Anatomy - Intro to the Spine Flashcards

1
Q

Vertebral column

A

Central foundation of the skeleton

Provides support for head and trunk and attachments for muscles and protects spinal cord

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2
Q

What is the vertebral column composed of

A

33 separate vertebrae, stacked and grouped into 5 regions - neck, chest, lower back, sacrum, coccygeal

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3
Q

Vertebrae in neck

A

5 cervical vertebrae

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4
Q

Vertebrae in chest

A

12 thoracic vertebrae

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5
Q

Vertebrae in lower back

A

5 lumbar vertebrae

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6
Q

Sacral vertebrae

A

5 vertebrae fused with sacrum

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7
Q

Coccygeal vertebrae

A

4 coccygeal vertebrae are vestigial remand of tail

Provides attachment for ligament

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8
Q

Why does a healthy vertebral column have a series of gentle curves

A

Important for maintaining upright posture and help dissipate forces travelling through the spine

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9
Q

Kyphosis

A

Vertebrae in chest and sacrum curve forwards

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10
Q

Lordoses

A

Vertebrae in neck and lower back curve backwards

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11
Q

When does cervical lordosis form

A

Whole spine is kyphotic at birth, cervical lordosis forms after few months to allow baby to hold head up independently

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12
Q

When does lumbar lordosis form

A

Within year allows baby to support body weight over hips and walk

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13
Q

What does the vertebral body provide attachment for

A

The disc that sits between the vertebrae

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14
Q

Vertebral canal

A

Where spinal cord is found, safely protected by thbone around it

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15
Q

Bony projections of vertebra

A

2 lateral transverse processes and posterior spinous process provide attachments for muscles of the back
Usually, can be palpated, can feel spinous process of 7th cervical vertebrae

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16
Q

Superior and inferior articular facet

A

Form joints with articular facets of the vertebrae above and below and these joints guide movements of the spine

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17
Q

Intervertebrate foramen

A

Created by articular facets joining togethe

Creates path for spinal nerves to leave the vertebral canal and enter the body

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18
Q

Features of vertebrae

A
Spinous process 
Lamina 
Articular facet 
Pedicles 
Vertebral body 
Vertebral canal
Transverse process 
Spinous process
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19
Q

What are cervical vertebrae characterised by

A

Foramen transversarium

Bifid spinous process

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20
Q

Foramen transversarium

A

2 small holes in their transverse processes

Provides a safe route for vertebral artery to travel along the neck

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21
Q

What are thoracic vertebrae characterised by

A

Coastal facets

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22
Q

Coastal facets

A

Form joints with heads of ribs - superior coastal facet and transversp-coastal facets
Transverso-coastal facets articulate with the tubercles of the ribs

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23
Q

Features of lumbar vertebrae

A

Most robust, with large, wide bodies and transverse/ spinous processes
Processes are particularly prominent (need powerful muscles to move them)

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24
Q

Atypical vertebrae

A

C7 has both cervical and thoracic features and T12 has mix of thoracic and lumbar
Atlas
Axis

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25
Atlas
1st cervical vertebrae
26
Axis
2nd cervical vertebrae
27
Atlas and axis comparison
Both have transverse processes but reduced in size Atlas doesn’t have spinous process or vertabral body Axis has dense/ odontoid peg
28
Dense/ odontoid peg
Upward-pointing projection of bone
29
Movements of spine
Flexion Extension Lateral flexion (to either side) Rotation
30
What determines types of movement available at each section of spine
Joints
31
Movement at thoracic spine
Mainly lateral flexion
32
Movement of lumbar spine
Mainly flexion/ extension
33
Intervertebral disc
Cartilaginous joints connecting vertebral bodies together
34
Components of IVDs
Nucleus pulposus Annulus fibrosis Vertebral endplate
35
Nucleus pulposus
Central gelatinous mass formed of mainly type II collagen | Equal distribution of the force so it can be resisted
36
Function of IVD
Allow movement between adjacent vertebral bodies Absorb shock Transmit loads through the vertebral column
37
Number of IVDs in spine
23
38
IVDs in cervical region
6
39
IVDs in thoracic region
12
40
IVDs in lumbar region
5
41
Key note about IVDs
There is no intervertebral disc between C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis) Absent in sacral and coccygeal region
42
Annulus fibrosis
Fibrous outer ring formed of mainly type I collagen arranged in lamellae. The annulus fibrosus is the primary load-bearing component of the intervertebral disc
43
Innervation of IVDs
Receives innervation from the outer third portion of the annulus fibrosus
44
Vertebral end plate
Cartilaginous layer covering the inferior and superior surfaces of the intervertebral disc
45
How do IVDs receive nutrients
Avascular structure so endplate permits diffusion and provides the main source of nutrition for the disc
46
Atlanto-occipital joint
Joint between C1 and occipital bone | Holds weight of head, allows head to rock backward and forward
47
Atlanto-axial joint
Joint found between atlas and axis
48
How does atlas and axis fit together
Odontoid peg fits into where vertebral body should be, traverse ligament passes through here and allows axis to rotate
49
Actions of erector spinae
Extension | Lateral flexion
50
Anterior nerve root
Ventral
51
Posterior nerve root
Dorsal
52
Function of dorsal ramus
Small posterior branch of spinal nerve supplies skin and muscles of back
53
Function of ventral ramus
Larger anterior branch supplies everything else in body
54
Anything distal to spinal nerve leaves ...
Protection of bony canal
55
Somatic nervous system
Voluntary nervous system
56
Effernet nerves
Exit spinal cord | Motor supply
57
Afferent nerves
Arrive at spinal cord | Sensory supply
58
Dorsal root ganglion
Cluster of afferent cell bodies
59
What do rami and spinal nerves contain
Mix of efferent and afferent fibres
60
What do nerve roots contain
Eferent or afferent nerves
61
Where are afferent nerves found
Ventral root
62
Where are efferent nerves found
Dorsal root
63
Where are symptoms of nerve damage experienced
Distal to injury
64
What happens if spinal nerve is damaged
Efferent impulses can’t get out and afferent cant get in so we lose all innervation in both rami
65
What happens if rami is damaged
Lose motor and sensory supply of that rami
66
What happens if ventral root is damaged
Lose efferent innervation beyond that point in both rami so no motor supply but sensory supply is fine
67
What happens if dorsal root is damaged
No sensory supply but motor is fine
68
Commonest cause of back injury
Lifting heavy object - advised to keep back straight and let legs do the work
69
How can IVDs be damaged
When lifting with bent spine as work best when spine is straight and forces spread out evenly. When flexed, forces are disproportionately channeled though anterior portion of the disc —> nucleus pulposus being pushed out and prolapsing though annulus fibrosis
70
When do the erector spinae muscles have to work harder
Have to work harder to extend and support spine when not lifting with straight back
71
What can cause tear of erector spinae muscles
Extensive strain due to smaller and more medial muscles supporting the spine as in flexion, lateral erector spinae muscles pass anteriorly and become flexors
72
Cross section of lumbar IVDs
More elliptical shaped to help resist bending movements
73
Cross section of thoracic IVDs
More circular, making them better suited to distributing the force of tension more equally, so stronger forces can be withstood
74
Disc pathology
Disc bulge Disc herniation Desiccation Prolapse
75
Disc bulge
The circumference of disc extending beyond the vertebral bodies
76
Disc desssication
Common in aging NP shrinks as gelatinous material is replaced by fibrotic tissue and AF increases in size as a result of the additional pressure
77
Disc prolapse
Rupture of nuclear material into the vertebral canal
78
Disc sequestration
Herniated material break off from the body of the nucleus pulposus
79
How does the spine cord arise cranially
As a continuation of the medulla oblongata
80
Cervical enlargement
``` 1st point of enlargement on spine Cervical enlargement (C4-T1) Origin of the brachial plexus ```
81
Lumbar enlargement
``` 2nd point of enlargement Lumbar enlargement (T11-L1) Origin of the lumbar and sacral plexi ```
82
What does film terminate attach to
Vertebral bodies of the coccyx, acting as an anchor for the spinal cord and meninges