Back and Vertebral Column Flashcards
How many vertebrae do we have
33 plus intervertebral discs
Functions of vertebral column
- weight-bearing
- protection
- movement
- site of muscle attachements
How does the vertebral column allow for weight bearing
- Carries and transmits weight from upper body down to lower limbs
- Vertebral bodies increase in size from superior to inferior
- Cutvatures and intervertebral discs provide shock absorption
How is the spine curved as a fetus
1 big inwards curve
Spinal curves (names and positions/regions they occur in)
Cervical and lumbar lordoses (
Thoracic and sacral kyphoses )
scoliosis
spine curves sideways
Basic anatomy of typical vertebra
see sheet
Types of vertebrae and briefely outline their distinguishable characteristics)
3 main but 2 others too
- Cervical ( foramen transversarium, bifid spineous process)
- Thoracic (big fin thinngy)
- Lumbar - vertebral arch
Sacral
Coccygeal
function of intervertabral discs
shock absorption and movement
Components of intervetebral discs
nucleus pulposus - central core with high water content - shock absorbant
annulus fibrosus - tough cartilage which can resist high forces/compression
what is a “slipped disc”
herniated nucleus pulposus - compressing the nerve roots
What protects the spinal cord/spinal nerves
spinal cord protected by vertebral canal (vertebral foraman)
spinl nerves protected by intervertebral foramen
What are the meninges
3 layes/membranes that protect the spinal cord/brain
Name the 3 mininges and describe their relative locations
Dura mater - outermost
Arachnoic mater - middle
Pia mater - inner
Where is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) found
in subarachnoid space (below arachnoic mater)
Flexion of spine
bend forwards
extension of spine
bend backwards
lateral flexion of spine
move outwards (sideways)
lateral extension of spine
move back inwards (sideways)
Rotaion of spine
circular rotational movement
5 joints of the vertebral column
- Intervertabral discs (symphasis 2ndry cartilegenous joints)
- Facet joints (synovail plane)
- Joints with ribs (synovial plane)
- Skull and atlas (synovial ellipsoid) - more mobile so can nod head
- Atlas and axis (synovial plane) - rotation so can shake head
What is the orientation of facet joints like for cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae
Cervical: slanty which allows fro largest range of movement
Thoracic - coronal plane
Lumbar - like fins ( \ / )
Name the 5 ligaments of the vertebral column
- posterior longitudinal
- anterior longitudinal
- liganmentum flavum
- interspinous
- supraspinous
Give functions of 5 ligaments of vertebral column
- posterior longitudinal - limits hyperflexion
- anterior longitudinal - limits hyperextension
- liganmentum flavum - holds vertebrea together and preserves posture
- interspinous - links whole length of spine and limits flexion
- supraspinous - only posterior tips of spines, keeps head up?
locate each ligament of the vertebral column
(lable it)
see sheet
What do extrinsci mucles of the back attach to
- head
- limbs
- thorax
- abdomen
Explain the erector spinae
location, function…
Intrinsci back muscle
Extension, lateral flexion and “controlling” flexion
generally what do the anterior spinal muscles do
flexion of spine
generally what do the posterior spinal muscles do
(erector spinae)
extension of spine
osteoarthritis
pain/stiffness of joints
osteoporosis
compression fractures altering the curvature of the spine - linked to Ca2+ absorption and capacity
what does dehydration of intervertabral discs lead to
reduced shock absorption
what do weakened back muscles cause
- imbalance loading of spine
- back pain
What are the 6 muscle attachment sites for the back
just general
- Head
- Upper limb
- Thorax
- Abdomen
- Hips
- Lower limbs
function of extrinsic back muscles
2 functions
Upper limb movement and respiration
Functions of intrinsic back muscles
- maintain posture
- control movement of the vertebral column
(superficial, intermediate (erector spinae) and deep layers)
Flexion (bilateral)
where are the muscles - name them
Muscles anterior to the spine
* rectus abdominis
* psaos major
Extension (bilateral)
where are the muscles - name them
Muscles posterior to the spine
* erector spinae
what does bilateral mean in terms of muscle flexion and extension
muscles flex together either side of the column
Rotation (unilateral)
which muscles (name them)
Muscles with oblique fibre orientation
* external oblique
* internal oblique (opposite side)
* erector spinae
lateral flexion (inilateral)
muscles to do this movement…
- erector spinae
- exteranl and internal obliiques
Location and function of recturs abdominis
- 3 large and flat muscles with different fibre orientation - anterior abdonimal wall muscles
- Anterior flexion, lateral flexion and rotation of the trunk
posterior abdominal wall muscles
3 main ones:
* illiacus
* psosas major
* quadratus lumborum
Anterior flexion (psoas) and laterl flexion of spine
Intrinsic back musles: erector spinae functions
- extension of vertebral column (bilaterally)
- Lateral flexion of vertebral column (unilaterally)
older people: weakened back muscles/disability
loss of muscle mass, muscle strength and physical function
Where does the spinal cord begin and end
Begins at medulla oblongata (brain stem) and extends up to L1/L2 vertebral level
Cervical and lumbar enlargement
accomodate for nerve plexuses leaving at arms/legs
i think???
how many pairs of spinal nerves exit from the spinal cord
31 pairs
Number of verterae and nerves at each spinal segment
Cervical (7) - 8 spinal nerves
Thoracic (12) - 12 spinal nerves
Lumbar (5) - 5 spinal nerves
Sacral (5) - 5 spinal nerves
Coccygeal (4ish) - 1 spinal nerve
Explain the development of the spinal cord and why it does not exent the full length of the spine
- spinal cord and vertebral canal length almost equal in fetus
- vertebral canal grows and spinal cord ends at L1-L2 vertebral levels in adults
- Remaing spinal nerves forms cauda equina seeking their intervertebral (IV) foramen to exit
vertebral colum grows, but spinal cord doesnt, so stops
conus medullarise
conical inferior end of the spinal cord - typically at L1
Cauda equina
bundle of spinal nerve roots - all spinal nerves looking for exit
filum terminale
what is it + function
continuation of pia mater (internum) - attach to coxyx so gives stability to cord
Dural cistern
dilated dural sac ends at S2 vertebral level - contains CSF
histology of spinal cord
sheet
grey matter
H shaped - cell bodies located here
White matter
axons (+schwann cells?)
Nissl bodies
rough ER in the neurone cell bodies
How do spinal nerves exit the vertebral canal
through intervertebral foramen
WHat do bentral rami of the spinal nerves from
Nerve plexuses that supplies the limbs:
* brachial plexus to upper limb C5-T1
* lumbosacral plexus to lower limb T12-L5
dorsal root
sennsory
ventral root
motor
spinal nerve
motor/sensory
mixed