Back Region Flashcards
Which of the following curvatures of the spinal column are considered primary curvatures?
Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacral
Thoracic
Sacral
True or false: An increase in the thoracic curvature is called scoliosis.
False
True or false: Thoracic vertebrae are the only vertebrae that contain costal facets for articulation with the ribs.
True
Which of the following landmarks is a unique feature of lumbar vertebrae?
A. Body
B. Mammillary processes
C. Transverse processes
D. Spinous process
B
Which of the following crests of the posterior sacrum is formed by the fusion of the spinous processes of the sacral vertebrae?
A. Lateral crest
B. Median crest
C. Intermediate crest
B
Which of the following ligaments provides stability to the intervertebral joints and limits extension of the spine?
A. Anterior longitudinal ligament
B. Posterior longitudinal ligament
C. Ligamentum flava
A
Which of the following muscles of the back are considered extrinsic muscles of the back located in the intermediate layer?
A. Trapezius
B. Latissimus dorsi
C. Levator scapulae
D. Serrated posterior superior & inferior
D
Which group of muscles are considered intrinsic muscles of the back located in the intermediate layer?
A. Splenius capitus and cervicis
B. Erector spinae
C. Transverseospinalis group
B
What 3 muscles make up the erector spinae?
Spinalis
Longissimus
Iliocostalis
True or false: The errector spinae is considered the primary extensor muscle of the spine.
True
Name all the arteries that help to provide blood to the muscles of the back:
Occipital arteries
Branches of the subclavian arteries
Internal carotid arteries
Branches of the thoracic aorta
Branches of the abdominal aorta
Occipital arteries
Branches of the subclavian arteries
Branches of the thoracic aorta
Branches of the abdominal aorta
How many vertebrae are in each section of the vertebral column?
Cervical: C1-C7
Thoracic: T1-T12
Lumbar: L1-L5
Sacral: 5 fused; S1-S5
Coccygeal: 4 fused
Which of the sections of the vertebral column are kyphoses? Which are lordoses? What does it mean to be a kyphosis or lordosis curve?
KYPHOSES: Thoracic, Sacral
LORDOSES: Cervical, Lumbar
Kyphosis: Curves concave toward the anterior side
Lordosis: Curves concave toward the posterior side
What does excessive lumbar lordosis mean?
Abnormal increase in lumbar curvature; causes an anterior pelvic tilt and abnormal lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebral
What are the aspects of a typical THORACIC vertebra? (T2-T8 only)
- Body is heart-shaped
- Body has costal articular facets for rib articulations
- Vertebral foramen is smaller (b/c spinal cord is smaller in this region)
- Has pedicles and laminae
PROCESSES OF VERTEBRAL ARCH:
- Transverse processes have transverse costal facets (T1-T10) that articulate with tubercles of the ribs (T11-T12 do NOT have these as they do NOT articulate with any ribs); No transverse foramen (b/c no vertebral arteries)
- Has articular processes and facets
- Singular spinal process
What are the aspects of a typical LUMBAR vertebra?
- Body is kidney-shaped (bears greater weight)
- Vertebral foramen is triangular and slightly larger than thoracic (b/c spinal cord is slightly bigger in this region)
PROCESSES OF VERTEBRAL ARCH:
- Transverse processes have accessory processes (posteroinferiorly) for muscle attachment; No transverse foramen (b/c no vertebral arteries)
- Superior articular processes have mammillary processes for muscle attachments
- Singular spinal process that is short and sturdy
What are the typical aspects unique to the SACRUM?
- 5 fused vertebrae
ANTERIOR
- Smooth and concave
- Superior surface is the “base”
- Sacral promitory
- Sacral foramena
POSTERIOR
- rough and convex
- Median crest (fusion of spinous processes)
- Intermediate crests (fusion of articular processes)
- Lateral crests (fusion of transverse processes)
- Sacral hiatus
- Inferior vertebral canal / sacral canal
LATERAL
- Sacral Cornu (attachment for muscle)
What are the typical aspects unique to the COCCYX?
- Appex
Transverse processes
Coccygeal cornu
What are the key differences between all the vertebrae?
Body shape an size
Size of vertebral foramen
Transverse processes
Spinous processes
What elements are involved in the intervertebral joints?
IV discs
Secondary cartilaginous joints
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Posterior longitudinal ligament
What are the features of the facet joints of the back?
Articulate between superior and inferior processes of adjacent vertebrae
- Synovial joints (plane motion)
- Accessory ligament unites the laminae, transverse processes, and spinous processes
- Interspinous and supraspinous ligaments: Connect spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae
- Supraspinous ligament merges with ligament al nuchae superiorly
- Intertransverse ligaments: connect transverse processes of adjacent vertebrae
What are the 3 degrees of freedom of the back?
Flexion/extension
Lateral flexion
Rotation
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there? How many per region?
31 total pairs
Cervical: 8 pairs
Thoracic: 12 pairs
Lumbar: 5 pairs
Sacral: 5 pairs
Coccygeal: 1 pair
What is the main difference between disc protrusion and disc herniation? Where do most herniations typically occur?
Disc protrusion: the IV disc bulges under pressure but the annulus fibrosis remains intact
Disc herniation: the IV disc bulges and the nucleus pulposis herniates through the annulus fibrosis
Most herniations typically occur in L4-L5 or L5-S1 regions.
What is sciatica and what causes it?
Pain in the lower back and hip region that generally radiates down the posterior thigh; often caused by an IV disc herniation between L4 and L5.
What is spinal stenosis?
Narrowing of the vertebral foramen; can cause spinal cord compression
What is a laminectomy?
Surgical excision of one or more laminae and the corresponding spinous processes; commonly performed to decrease pressure on the spinal cord or nerves caused by disc herniation, tumors, or bone hypertrophy.
What muscles are considered extrinsic back muscles? What do they do respectively?
SUPERFICIAL: Trapezius, levator scapulae, latissimus dorsi, rhomboids (respiratory movement)
INTERMEDIATE: Serratus posterior superior and inferior (produce and control UL movements)
What muscles make up the intermediate layer of the intrinsic back muscles?
THE ERRECTOR SPINAE
Iliocostalis
Longissimus
Spinalis
(I LOVE SPAGHETTI)
Which intrinsic muscles of the deep layer are part of the transversospinales muscle group?
Semispinalis
Multifidis
Rotares
(SOME MORE RAGU)
Which muscle is considered the chief extensor of the vertebral column?
Errector spinae
What small deep muscles contribute to rotation and stabilization of the vertebral column?
Levator costarum
Interspinalis
Intertransversarii
(LEAVE IT IN!)
What nerves provide sensory innervation to the skin of the back region?
DORSAL rami of spinal nerves
What vessels supply the back muscles with blood?
Branches of external carotid and subclavian arteries, and thoracic and abdominal aorta:
CERVICAL
- Occipital
- Deep cervical
- Verterbral
THORACIC
- Posterior intercostal
- Posterior subcostal
LUMBAR AND SACRAL
- Lumbar
- Lateral sacral
Are the Splenius capitis and cervicis intrinsic or extrinsic muscles of the back? Which layer are they in?
Intrinsic
Superficial
What does it mean to be an extrinsic or intrinsic muscles?
Extrinsic: Lying superficially on a structure
Intrinsic: Lying more deeply within a structure
