shaped body
short hatchet shaped spinous process
Of all the vertebrae divisions:
Which kind has the greatest range of motion?
Which kind has the least range of motion?
Greatest Range of Motion: cervical vertebrae
Least range of motion: thoracic vertebrae
Explain the structural differences amoung the three types of vertebrae: cervical, thoracic, lumbar
Body shape
Spinous process
Vertebral formamen shape
transverse process
movement
Atypical Cervical Vertebrae:
Explain how the following cervical vertebrae are different:
C1
C2
C7
C1 (ATLAS): has no body, just an anterior and posterior arch with a FACET for the dens from c2
C2( AXIS): has a body, but has a DENS (peg on top)
C7: long spinous process that you can feel in your neck
What is the sacroiliac joint?
The sacroiliac joint is where the sacrum and pelvis meet
Very important joint because a lot of body weight it on this joint
What is an intervertebral disc?
What is the inner and outer layer of the intervertebral disc
An intervertebral disc:
Is a cartilaginous symphysis joint that acts as a shock absorber in between vertebrae
Inner layer of the intervertebral disc: nucleus populsus
Outer layer of the intervertebral disc: annulus fibrosis
Herniated disc:
protusion of the ______ into or through the ______
this usually occurs ______ due to less ligament support
Herniated discs:
Protrusion of the nucleus propulsus into the anulus fibrosis
This usually occurs posterolateral due to lack of ligament support
What is the Z joint/zygapophyseal joint?
Joints of the vertebral arches are called Z joints, It is the articulation between the interior facets of the superior vertebra with the superior facets of the inferior vertebra.
These articulations are plane synovial joints that allow some gliding and sliding movements
IV discs are the ____________ joints that are designed for ______ and ______.
The articulating surfaces of adjacent vertebrae are connected by discs and ligaments
IV discs are the secondary cartilageouns joints that are desinged for weight bearing and strength
The atlanto-occipital joint is the articulation between the _____ and the ______
It is a synovial ______ joint and allows ____ and _____ of the head (nodding)
The atlando-occipital joint is the articulation between the atlas (C1) and the occipital bone of the skull.
It is a synovial condylar joint and allows flexsion and extension of the head (nodding)
Explain the ligaments of the vertebral column:
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Ligamentem flavium
Intraspinous
Supraspinous
Posterior longitudinal ligament is scalloped
Of all the vertebral ligaments, which one limits extension?
Which is the only vertebral ligament that limits extension?
The only vertebral ligament that limits extension is the
anterior longitudinal ligament
This prevents you from leaning back too far
Explain what the ligamentum nuchae is
The ligamentum nuchae is the ligament that runs behind all the spinous processes in the cervical part of the spine
This allows for attachment of superficial muscle onto it
List the extrinsic back muscles
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The extrinsic muscles are in the back BUT move the the arms, scapula or ribs
Extrinsic back muscles include:
- Trapezius
- Latissimus Dorsi
- Rhomboid Major and rhomboid minor
- Levator scapulae
- Serratus muscles
List the intrinsic back muscles
1.
2.
3.
The intrinsic back muscles/deep back muscles are muscles within the back that move the back, neck or head
Intrinsic Back Muscles include:
- Splenius
- Errector Spinae muscles
- Transversospinalus muscles
What nerve innervates the trapezius muscle?
Which nerve innervates the latissimus dorsi?
The trapezius is innervated by cranial nerve 11 (CXI)
The latissimus dorsi is innervated by the thorocodorsal nerve
What movements come from the trapezius?
What movements come from the latissimus dorsi?
The trapezius: elevates, depresses, rotates scapula
Latissimus dorsi: adduction, medial rotation and extension of the humerus
The intrisic/true back muscles are innervated by the____
The intrinsic/true back muscles are innervated by the dorsal rami
What are the erector spinae?
Erector spinae: extensions of the spine
The spinal cord:
begins as a continuation of the medulla oblongata, ends at __________ at the _____ vertebrae in adults or ____ in children
The spinal cord:
begins as a continuation of the medulla oblongata, ends at conus medullaris at L1/L2 vertebrae in adults or L3 in children
What are the two spinal cord enlargements?
Two enlargements of spinal cord enlargements
cervical - upper limgs
lumbar- lower limbs
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves
aka 62 total
Things to remember:
There are seven cervical vertebrae but ___ spinal nerves
C1 to C7 exit ____ their vertebrae
C8 exits ____ C7 vertebrae (between ____ and __)
All subsequent spinal nerves (thoracic, lumbar, sacral) exit ____ their respective vertebrae
There are seven cervical vertebrae but 8 spinal nerves
C1-C7 exit above their vertebrae
C8 exits below C7 vertebrae (between C7 and TV1)
All subsequent spinal nerves exit below their respective vertebrae
What is the end of the spinal chord proper?
What is the cauda equina?
The end of the spinal cord proper is the conus medullaris
The cauda equina is a loose bundle of of spinal nerve roots that aruses from the conus medullaris and resembles a horse’s tail
Gray matter: rich in ____
White matter; rich in ____
Gray matter: rich in nerve cell bodies
White matter: rich in nerve cell processes
Explain the spinal meninges
Dura matter (tough)
Arachnoid (spider like)
Pia mater
Dura ends at _____
Arachnoid ends at _____
The dura and arachnoid end at S2
remember the arachnoid has the CSF
The conus medularus starts at _____
The dura mater and arachnoid mater end at ___
Conus medularis starts at L1
The dura mater and arachnoid mater end at S2
Pia mater:
What are the denticulate ligaments?
Explain what the filum terminale is?
Filum terminale: continues as a filament from the conus medullaris to the coccyx
Denticulate ligaments: anchors chord inside dura
Roots join to form a mixed spinal nerve:
Roots form the spinal nerve:
Anterior/or ventral root is the _____
Posterior or dorsal root is the _____
Roots form the spinal nerve:
Anterior/ventral root is the MOTOR roo (carries info out of the CNS)
Posterior or dorsal root is the SENSORY root
- Dorsal root ganglion’s are where the nerve processes are located that carry info TO the CNS
Spinal Nerve divides into rami:
A spinal nerve is a mixed nerve, meaning it carries both sensory and motor components that divide into the dorsal and ventral rami.
The rami are the nerves that innervate the rest of the body.
What does the dorsal ramus innervate?
Ventral ramus?
Dorsal rami innervate the skin and deep muscles of the back
The ventral rami innervate the limbs and the rest of the trunk.
Dorsal Ramus: _____ and ______
- innervates the _______
Ventral Ramus: _____ and ______
- innervates ______
Dorsal ramus: sensory and motor
- innervates skin and deep muscles of the back
- smaller branch of spinal nerves
Ventral Ramus: sensory and motor
- innervates superficial back muscles and limbs and rest of the trunk
- larger branch of spinal nerves
Define the term dermatome
A dermatome is an area of the skin innervated by one spinal nerve
A lumbar puncture is the passage of a needle into the subarachnoid space, usually between ____ and _____ vertebrae
What is a laminectomy?
Lumbar puncture: usually between L3 and L4 (to obtain CSF for testing or to inject antibiotics)
Laminectomy is a removal of the spinal processes and lamina to expose vertebral canal and spinal cord
In an adult, what are the correct vertebral levels for the conus medullaris and the end of the dural sac?
What ligament checks hyperextension of the spine?
Conus medullaris starts at L1/L2 for adults (but L3 in kids) and dura sac ends at S2
The ligament that prevents hyperEXTENSION is the anterior longitudinal ligament (it’s the only one that checks extension)
What results from excessive primary curvature of the spine?
A knife wound to the back injures only the structures exiting the intervertebral foramen between T5 and T6 vertebrae on the left side. IF the patient experiences motor and sensory loss ONLY in his back what spinal nerve/part of spinal nerve has been injured?
Kyphosis is excessive primary curvature
Loss of motor and sensory T5 and T6:
injured the left dorsal ramus of T5 (only BACK and both sensory and motor)
