Basic anatomy of the spine Flashcards
how many vertebrae each section
7, 12,5,5,4
8 cervical spinal nerves
What is a typical vertebrae and examples
A vertebrae with a body, vertebral arch and several processes
Eg cervical , thoracic , lumbar and sacrum and coccyx are the types of vertebra
Middle portion of all of these
What is an atypical vertebrae
Highly modified by function and position eg C1,2,7
T1,9,10,11,12 and L5
Transitioning regions of the vertebral Colomm
Identify 4 features of a typical cervical vertebrae
Small size
Transverse foramina
Saddle shaped body
Bifid spinous process
C1 is different atlas , as is shaped like a ring
C2, (axis( has upward facing long bony processes called dens
The Dens facilitates turning motions as joins to C1 thereby allowing the head to turn in different directions
C7 - spinous process is a lot bigger better fit to fit with T1 below. C7 also lacks any holes ( transverse processes foramina) for the vertebral arteries to pass through which are present in all other cervical vertebrae
C7 has large spinous process felt at the back of the neck - easily seen and felt at the base making it a prominent landmark of the skeleton and giving the C7 vertebrae promines
what is the spine
vertebral coloumn that holds us up
what is the back
posterior surface of trunk
what is the trunk/torso
body head and limbs
roles of the spine
Protects the fragile spinal cord & spinal nerves
Carrying the superior portion of the body
Allows the body to resist gravity
Absorbs shocks through curves and intervertebral discs
Allows limited movement of the trunk & neck
how many vertebrae and spinal nerves
33 v
31 spinal nerves
which v regions are fused
sacral and coccygeal
conus medullaris what level
L1-2
L3 in babies
what are the curves in your spine known as
cervical lordosis - secondary curvature
thoracic kyphosis
lumbr lordosis
sacral kyphosis - primayr curvature -Kyphosis is curvature of the spine that causes the top of the back to appear more rounded than normal
inter only kyphosis - one big curve
cervical lordosis can be exaggerated when
I’m women with OA
when does a baby begin to lift its head
3 months
Starts as a flexion posture before you are born: Foetal concavity
Cervical lordosis
when does a baby begin to stand
1 year old
Lumbar lordosis
starts developing when babies begin to learn to stand
what is scoliosis
Scoliosis is where the spine twists and curves to the side.
treatment includes painkillers, braces and surgery
ifferent surgical techniques may be used, such as:
laminectomy – where a section of 1 of the bones in your spine (vertebrae) is removed to relieve pressure on the affected nerve
discectomy – where a section of 1 of the discs between the vertebrae is removed to relieve pressure on a nerve
spinal fusion – where 2 or more vertebrae are joined together to stabilise, strengthen and straighten the spine
prosthesis and implants
what goes through the vertebral foramen
The spinal cord passes through the vertebral foramina of the vertebrae: the collective vertebral foramina are referred to as the vertebral canal, or spinal canal.
how do spinal nerves exit the spinal cord
through neural foramina
what are the transverse process
The transverse processes serve as muscle attachment sites and are used as lever arms by spinal muscles. The muscles that attach to the transverse processes maintain posture and induce rotation and lateral flexion of single vertebrae and the spine as a whole.
what is pedicle
Each vertebra has two cylinder-shaped projections (pedicles) of hard bone that stick out from the back part of the vertebral body, providing side protection for the spinal cord and nerves. The pedicles also serve as a bridge, joining the front and back parts of the vertebra.
what vertebrae have downward facing processes
thoracic
vertebral body shape cervical , thoracic and lumbar
small, wide side to side
larger than cervical heart shaped
kidney shaped
which vertebral foramen is circular
thoracic
cervical and lumbar - triangular
neural foramen is also called intervertebral foramen
true
in lumbar vertebrae rotation is prevented in thoracic flexion and extensions prevented
what is spina bifida
Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly. It’s a type of neural tube defect. The neural tube is the structure in a developing embryo that eventually becomes the baby’s brain, spinal cord and the tissues that enclose them
types of spina bifida
Spina bifida occulta
“Occulta” means hidden. It’s the mildest and most common type. Spina bifida occulta results in a small separation or gap in one or more of the bones of the spine (vertebrae). Many people who have spina bifida occulta don’t even know it, unless the condition is discovered during an imaging test done for unrelated reasons.
Myelomeningocele
Also known as open spina bifida, myelomeningocele is the most severe type. The spinal canal is open along several vertebrae in the lower or middle back. The membranes and spinal nerves push through this opening at birth, forming a sac on the baby’s back, typically exposing tissues and nerves. This makes the baby prone to life-threatening infections and may also cause paralysis and bladder and bowel dysfunction.
what is a sign of spina bifida
tuft of hair
what is a median longitudinal furrow
midline longitudinal depression in the surface of the back; it begins superiorly in the cervical region and is continuous inferiorly with the gluteal cleft, diminishing at the base of the neck and over the sacral base.
how do you find L4 vertebrae
iliac crest
how do you diagnose scoliosis
Scoliosis is usually confirmed through a physical examination, an x-ray, spinal radiograph, CT scan or MRI. The curve is measured by the Cobb Method and is diagnosed in terms of severity by the number of degrees.
A herniated disc (also called bulged, slipped or ruptured) is a fragment of the disc nucleus that is pushed out of the annulus, into the spinal canal through a tear or rupture in the annulus. Discs that become herniated usually are in an early stage of degeneration.
what could cause this
annulus fibrosis
nucleus pulposus
Supraspinous ligament
strong fibrous cord that connects together the apices of the spinous processes from the seventh cervical vertebra to 3rd or 4th lumbar vertebrae.
Ligamentum flavum
connect the ventral parts of the laminae of adjacent vertebrae. They help to preserve upright posture, preventing hyperflexion, and ensuring that the vertebral column straightens after flexion.
Anterior longitudinal ligament
The anterior longitudinal ligament is a ligament that runs down the anterior surface of the spine. It traverses all of the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs on their ventral side. It may be partially to treat certain abnormal curvatures in the vertebral column, such as kyphosis.
Posterior longitudinal ligament
connects and stabilizes the bones of the spinal column. It runs almost the entire length of the spine, from the 2nd vertebra in the cervical spine (neck) all the way down to the sacrum (end of the spine). The ligament is adjacent to the spinal cord.
If a patient has a disc herniation of the L3/L4 intervertebral disc, which dermatome/s would be affected?
disc protrusion at L3
discs correspond to one above and below
lumbar pucnture level
between L3 and 4
