Back anatomy Flashcards
How many vertebrae do we have?
33
What are the five areas of the spine called?
Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacrum Coccyx
How many vertebrae are found in each region of the spine?
Cervical- 7 Thoracic- 12 Lumbar - 5 Sacrum- 5 Coccyx - 4
What are the four main regions of a vertebra?
Vertebral body
Vertebral arch
Spinous process
Transverse process
What three process can be found on the lamina of a vertebra?
Spinous
Articular
Transverse
What are the two notches associated with a vertebra?
Superior vertebral notch
Inferior vertebral notch
What are the two foramen associated with a vertebra?
Vertebral foramen
Intervertebral foramen
What is another name for C1
Atlas
What is another name for C2
Axis
How do cervical vertebrae differ from other vertebrae?
They have a bifid spinous process (bar C1 and C7) and Foramen transversarium (transverse foramen) beside the vertebral body.
What is special about C1?
It had no vertebral body
What is special about C2?
It has an odontoid process/dens projecting into C1
How do thoracic vertebrae differ from others?
Nearly vertical spinous processes and large transverse processes with articular surfaces for ribs.
How do lumbar vertebrae differ from others?
Axe like spinous processes and larger vertebral body.
At what level does the spinal cord become the cauda equina?
L1/2
What are the two parts of the intervertebral disk?
Nucleus Pulposus
Anulus Fibrosus
What kind of joints are found in the spine?
Secondary cartilaginous
What are the two curves found in the spine?
Kyphoidosis- C shaped
Lordosis
What holds the vertebrae and intervertebral disks together?
Longitudinal ligaments
How many layers of intrinsic back muscles are there?
Three:
Superficial
Intermediate
Deep
What two parts make up the vertebral arch?
Pedicle (feet)
Lamina (arch)
How many layers of back muscle are there?
3:
Superficial
Intermediate
Intrinsic
What do the superficial intrinsic back muscles do?
Rotate head
What are the two superficial intrinsic back muscles?
Splenius capitis
Splenius cervicis
Where does splenius capitis originate and insert?
C7/T3/4 spinous -> Mastoid process and occipital
Where does splenius cervicis originate and insert?
T3-6 spinous -> C1-4 transverse
What are the three muscles of the intermediate intrinsic back muscles collectively called?
Erector spinae
What do the erector spinae do?
Lateral flexion and extension
What three muscles make up the erector spinae?
Iliocostalis
Longissimus
Spinalis
Where do the erector spinae muscles originate?
Tendon sheath attaching to lumbar vertebrae, sacrum, iliac crest.
Where does the iliocostal muscle insert?
RIbs and C transverse. Most lateral erector
Where does the longissimus insert?
Lower ribs
C2-T12 transverse
Mastoid process
Middle muscle
Where does the spinalis insert?
C2+T1-8 spinous
Occipital
Smallest and most medial
What are the deep intrinsic back muscles collectively called?
Transversospinales
What three muscles make up the transversospinalis?
Semispinosus
Multifidus
Rotatores
Where does the semispinosus originate from and insert?
C4-T10 transverse -> C2-T4 spinous and occipital.
What does the semispinosus do?
Rotates spine
What do the multifidus and rotatores do?
Stabilise spine
Where does the multifidus originate and insert?
Sacrum, PIS etc -> spinous process of varying vertebrae
Where does the rotatores originate and insert?
Transverse process of all vertebrae -> Lamina and spinous process of directly superior vertebrae.
