Back, Vertebral Column, IV Flashcards
How many vertebrae are there?
33
What are the different regions of the spinal column
Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Coccygeal
How of each vertebrae are there?
7 Cervical 12 Thoracic 5 Lumbar 5 Sacral 4 Coccygeal
What do ligaments connect?
Bone to bone
What do tendons connect?
Muscle to bone
What kind of joints are facet joints?
Synovial plane joints
What are the different ligaments around the spinal column?
Interspinous ligament (long continuous) Ligamentum flavum (between the lamina of one vertebrae to another)
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Anterior longitudinal ligament
What are the 4 stages of disc herniation?
Protruding
Prolapsed
Extruded
Sequestered
What is disc herniation?
Like a jam donut
The nucleus pulposis is the jam
Annulus fibrosis is the donut
When gravity pushes on the IV disc, jam comes out
Where do 95% of herniated discs occur?
Between L4-L5 or L5-S1 joints
What is the thickness of IV discs through the vertebral column?
Cervical - 3mm
Thoracic - 5mm
Lumbar - 9-11mm
What back muscles are responsible for flexion?
Rectus abdominals
Psoas major
(Moving forward)
What back muscles are responsible for extension?
Paraspinals
Gluteus maximus
(Leaning back)
What back muscles are responsible for lateral flexion?
SCM Rhomboid Internal and external oblique Quadratus lumborum Gluteals
What back muscles are involved in rotation?
Paraspinals
External oblique
Internal oblique
SCM (in the neck)
What are the superficial muscles of the back?
Latissimus dorsi
Trapezius
Teres major
What are the deep muscles of the back?
Paraspinals
In which part of the vertebrae does flexion most happen?
Cervical
In which part of the vertebrae does extension most happen?
Lumbar
In which part of the vertebrae does rotation most happen?
Thoracic
What kind of joint articulates the atlas to C1?
Condyloid synovial joint
What kind of joint articulates the axis to the atlas?
Pivot type synovial joint
Which one is higher up the vertebral column? Atlas or axis?
Atlas
Where do the ligamentum flavum run and what is their purpose?
Extends from lamina above to lamina below
Resists separation of the lamina
Stops abrupt flexion
High elastic content so assisting with straightening after flexion
Where do the interspinous ligaments run and what is it’s properties?
Long and continuous
Joins adjacent spinous processes
Weak like a thin membrane
Where are facet joints found?
Between inferior and superior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae
What is the most common symptom of herniated intervertebral discs?
Back pain
What are two ways that the vertebrae articulate together?
Between vertebral bodies (IV discs)
Between articular facets (facet joints)
What commonly occurs clinically at facet joints?
The facet joints are near where the spinal nerves come out from the vertebral column
When the joints are diseases or when osteophytes form spinal nerves can become compressed
As the IV disc degenerates with age, spinal nerve roots can become compressed (especially in the lumbar region)
What happens when ligaments surrounding the joints are compressed?
Localised pain
What happens when the nerve roots are compressed in the spinal column?
Numbness
Tingling
Pain across respective dermatology
Why do you not feel pain from the IVD themselves?
Poorly innervated
What are IV discs made of?
Annulus fibrosus
Nucleus pulposus
Wha happens when the nucleus polposus dries out?
Loose height
Disc not as resilient
Does does not absorb shocks as well
When do degenerative changes start?
20s
What percentage of the nucleus pulposis is water at birth?
85
What are the functions of IV discs?
Provide strong attachments between vertebral bodies
Weight bearing and strength
25% of the heigh of the vertebral column
Describe the properties and function of the anterior longitudinal ligaments
Thick
Prevents hyperextension of the vertebral column
