Back And Vertebral Column Flashcards
What is the vertebral body and its function?
Round region of vertebrae, responsible for weight bearing. Increase in size from superior to inferior spine
What are the curvatures in adults vs foetuses?
Foetuses have 1 curvature.
Adults have multiple
Concave cervical and lumbar lordoses develop during infancy
Convex thoracic and sacral kyphoses are already in the foetus
What condition occurs due to excessive thoracic kyphoses?
Osteoporosis - common in elderly
What condition typically leads to excessive lumbar lordosis?
Pregnancy - returns to normal
What is a feature of scoliosis?
Curvature in spine laterally - common in adolescents and typically resolves itself with age
What are the 2 segments of a typical vertebrae?
Vertebral body and vertebral arch (rest)
What is the role of articular processes and how do they look?
They are 2 vertical processes on either side of lamina (superior and inferior X2), which communicate with superior and inferior vertebrae
It’s a synovial joint
What is the spinous process and its role?
1 projection off the back of each vertebra that joins to muscles and ligaments
What are the transverse processes?
2 processes (1) on either side coming off the articular processes. Attached to muscles which are involve in maintaining posture
Pedicle role
Found connecting the vertebral body to the vertebral arch section
What are the 5 parts of the vertebral arch?
Pedicle, lamina, 4 articular processes, 2 transverse processes, one spinous process
What is characteristic of the cervical vertebrae?
Small vertebral body, 2 foremen transversarium for the vertebral arteries and veins and sympathetic nerves to run through
What is characteristic of the thoracic vertebrae?
Heart-shaped vertebral body
What is characteristic of the lumbar vertebrae?
Large, oval/bean shaped body
Vertebral vs intervertebral foramen?
Vertebral foramen forms the vertebral canal for the spinal cord to travel down
Intervertebral foramen are spaces between adjacent vertebra for spinal nerves to exit
What is the name of the 3 sections of the meninges?
Dura, arachnoid and pita mater
Purpose of dura mater?
Thickest, so for protection
Purpose of arachnoid mater?
Has CSF inside and cushions brain. Very fibrous
Purpose of pia mater
Thin inner most layer with connective tissue and many blood vessels to nourish brain
What are the 4 movements of the spinal cord?
Lateral extension/flexion
Upper trunk rotation
Extension and flexion of trunk
Rotation of head and neck
What joint makes up the intervertebral disc?
Symphysis cartilaginous joint
What joint makes up the facet joint?
Synovial planar - connects articular processes to superior and inferior vertebrae
What joint makes up the joints between vertebra and ribs?
Synovial planar - on transverse processes and vertebral body (2 on each side)
What joint makes up the skull and atlas connection
Atlas is C1. Its a synovial ellipsoid joint
What joint makes up the atlas-axis joint?
Synovial pivot joint
What are the 5 ligaments that are found on the vertebral column?
Anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL)
Posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL)
Ligamentum flavum
Interspinous
Supraspinous
Anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) role?
Prevent extreme extension
Posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) role?
Prevents extreme flexion
Supraspinous ligament role?
All along back - very strong and prevents hyper flexion
Interspinous role?
Connects adjacent spinous processes at the back
Ligamentum flavum role?
Connects adjacent lamina so they’re not pulled apart. Very strong
What are extrinsic back muscles with examples?
Connect back to other parts of body - limbs, head, thorax and abdomen. Superficial and intermediate muscle layers
What are intrinsic back muscles with example?
Erector spinae. Deep in back. Acts only on the back, controlling trunk extension, lateral flexion and preventing extreme trunk flexion
How is the vertebral column affected with age?
Less water content means less shock absorption
Muscle weakness leads to imbalance of load on spine - back pain
Which disease affects elderly due to pathological changes in vertebral column?
Osteoporosis - compression fractures result in extreme/ altered curvature of spine (hunch back)
