Back and Spine Flashcards
What are 5 functions of the vertebral column?
1) Muscle attachment
2) Mobility
3) Protection
4) Weight transfer
5) Hematopoeisis
What is the primary and secondary curvature of the veterbral column?
Primary:
- fetal position
- thoracic and sacral (dorsal/kyphotic)
Secondary position:
- extension from fetal position → allows for balance of body weight during upright posture and movement
- cervical and lumbar (ventral/lordosis)
What are the 2 joints of the vertebral column?
1) Intervertebral discs (2° cartilaginous)
2) Zygapophyseal joint
- between articular processes
- plane synovial
What are the components of the intervertebral disc?
1) Anulus fibrosus
- thick outer ring of fibrous cartilage
2) Nucleus pulposus
- inner area
3) Cartilaginous endplates
- superior and inferior to nucleus pulposus
What are the 4 general components of each vertebrae?
1) Vertebral body
- weight bearing
2) Vertebral arch
- forms vertebral foramen
- pedicles and laminae
3) Vertebral notches
- indentations superior and inferior to pedicles
4) 7 processes
- 1 spinous (ligament attachment)
- 2 transverse (ligament/muscle attachment)
- 4 articular processes (facet joints)
What are 2 examples of atypical vertebra?
C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis)
What are 4 unique features of the C1 vertebra?
1) No body
2) No spinous process
3) Anterior and posterior arches each w tubercle
4) Superior articular surfaces → occipital condyles
5) Inferior articular surfaces → C2
What are 5 unique features of the C2 vertebra?
1) Dens/odontoid process project up → pivot for atlas and head to rotate
2) Atlas rotates of flat superior articular facets
3) Anterior:
- vertebral body, dens, 2 pedicles, 2 transverse processes
4) Posterior:
- 2 laminae, 2 spinous process
5) Anterior + posterior → vertebral canal
What are 2 nerve plexuses that arise from the cervical region of the spine?
1) Brachial
2) Cervical
What are 3 unique features of typical cervical vertebrae (C3-7)?
Body:
1) Small body
2) Uncinate process
Transverse process:
3) Foramen transversarium allows passage for vertebral vessels
4) Anterior & posterior tubercles with groove for spinal nerve between
Spinous process:
5) Bifid spine
Vertebral arch (6)
What are 4 unique features of thoracic vertebrae?
1) Costal facets (for articulation w ribs)
2) Nearly vertical articular facets directed posterior and anterior for articulation with head of ribs
3) Long sloping spinous process
4) Body larger than cervical, smaller than lumbar
5) Vertebral foramen
6) Intervertebral foramen
What are 4 unique features of lumbar vertebra?
1) Large body
2) Accessory process on each transverse process
3) Mammillary process on each superior articular process
4) Articular facets directed posteromedially and anterolaterally
5) L1 lies on transpyloric plane
What are 2 unique features of the sacrum?
1) Wedge shapes
2) Sacral foramina for passage of sacral spinal nerves
What are 2 unique features of the coccyx?
1) Small
2) triangular
What are the extrinsic muscles of the back?
Superficial:
- connect to appendicular skeleton
- move shoulder girdle and upper limb
i) Trapezius
ii) Latissimus dorsi
iii) Levator scapulae
iv) Rhomboids
Intermediate:
- superficial to respiratory muscles and support respiratory movements
i) Serratus posterior (superior and inferior)
Trapezius:
Function:
Origin:
Insertion:
Innervation:
Trapezius:
Function:
i) elevate scapula (to aid in abduction)
ii) retract scapula and pull inferior
Origin:
i) Skull
ii) Nuchal line
iii) Nuchal ligament
iv) C7-T12 processes
Insertion:
i) Lateral aspect of clavicle
ii) Acromion
iii) Spine of scapula
Innervation:
Spinal accessory nerve (CN11)
Latissimus dorsi:
Function:
Origin:
Insertion:
Innervation:
Latissimus dorsi:
Function: arms
i) extend
ii) adduct
iii) medially rotate
Origin:
i) T6-12 processes
ii) Thoracolumbar fascia
iii) Iliac crest
iv) Lower 3/4 ribs
Insertion:
Bicipital groove of humerus
Innervation:
Thoracodorsal nerve (posterior cord)
Rhomboids:
Function:
Origin:
Insertion:
Innervation:
Rhomboids:
Function: scapula
i) retract
ii) rotate
Innervation:
Dorsal scapular
Minor:
Nuchal ligament + C7-T1 processes → medial of scapular spine
Major:
T2-5 processes → medial border of scapula
Levator scapulae:
Function:
Origin:
Insertion:
Innervation:
Levator scapulae:
Function:
Elevates scapula
Origin:
C1-4 transverse processes
Insertion:
Medial border of scapula above spine
Innervation:
i) Cervical nerves
ii) dorsal scapular nerve
Serratus posterior inferior:
Function:
Origin:
Insertion:
Innervation:
Serratus posterior inferior:
Function:
depresses rib 9-12
Origin:
T11-L2 processes
Insertion:
Inferior border of rib 9-12
Innervation:
Anterior rami of T9-T12
Serratus posterior superior:
Function:
Origin:
Insertion:
Innervation:
Serratus posterior superior:
Function:
elevate ribs 2-5
Origin:
i) nuchal ligament
ii) C7-T3 processes
Insertion:
Superior border of rib 2-4
Innervation:
Intercostal nerves 2-5
What are the intrinsic muscles of the back and what are their general functions?
Superficial:
- move head and neck
1) Splenius
Intermediate:
- extend, laterally flex, rotate spine
- erector spinae group:
2) Iliocostalis
3) Longissimus
4) Spinalis
Deep:
- stabilise spine, rotate, maintain posture
5) Semispinalis
6) Multifundus
7) Rotatores
8) Levator costarum
9) Interspinale
10) Intertransversari
Splenius muscles:
Function:
Origin:
Insertion:
Innervation:
Splenius muscles:
Function:
ipsilateral rotation
Innervation:
posterior rami
Capitis:
Nuchal ligament + C7-T4 spinous processes → mastoid process + nuchal line
Cervicis:
T3-6 spinous process → C1-4 transverse process
What are the 3 muscles of the erector spinae group?
1) Iliocostalis
2) Longissimus
3) Spinalis
