Anatomy: Back Flashcards

1
Q

Vertebral Column:

What are the functions of the vertebral column?

How many vertebrae are there?

Give the divisions

A

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

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2
Q

What is the C1 vertebrae also called

C2 vertebrae also called

A

C1: ATLAS (remember it holds up the world)

C2: axis

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3
Q

The vertebrae are derived from ______

What are dermatomes?

A

The vertebrae are derived from somites

Dermatomes are the skin innervated by one spinal nerve

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4
Q

What are the primary curvatures?

What are the secondary curvatures?

A

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

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5
Q

Describe the following abnormal curvatures of the spine:

Excessive kyphosis

Excessive lordosis

Scoliosis

A

Excessive kyphosis: hunchback

Excessive lordosis: sway back

Scoliosis: abnormal lateral curvature

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6
Q

Common features of the typical vertebrae:

The vetebral body is anterior/posterior

The veterbral arch is anterior/posterior

A

The vertebral body is anterior

The vertebral arch is posterior

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7
Q

Label the parts on a typical vertebrae

A

Down the line:

  1. Spinous process
  2. Transverse process
  3. Articular process
  4. Lamina pedicule
  5. Vertebral body

The open space is the vertebral foramen

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8
Q

Parts of the vertebrae:

Describe the pedicle

Describe the transverse processes

A

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

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9
Q

Parts of the vertebrae:

Explain the lamina

Explain the spinous process

A

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

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10
Q

What are the articular processes?

A

Articular processes are two superior and two inferior facets for articulation with adjacent vertebrae

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11
Q

Describe the vertebral foramen.

A

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

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12
Q

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

A

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

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13
Q

The vertebral artery ascends through the ________

That artery branches off the ______ artery

The vertebral artery enters the vertebral column at _______ (which vertebrae)

A

The vertebral artery ascends through the FORAMEN TRANSVERSARIUM

it branches off the subclavian artery

The vertebral artery enters at C6

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14
Q

Thoracic Vertebrae:

____ shaped body

long spine directed ______

costal facets for ribs

small oval _______

A

Thoracic Vertebrae:

heart shaped body

long spine directed inferiorly

costal facets for rubs

small oval vertebral foramen

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15
Q

Lumbar vetebrae:

_____ shaped body

short _____ shaped spinous process

A

Lumbar vertebrae:

kidney shaped body

short hatchet shaped spinous process

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16
Q

Of all the vertebrae divisions:

Which kind has the greatest range of motion?

Which kind has the least range of motion?

A

Greatest Range of Motion: cervical vertebrae

Least range of motion: thoracic vertebrae

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17
Q

Explain the structural differences amoung the three types of vertebrae: cervical, thoracic, lumbar

Body shape

Spinous process

Vertebral formamen shape

transverse process

movement

A
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18
Q

Atypical Cervical Vertebrae:

Explain how the following cervical vertebrae are different:

C1

C2

C7

A

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

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19
Q

What is the sacroiliac joint?

A

The sacroiliac joint is where the sacrum and pelvis meet

Very important joint because a lot of body weight it on this joint

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20
Q

What is an intervertebral disc?

What is the inner and outer layer of the intervertebral disc

A

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

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21
Q

Herniated disc:

protusion of the ______ into or through the ______

this usually occurs ______ due to less ligament support

A

Herniated discs:

Protrusion of the nucleus propulsus into the anulus fibrosis

This usually occurs posterolateral due to lack of ligament support

22
Q

What is the Z joint/zygapophyseal joint?

A

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

23
Q

IV discs are the ____________ joints that are designed for ______ and ______.

The articulating surfaces of adjacent vertebrae are connected by discs and ligaments

A

IV discs are the secondary cartilageouns joints that are desinged for weight bearing and strength

24
Q

The atlanto-occipital joint is the articulation between the _____ and the ______

It is a synovial ______ joint and allows ____ and _____ of the head (nodding)

A

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)

25
Q

Explain the ligaments of the vertebral column:

Anterior longitudinal ligament

Posterior longitudinal ligament

Ligamentem flavium

Intraspinous

Supraspinous

A

Posterior longitudinal ligament is scalloped

26
Q

Of all the vertebral ligaments, which one limits extension?

Which is the only vertebral ligament that limits extension?

A

The only vertebral ligament that limits extension is the

anterior longitudinal ligament

This prevents you from leaning back too far

27
Q

Explain what the ligamentum nuchae is

A

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

28
Q

List the extrinsic back muscles

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

A

The extrinsic muscles are in the back BUT move the the arms, scapula or ribs

Extrinsic back muscles include:

  1. Trapezius
  2. Latissimus Dorsi
  3. Rhomboid Major and rhomboid minor
  4. Levator scapulae
  5. Serratus muscles
29
Q

List the intrinsic back muscles

1.

2.

3.

A

The intrinsic back muscles/deep back muscles are muscles within the back that move the back, neck or head

Intrinsic Back Muscles include:

  1. Splenius
  2. Errector Spinae muscles
  3. Transversospinalus muscles
30
Q

What nerve innervates the trapezius muscle?

Which nerve innervates the latissimus dorsi?

A

The trapezius is innervated by cranial nerve 11 (CXI)

The latissimus dorsi is innervated by the thorocodorsal nerve

31
Q

What movements come from the trapezius?

What movements come from the latissimus dorsi?

A

The trapezius: elevates, depresses, rotates scapula

Latissimus dorsi: adduction, medial rotation and extension of the humerus

32
Q

The intrisic/true back muscles are innervated by the____

A

The intrinsic/true back muscles are innervated by the dorsal rami

33
Q

What are the erector spinae?

A

Erector spinae: extensions of the spine

34
Q

The spinal cord:

begins as a continuation of the medulla oblongata, ends at __________ at the _____ vertebrae in adults or ____ in children

A

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

35
Q

What are the two spinal cord enlargements?

A

Two enlargements of spinal cord enlargements

cervical - upper limgs

lumbar- lower limbs

36
Q

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?

A

There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves

aka 62 total

37
Q

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

A

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

38
Q

What is the end of the spinal chord proper?

What is the cauda equina?

A

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

39
Q

Gray matter: rich in ____

White matter; rich in ____

A

Gray matter: rich in nerve cell bodies

White matter: rich in nerve cell processes

40
Q

Explain the spinal meninges

A

Dura matter (tough)

Arachnoid (spider like)

Pia mater

41
Q

Dura ends at _____

Arachnoid ends at _____

A

The dura and arachnoid end at S2

remember the arachnoid has the CSF

42
Q

The conus medularus starts at _____

The dura mater and arachnoid mater end at ___

A

Conus medularis starts at L1

The dura mater and arachnoid mater end at S2

43
Q

Pia mater:

What are the denticulate ligaments?

Explain what the filum terminale is?

A

Filum terminale: continues as a filament from the conus medullaris to the coccyx

Denticulate ligaments: anchors chord inside dura

44
Q

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 _____

A

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
45
Q

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?

A

Dorsal rami innervate the skin and deep muscles of the back

The ventral rami innervate the limbs and the rest of the trunk.

46
Q

Dorsal Ramus: _____ and ______
- innervates the _______

Ventral Ramus: _____ and ______

  • innervates ______
A

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
47
Q

Define the term dermatome

A

A dermatome is an area of the skin innervated by one spinal nerve

48
Q

A lumbar puncture is the passage of a needle into the subarachnoid space, usually between ____ and _____ vertebrae

What is a laminectomy?

A

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

49
Q

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?

A

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)

50
Q

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?

A

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)