Cervical Biomechanics Flashcards
Function of the spine
- protects spinal cord and exiting spinal nerves
- serves as attachment for muscles/ligaments
- provides a structural base of support
- is vertical sustaining rod to support upright posture
- gives trunk mobility
- provides a link between the upper and lower extremities
- absorb shock for the entire body
Structure of spine (how many of each)
- 33 vertebrae
- 23 intervertebral discs
- 7 cervical
- 12 thoracic
- 5 lumbar
- 9 fused vertebrae
- -5 sacral
- -4 coccyx
primary spinal curves (where are they located, is it kyphotic or lordotic)
- kyphotic
- -thoracic spine
- -sacral region
secondary spinal curves (where are they located, is it kyphotic or lordotic)
lordotic
- -cervical spine
- -lumbar spine
what is the degree of curvature in each region
cervical-30-35 deg lordosis
thoracic-40 deg kyphosis
lumbar-45 deg lordosis
functions of the intervertebral disc
- bind vertebrae together
- contribute to shape of spinal curves
- absorb shock of vertical loading
- stabilize spinal segments
- facilitate movement in spine by acting as a spacer between the vertebrae
what is the nucleus pulpous and its function
- soft gel-like interior
- shock absorber
what is the annulus fibrosis and its function
- contains nucleus pulposus
- prevents herniation
ligaments and structures that limit flexion
- Ligamentum nuchae
- Interspinous ligament
- Supraspinous ligament
- Ligamentum flava
- Apophyseal joints
- Posterior annulus fibrosus
- Posterior longitudinal ligament
ligaments and structures that limit extension (beyond neutral)
- Apophyseal joints
- Cervical viscera
- Anterior annulus fibrosus
- Anterior longitudinal ligament
ligaments and structures that limit axial rotation
- Annulus fibrosus
- Apophyseal joints
- Alar ligament
ligaments and structures that limit lateral flexion
- Intertransverse ligaments
- Contralateral annulus fibrosus
- Apophyseal joints
what type of joint is the AO joint
synovial joint
AA joint: joint articulations (medial joint)
- two synovial cavities around the dens (anterior/posterior)
- transverse ligament of the axis
AA joint: joint articulations (lateral joint)
2 lateral joints
- superior zygapopyseal facets of the axis
- inferior zygapophyseal facets of the atlas
what motion does the AO joint allow for
nodding