Cervical and Thoracic Spine Flashcards
what is the purpose of the C spine
what other systems is the C spine connected to
the motor system of the C region complements what other vital functions
holds our head on shoulders, orients the head in space enabling us to navigate the environment, allows us to react quickly
auditory and visual
respiration, phonation, swallowing
how many vertebrae are in the C spine
the C spine is divided into __ and ___
what is C0
7
upper (C0-C2) and lower (C3-C7)
your occiput
what is your C0-C1 joint called
what does this joint articulate with
what bony landmarks does the atlas not have
occiput-atlas
the condyles of the occiput and superior facets of atlas
vertebral body and spinous process
what movement does the atlas perform
what is the C1-C2 joint called
how are the facets aligned in the C1-C2 joint
nodding the head yes, minimal rotation
atlantoaxial
horizontally
what movements is the atlantoaxial joint responsible for
the lower C spine runs from C __ to C ___
shaking head no (50% of cervical rotation), little to no side bending
3 to 7
the facet joints of the lower C spine are angulated at __ degrees in the ___ plane
what does the orientation of the facet joints allow for
the lower C spine is responsible for what movements
45, sagittal
increased mobility compared to the T and L spine
64 deg of flexion, 24 deg extension, 40 deg side bending, 40 deg rotation
which part of the spine is most susceptible to wear and tear from increased motion
the lower C spine has two ___ and two ___ joints
lower C spine (C3-C7)
facet, uncinate joints
what movements do facet joints facilitate
what movements do uncinate/uncovertebral joints prevent
couples rotation and side bending
posterior translation and some side bending (lateral stability), are a gliding mechanism for flexion and extension
what 3 things are intervertebral discs composed of
what injury do uncovertebral joints in the C spine protect against
in what way is the C spine unique in it’s structure
annulus fibrosis, nucleus pulposis, end plate (allows nutrients to pass into disc)
disc herniation
transverse foramen in C1-C6 which carry vertebral artery
where does the vertebral artery arise from
after the vertebral artery passes through the foramen ___ it becomes the ___ artery
subclavian artery
magnum, basilar
where do the alar ligaments insert and attach
the transverse craniovertebral ligament covers the ___ and has attachments ___ at C__
insert: on odontoid process (passes superiorly and laterally to inner aspect of the foramen magnum)
attaches: to dens and occipital condyles of cranium
dens, horizontally, C1
where does the transverse ligament insert and attach
the transverse ligament is apart of what other ligament
why are the alar and cruciform ligaments important for the dens
inserts: transverse ligaments
attach: superiorly to occiput and inferiorly to C2
cruciform ligament
keeps the dens in close approximation to C1 and away from spinal canal
what is the purpose of the ligamentum nuchae
what movement does the ligamentum nuchae limit
where does the ligamentum nuchae insert and attach
broad extensive ligament that increases depth of cervical spinous processes allowing muscular attachment
cervical flexion
insert: external occipital protuberance
attach: spinous process of C7
what are the muscles of the posterior upper C spine
how many vertebral levels do these muscles cross
suboccipitals: rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, obliquus capitis inferior, obliquus captitis superior
1-2
what are the muscles of the anterior upper C spine
rectus capitis anterior, rectus capitis lateralis, longus colli cervicis
what are the muscles of the anterior lower C spine
sternocleidomastoideus, anterior scalene, middle scalene, posterior scalene, splenius capitis, cervicis, longus colli, longus capitis
what is the function of the longus capitis
what is the function of the longus colli
capitis: ventral flexor of C spine and stabilizer
colli: stabilizer of mid C spine and provides dynamic tension of all the anterior longitudinal ligaments
what are the muscles of the posterior lower C spine
splenius capitis, splenius cervicis
semispinalis capitus, semispinalis cervices
longissimus capitus, longissimus cervicis
spinalis cervicis, levator scapulae, upper traps
how many muscles are there in the neck
where are the different regions of the head/neck these muscles can act on the neck
44
over the craniocervical region, in the cervical region, may span the craniocervical and cervical regions with attachments to upper thoracic
do the superficial or deep muscles in the C spine have larger lever arms and cross sectional areas
the superficial muscles have greater capacity to exert what
how are the deep muscles arranged
superficial
torque
segmentally (segment to segment attachments)
what does segmental arrangement of deep C spine muscles allow for
how are the spindle densities and muscle fibre composition of deep muscles different from superficial C spine muscles
guide and support of cervical motion
larger spindle densities and muscle fibre composition
why is coordination between superficial and deep C spine muscles needed
which muscles in the neck region have the largest density of muscle spindles of all the muscles in the body
the deep cannot support the load of the head and superficial segments don’t support cervical segments
suboccipital and deep cervical muscles
what type of joint is the occiput atlas joint
in the occiput atlas joint, the occiput is __ and the atlas is ___
what are the 3 separate articulations of the atlantoaxial joint
in the atlantoaxial joint the atlas is __ and the axis is __
simple, synovial, ellipsoid
convex, concave
2 lateral and 1 median joints
convex, concave
what is fryettes first law of spinal motion (neutral mechanics)
what is the principle of the first law deemed
when the spine is in neutral, side bending to one side will be accompanied by horizontal rotation to the opposite side
coupled relationship between side bending and rotation
what is fryettes second law of spinal motion (non-neutral mechanics)
when the spine is flexed or extended, side bending and rotation will occur on the same side
what is fryettes third law of spinal motion
how does this sum up the first two laws
when motion is introduced in one plane it will reduce or modify motion in other planes of movement
by stating dysfunction in one plane will negatively effect all other planes of movement
T or F: arthokinematics of the C spine is well understood
the most common model of arthokinematics states which movements occur in the upper C spine when:
A. it’s in a neutral position
B. it’s flexed or extended
F
A. it will side bend and rotate in opposite directions
B. it will side bend and rotate on the same side
the most common model of arthokinematics says which movements will occur in the lower C spine
the alternate model of arthokinematics states which movements occur when the lower C spine is flexed
spine will always side bend and rotate in the same direction
side bending and rotation in the same direction, extension in the opposite direction
to understand couple movement what other factors do we need to understand
how do the vertebral bodies of the thoracic spine change as you get more inferior on the spine
the superior segments of the T spine share commonalities with the ___ spine
the inferior segments of the T spine share commonalities with the __ spine
posture, local muscle contraction, gravity, vertebral level, direction of movement
they become larger and more dense to support increased body mass
cervical
lumbar
what type of joints are the facet joints of the thoracic spine
the facet joints are oriented in which plane in the T spine
how do the thoracic discs differ in the T spine compared to the C and L spine
facet, planar
frontal
they’re thinner
what contributes to the lower mobility of the T spine
T or F: transverse processes correlate to the same level as the spinous process
thin thoracic discs and attachment to rib cage
F
what is the rule of 3’s regarding transverse process location for the T spine
transverse processes are at the same level of the spinous processes at T1-T3 and T10-T12
transverse processes are 1/2 a level above the spinous processes at T4-T6
transverse processes are 1 level above spinous processes at T7-T9
T or F: there are no specific ligaments that arise from the thoracic spine
which ligaments attach the thoracic vertebrae to the ribs
T, ligaments run through the area
superior, medial and lateral costovertebral ligaments
muscles of the thoracic spine are mostly related to the __ area
what is the biggest function of the muscles of the thoracic spine
cervical
support segments from being exaggerated further in their kyphotic predisposition
what muscles attach the T spine to the C spine
what muscles attach the T spine to the scapula
upper trap, splenius capitis, splenius cervicis
rhomboid +/-, middle and lower traps
mid thoracic spine function is ___ and has influence on what structure
T or F: although the ribcage increases stability of the T spine, the T segments are capable of moving independently of the ribcage
independent, rib case
T
end range shoulder flexion is coupled with end range thoracic ___
limited thoracic extension contributes to what mobility impairments
extension
shoulder elevation
explain the pump handle motion of the ribs during inspiration
explain the bucket handle motion of the ribs during inspiration
anterior and superior migration of ribs at the costvertebral and costotransverse joints
lateral and superior migration of ribs
