B6-065 Back and Spine Anatomy Flashcards
how many cervical vertebrae are there?
7
how many thoracic vertebrae are there?
12
how many lumbar vertebrae are there?
5
primary curvatures that develop in utero [2]
thoracic kyphosis
sacral kyphosis
what secondary curvature forms when an infant starts to raise their head?
cervical lordosis
what secondary curvature forms when a child begins to walk?
lumbar lordosis
excessive curvature of the thoracic vertebrae
largely due to osteoporosis
kyphosis
excessive curvature of the lumbar vertebrae
seen in pregnancy or obesity
lordosis
curvature of the spinous processes on the forward bending test
scoliosis
what forms the zygapophyseal facet joints?
the superior and inferior articular processes
spinal nerves emerge from the
intervertebral foramen
what keeps the dens in close approximation to C1?
transverse ligament of atlas
where does the skull articulate with C1?
the superior articular surface
what vascular structure passes through the foramen transversarium (formed by the transverse processes of C6-C1)?
vertebral artery
the vertebral artery lies in the groove of […] before entering the foramen magnum
C1
what neurologic structure lies in the vertebral foramen?
spinal cord
helps C2 articulate with the axis
dens
when someone does a chokehold and the person passes out, what structure is being compressed and where?
carotid artery at the carotid tubercle of C6
what structure of the thoracic vertebrae allows the ribs to articulate with the spine?
costal facet
which vertebrae have long spinous processes?
thoracic
which vertebrae have long transverse processess?
lumbar
what structure would have been the spinous processes of the bones of the sacrum before they fused?
median crest
what structures of the sacrum are able to be palpated for insertion of a needed during epidural injection? [2]
sacral cornua
sacral hiatus
ribs 2-9 articulate with […] vertebrae
2
the superior costal facet of one, and the inferior costal facet of another
the superior and inferior vertebral notch forms the
intervertebral foramen
**spinal nerves exit here
fracture of C1 caused by something landing on top of the head
Jefferson (burst) fracture
a dive into a shallow pool may cause a fracture of […]
C1, Jefferson (burst) fracture
what structures are fractured in a Jefferson fracture?
anterior and posterior arches of C1
common fracture in younger patients as result of high speed, high energy injury
ex. car wreck, ATV
dens fracture C2
common cervical fracture in older patients as a result of falls, osteopenia, and osteoporosis
dens fracture of C2
what structures of C2 are affected by a Hangman’s fracture?
pars interarticularis between the superior articular facet and the inferior articular process
fracture resulting from hyperextension of the head on the neck
Hangman’s fracture (spondylolysis) of C2
degeneration of the joints, disk, and bones in the spine
spondylosis
stress fracture through the par interarticularis of the vertebrae
spondylolysis
**she’s says this looks like a Scottie dog with a broken neck on Xray, not sure about that 😒
forward displacement of a vertebra on the one below it
spondylolisthesis
**often occurs with spondylolysis
usually the most prominent palpable vertebrae of the spine
C7
**T1 would be right below
T3 is in line with
spine of scapula
spinous process of T7/body of T8 is in line with the
inferior angle of the scapula
if you place your hands on the sides of the ribs and extend thumbs directly back, what vertebrae will this line up with?
L3 subcostal plane
if you place your hands at the top of the iliac crest and extend thumb back, what vertebrae will this line up with?
L4 supracristal plane
important to lumbar punture
ligament that limits extension of the spine
anterior longitudinal ligament
ligaments that limits flexion of the spine [4]
posterior longitudinal ligament
supraspinous ligament
interspinous ligament
ligamentum flavum
the nuchal ligament is an extension of
supraspinous ligament
ligament that joins the tips of the spinous processes
supraspinous ligament
the zygapophyseal facet joints of the cervical spine are sloped from anterior to posterior to help with
flexion/extension
the zygapophyseal facet joints of the thoracic spine are oriented vertically
limit flexion/extension
facilitate rotation
the zygapophyseal facet joints of the lumbar spine are oriented sagitally to
limit rotation and lateral bending
facilitate flexion/extension
usually the site of bone spur formation due to aging from C3-C7
uncovertebral joints/clefts of Luschka
joint at the articulation of the superior articular face of atlas (c1) and the occipital condyles
atlanto-occipital joint
joint of the neck that allows you to say “yes”
atlanto-occipital
joint that allows your head to say “no”
altanto-axial
trapezius is innervated by
CN 11 -spinal accessory
levator scapulae and the rhomboids are innervated by
dorsal scapular
the intrinsic (true) muscles of the back are all innervated by
posterior (dorsal) rami of spinal nerves
what muscles can act unilaterally to laterally flex the neck and bilaterally to extend the head and neck?
spenius capitis
splenius cervicis
erector spinae muscle that attaches distally to the lower ribs and transverse processes
iliocostalis
what intrinsic muscle of the back aids in rotational movements of the vertebral column?
rotatores (of the transversospinalis group)
muscles that act in extension of the back [3]
erector spinae
multifidis (TS)
semispinalis thoracis (TS)
muscles that act in lateral bending of the back [3 of importance to this lecture]
iliocostalis thoracis and lumborum (ES)
logissimus thoracis (ES)
multifidus (TS)
muscles that act in rotation of the back [4 of importance to this lecture]
rotatores (TS)
multifidus (TS)
iliocostalis (ES)
longissimus (ES)
posterior (dorsal) roots are purely […]
sensory
anterior (ventral) roots are purely […]
motor
what level does the spinal cord end?
L1/L2
rest is cauda equina
what areas of the spinal cord are enlarged? [2]
cervical
lumbrosacral
**thicker because more axons exiting to limbs