Final Flashcards
What is a plane?
• A flat surface determined by the position of three points in space: sagittal; frontal (coronal); transverse (axial)
What is plane motion?
• Motion in which all points of a rigid body move parallel to a fixed plane (2-D)
What motion occurs in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes?
- Sagittal: flexion, extensions
- Frontal: right lateral flexion, left lateral flexion
- Transverse: rotation
What is out of plane motion?
• All points of a rigid body do not move in a single plane (3-D)
What is an axis?
• A line; rotation or translation occur around /along it
What is the x-axis?
• Line passes horizontally from side to side; frontal or coronal axis; mov’t around it is in sagittal plane
What is the y-axis?
• Longitudinal or vertical axis; perpendicular to ground; axis of the transverse plane
What is the z-axis?
• Sagittal axis; lie from back to front; axis of the frontal plane
What are degrees of freedom?
• Number of ways a body can move; one degree is translation or rotation about one axis; spinal segments have 6 degrees (3 translations and 3 rotations)
What is the instantaneous axis of rotation (IAR)?
• An axis perpendicular to the plane of motion that passes through a point that is instantaneously not moving; used to describe any vertebral motion in a 2-D plane; can shift with different force vectors applied to a vertebra; differs under changing loads, and is different for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal segments
What is a motion segment?
• The functional unit of the spine; smallest spinal segment with biomechanical characteristics similar to those of entire spine; 2 adjacent vertebrae and their interconnecting disc, joints, capsule, and ligaments; 6 degrees of freedom
What is coupled motion?
• Consistent association of one motion (translation or rotation) about one axis with another motion about a second axis; one motion cannot be produced without the other; two motions occurring at the same time along two different axes
What is an example of coupled motion?
• Bending neck to left or right, to the left involves right coupled axial rotation of the upper cervical spine, and left coupled AR of the subaxial cervical spine; and vice versa
What is loose-packed joint position?
• Joint capsule and ligaments are most relaxed; maximum joint play is possible; articulating surfaces are maximally separated; position used for traction or joint mobilization; Ex: when facet joints are half-way between flexion and extension
What is closed-packed joint position?
Capsule and ligaments are maximally tightened; there is no joint play; there is maximal contact b/w the articular surfaces; Ex: when facet joints are in full flexion or extension
• What is the breakdown of the vertebrae, including numbers in regions and curvature?
o 33 vertebrae- 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, sacrum (5 fused), coccyx (4 fused)
o Kyphosis in thoracic and sacral; lordosis in cervical and lumbar
• What are the regional spinal coupling patterns seen in left lateral flexion?
LLF outweighs RLF, which is seen to some degree in C2-T1(slight) and T1-L1 (moderate)
• What is the flexion-extension regional range of motion of vertebrae?
o Cervical: great, peaks at C4
o Thoracic: low
o Lumbar: greater, peaking at S1
• What is the lateral bending regional range of motion of vertebrae?
o Cervical: high, peaks at C3-C4
o Thoracic: lower/moderate, no peaks
o Lumbar: moderate, peaks at T12, L4
• What is the axial rotation regional range of motion of vertebrae?
o Cervical: great peak at C1
o Thoracic: higher than most C, and L, peak at T1
o Lumbar: very little
• What is the breakdown of flexion and extension regional range of motion of vertebrae?
o Flexion: lumbar most, then cervical, then thoracic (all roughly similar)
o Extension: cervical most, then lumbar, then thoracic (T and L ~same)
-~ 135d total both flex and ext
• What is the breakdown of lateral flexion regional range of motion of vertebrae?
o Equal to right and left; cervical -> lumbar -> thoracic (roughly equal); <90d total to one side
• What is the breakdown of regional axial rotation range of motion of vertebrae?
o Equal to right and left; cervical -> thoracic -> lumbar; ~170 total to one side
• What is the articular anatomy of the occiput (CO)?
o Has 2 condyles, face laterally and inferiorly, form convex rockers, sit in concave surface of superior articular facet of C1
• What is the articular anatomy of the Atlas (C1)?
o Has 2 superior articular facts, concave surface, face medially and superiorly, complement condyles, allow occipital condyles to rock
• Describe the articulation of CO-C1 flexion and extension:
o Occiput glides posteriorly (flexion) and rolls anteriorly (extension); greatest ROM in CO-C1; excursion is 10 d flexion and 25 d extension
• Describe the articulation of CO-C1 lateral flexion:
o Occiput rolls on side of lateral flexion and glides on opposite side; ROM 5 d each side (minimal)
• Describe the articulation of CO-C1 rotation:
o Occiput glides posteriorly on side of rotation and anteriorly on side opposite rotation; limited by alar lig (taut on side opp rot); ROM 5d each side (minimal)
• What is the articular anatomy of the C1-C2 (atlas-axis) jt?
o Two facet jts plus the atlas-odontoid jt; planes of facet jts of C1-C2 are mostly horizontal; inferior facets of C1 are slightly convex and face inferior and medially, superior facets of C2 are slightly convex (yes, both are convex) and superior and laterally
• Describe the atlas-odontoid jt:
o Synovial jt b/w odontoid and anterior arch of atlas; transverse lig courses around posterior aspect of odontoid
• What are the occipital-odontoid and atlas-odontoid ligs?
o Alar lig b/w occiput and odontoid
o transverse lig courses around posterior aspect of odontoid
• Describe the articulation of C1-C2 flexion and extension:
o Flexion: C1 articular surfaces glide posteriorly (minimal)
o Extension: C1 articular surfaces glide anteriorly (minimal)
• Describe the articulation of C1-C2 lateral flexion:
o Limited active ROM (5d each side, minimal)
o Articular surfaces of C1 slide (translate) on articular surfaces of C2 toward the side of lateral flexion
• Describe the articulation of C1-C2 rotation:
o Very mobile, accounts for ~ half of cervical rotation; C1 rotates around odontoid in horizontal plane; C1 articular surface glides posterior on the side of rotation and anterior on the side opposite of rotation; ROM avg 40d each side; first 25d occur exclusively at C1-C2
• Describe the articulation of C2 flexion and extension:
o Primarily translation
o Flexion: anterior disc compression (posterior distraction); facets glide apart producing stretching and joint gapping
o Extension: anterior disc distraction (posterior compression); facets approximate (compression at inferior margins)
• Describe the articular anatomy of the lower cervical biomechanics (C3-C7):
o Design is consistent from C3-C7; vertebral body wider transversely than A-P; transverse foramen for vertebral artery
• Describe the articulation of the lower cervical biomechanics (C3-C7):
o Articular facets are at 45d with transverse (horizontal) plane, parallel in frontal (coronal) plane (meaning don’t face medially/laterally); articular surface is nearly flat
• What is the joint of Luschka?
o In C3-C7; aka uncinated process; the interbody jts (uncovertebral jts); from age 6-9, completed age 18; limit lateral flexion to only a few degrees; serve as guides to couple lateral flexion with rotation (coupled motion)
• What is the cervical curve?
o Lordotic curve of 20-50d (avg is 45); C1-C7; facet and disc planes determine curve; secondary curve; develops in response to upright posture
• Describe the cervical disc of C3-C7:
o Disc height to body height ratio is 2:5 (allows for greater ROM in cervicals); 25% of height of cervical curve; higher anteriorly (contributes to cervical lordosis); nucleus pulposus slightly posterior to center
• Describe the articular anatomy and ROM of lower cervical flexion and extension (C3-C7):
o Flexion and extension predominate over other motions; average ROM is 15d per segment for combined flexion-extension; mid cervicals have the greatest range in flexion-extension at 20d (lowest is C2-C3 and C7-T1 at 10d); movt is combo of segmental tipping (sagittal rotation) and gliding (sagittal translation)
• Describe the articulation of lower cervical flexion and extension (C3-C7):
o Flexion: anterior disc compression (posterior distraction); facets glide apart producing stretching and jt gapping
o Extension: anterior disc distraction (posterior compression); facets approximate (compression at inferior margins)
• Describe the articular anatomy and ROM of lateral flexion (C3-C7):
o Average lateral flexion range is 7-8d to each side; lateral flexion decreases as move caudally down cervical spine; coupled motion (lateral flexion is coupled with ipsilateral axial rotation); the degree of coupled rotation decreases in a cephalic to caudal direction
• Describe the articulation of lower cervical lateral flexion (C3-C7):
o Lateral disc wedging and approximation are present on the side of lateral flexion and distraction is present on the side of opposite lateral flexion
o The inferior facet glides down and medially on the side of lateral flexion and up and laterally on the side opposite lateral flexion
• Describe the articular anatomy and ROM of lower cervical rotation (C3-C7):
o Avg rotation ROM is 5d to each side; rotation decreases significantly at C7-T1 (avg is 2d); predominantly axial rotation coupled with ipsilateral flexion; the vertebral bodies lateral flex to the side of rotation; the coupling is not as strong as that noted with cervical lateral flexion
• Describe the articulation of lower cervical rotation (C3-C7):
o On the side of rotation the inferior facet glides down and medially; on the side opposite rotation the inferior facet glides up and laterally (coupled rot and LF)
• What ligaments or muscles, etc limit each of the cervical motions?
o Flexion: Ligamentum nuchae; Ligamentum flavum; posterior atlanto-occipital membrane and jt capsule
o Extension: anterior longitudinal ligament; anterior capsule of facet jt; atlanto-occipital membrane and jt capsule
o Lateral flexion: rectus capitis lateralis; capsule of facet jt
o Rotation: capsule of facet jt; alar ligament
• Describe the articular anatomy of the typical thoracic biomechanics (T2-T8)
o Transverse processes are thick, strong and long; spinous processes are long and slender; costovertebral jts on side of vertebral body articulate with rib heads; costotransverse jts on transverse process articulate with tubercles of ribs; sup (lat and post) and inf (med and ant) articular facets; sup and inf costal facets; articular facets form 60d from transverse toward coronal plane, and 20d from coronal to sagittal
• What are the atypical thoracic vertebrae?
o T1: resembles C7, has whole facet for articulation with 1st rib
o T9-T12: variations on location of facets on body and TPs for articulation w/ ribs
o T11 and T12: begin to take on characteristics of lumbar vertebrae
• What is the thoracic curve?
o Kyphotic of 20-50d (avg is 45d); from T1-2 to T12; apex at T6-7; primary curve at birth
• What will flattening of thoracic curve cause?
o Cervical curve to decrease and shift forward; lumbar curve to increase
• Describe the thoracic disc:
o Disc height-to-body height ratio is 1:5 (smallest in spine); contributes to decreased flexibility in thoracic spine; nucleus pulposus located centrally within annulus
• Describe the articular motion of thoracic flexion and extension:
o Avg is 6d (4d upper, 6 middle, 12 lower); combines sagittal plane rotation with slight sagittal plane translation (minimal); flexion (facets glide apart as disc opens posteriorly); extension (facets and posterior disc approximate)
• Describe the coupled motion of thoracic lateral flexion:
o Avg 6d to each side; upper is coupled with axial rotation, occur to same side (body rotation to the concavity and spinous deviation to the convexity); middle and lower, coupling may occur in either direction; disc and facet approximate on side of lf and separate on opposite; upper thoracic inf facets glide medially on side of lf and laterally on opposite due to strong coupled axial rotation
• Describe the motion of thoracic rotation:
Upper avg 8-9d to each side, decreases in middle and minimal in lower; upper is coupled with same-side LF; inf facets glide inferiorly on same side of rotation and superiorly on opp
Name all the ligaments of the thoracic spine. Facets?
o Anterior longitudinal lig; interarticular lig of head of rib; lateral costotransverse lig; intertransverse lig; superior costotransverse lig; radiate lig of head of rib
o Inf costal facet (head rib); superior costal facet (head); transverse costal facet (tubercle of rib)
• What is the “pump handle action” motion of the ribs?
o with inspiration, ribs T1-6 are pulled up and forward; pump handle movt increases the AP diameter of rib cage; rib head rolls down, elevating anterior end of rib like handle of pump
• What is the “bucket handle action” motion of the ribs?
o With inspiration, ribs T7-T10 are elevated and depressed; bucket handle movt increases transverse diameter of rib cage; ribs ride up and down on TP while rib elevation and depression is like a bucket handle on hinges
• What is the “caliper action” motion of ribs?
o With inspiration, ribs T8-12 move laterally; caliper movt increases lateral diameter of rib cage
• Describe thoracolumbar flexion, and what limits it:
o Agv is 85d (bend over, reach toes); overall limited by hamstrings; thoracic does most of bending, limited by interspinous and supraspinous ligs; lumbar goes from lordotic to straight, limit by ligs, capsule of facet jt; and compressed annulus fibrosus
• Describe thoracolumbar extension, and what limits it:
o Avg is 35-40d (up dog) limited by hip flexors; thoracic limited by anterior longitudinal lig; thoracic goes from kyphotic to straight; lumbar has more mobility, limited by lig, and capsule of facet
• Describe thoracolumbar lateral flexion, and what limits it:
o Avg is 45d to each side; thoracic by superior facet of T6 and T7; lumbar by superior facet of L1 and L2, inferior facet of L1, intertransverse lig
• Describe thoracolumbar axial rotation, and what limits it:
o 35d (although cervical is 90, so total head rotation is 125); thoracic limit by sup-inf facets of T6-7; lumbar limit by sup-inf facet of L1-2, jt approximation on one side, separation on other
• Describe the articular anatomy of the lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5):
o Pedicles and laminae are short, broad and strong; mammillary processes on ant/sup part of SPs; SPs are thick and broad; TPs are long, slender and flattened on their anterior and posterior surfaces; facets primarily in sagittal plane but become more coronal at lumbosacral junction; greatest mobility is in Flex/ext; facet orientation limits rotational flexibility
• What are the angles of the lumbar facet joint orientation?
o Articular facets are parallel to longitudinal axis, 45d anteriorly
• Describe the lumbar curve:
o Lordotic of 20-60d (avg 35); from L1-2 and extends to sacrum; apex at L3-4; secondary curve (from birth), in response to standing; anterior pelvic tilt increases lordosis; posterior pelvic tilt decreases it
• Describe the lumbar discs:
o Disc height-to-body height ration 1:3 (allows ROM); nucleus pulposus located posteriorly within annulus; allows for movt; resists axial compression forces
• What is the compression force transition through a lumbar disc?
o Compression force from body weight and muscle contraction raises hydrostatic pressure in nucleus pulposus; increases pressure elevates tension in annular fibrosis; increased tension in annulus inhibits radial expansion of nucleus; increased nuclear pressure is exerted up and down against endplates; pressure w/I nucleus reinforces peripheral annulus fibrosus creating a stable weight-bearing structure
• How is weight normally distributed onto discs?
o Oval 2-D surface is split into 4 90d quadrants, each bearing 25% the weight
• What is a disc bulge?
o Shallow generalized extension of the disc tissues beyond the edges of the vertebral body (<3mm); annular fibers buckle out; may compress neural tissue in IVF or spinal canal; pain; jt dysfunction; NOT a herniation; bulging is a descriptive term for the shape of the disc and is not diagnostic;
• What are symmetrical and asymmetrical bulging discs?
o “symmetrical”= bulge is symmetrical “circumferentially” beyond edges of vertebral body (proportionately enlarged diameter, etc)
o “asymmetrical”= asymmetrical bulge of disc margin (as is found in severe scoliosis)
o Neither are considered a form of herniation
• What is a disc herniation?
o Disc material ruptures through the annular fibers, beyond limits of IV disc space; may compress nerve in IVF; may cause radicular pain (radiating, dermatome); intense inflammation; torn annular fibers cause somatic pain
• What are “focal” and “broad-based” disc herniations?
o herniations are “localized” process involving <25% (90d)
o “broad-based”= 25-50% (90-180d)
• What do protrusion and extrusion mean in regards to disc herniations?
o Protrusion: base of herniation is broader than the distance it protrudes into spinal canal
o Extrusion: disc balloons into canal with a comparatively narrow base, as if trying to bud off; may become sequestered
• What are annular tears?
o Radial, transverse or concentric tears (fissures) in annulus; may weaken disc; may generate pain; disc may migrate into tears
• Describe lumbar flexion and extension:
o Avg 15d; combines sagittal plane rot with slight sag plane translation (minimal);
o Flexion: vertebra tilts and slides anteriorly; facets glide superiorly; disc is compressed anteriorly and stretched posteriorly
o Extension: vertebra tilts posteriorly; facets approximate; facet capsule, disc and anterior long lig are stretched anteriorly
• Describe lumbar lateral flexion:
o 6d to each side; lumbosacral only 3d; coupled with opposite side rot; facets on side of LF glide together; facets on opp side glide apart
• Describe the coupled motion of lumbar lateral flexion:
o Coupled with opp side rotation: body rotation to convexity and spinous deviation to concavity; this is opp of coupled motion in cervical and upper thoracic spine
• Describe the motion of lumbar rotation:
AR is very limited by sagittal facets (avg 2d); facets glide apart on side of rot, and approx. on opp side; rot is coupled with LF and slight sagittal plane rot; rot of L1-L3 is coupled with opp side LF; rot of L4-L5 is coupled w/ same side LF
• Describe the functional anatomy of the pelvis:
- Two innominate (coxal=fused ilium, ischium, pubis) bones
- pubic symphysis (amphiarthrosis, slightly movable jt, Fibrocartilaginous disc)
- sacrum: facets of superior articular processes; articular surface (w/ilium); median sacral crest (2nd sacral tubercle)
• What is the three joint complex of the pelvis?
- 2 SI jts and a Pubic symphysis
- SI articular surface of innominate: diarthrosis, fibrocartilage, central convex ridge; heavy lig attachments on posterior and superior surfaces
- SI articular surface of sacrum: diarthrosis; “L” shaped (boot shaped)’ hyaline articular cartilage; central groove (concavity)
• What is the “Z” joint?
• L5-S1 zygapophyseal jt
• What are the ligs of the posterior pelvis
• Iliolumbar; posterior SI; interosseous SI; dorsal SI; deep dorsal sacrococcygeal; sacrospinous; superficial dorsal sacrococcygeal; Sacrotuberous
• What are the ligs of the anterior pelvis?
• Anterior SI; iliolumbar; SI jt; pubic symphysis
• What is the keystone effect in pelvic statics?
• Sacrum forms the keystone of an arch suspended by strong SI ligs; inf displacement is resisted by wedge shape of sacrum; post displacement is resisted by the SI ligs; ant displ resisted by SI ligs and pubic symphysis
• What is the self-locking mechanism in pelvic statics?
- FORM closure (anatomy of SI jts promotes stability); wedge shape of sacrum; interlocking groove (sacrum) and ridge (ilium); “S” shaped jt surfaces
- FORCE closure (tension in mm, ligs, and fascia aids in stabilizing the SI jts)=posterior myofascial sling (lat dorsi, thoracolumbar fascia, glut max); creates lat-med pressure from ilium to sacrum, compressing SI jts; creates ant closure of pubic symphysis
• What is the shock absorber aspect of pelvic dynamics?
• Transmit force b/w lower extremity and axial skeleton; slides and pivots to absorb and adapt to forces generated b/w trunk and LE during locomotion; decreases stress to lumbar spine and opp SI jt
• What is nutation and counternutation of SI motion?
- Nutation: Sacral base rotates anteriorly on ilium, or ilium rotates posteriorly on sacrum, or both
- Counternutation: sacral base rotates posteriorly on ilium, or ilium rot ant on sacrum, or both
• What does moving into nutation or counternutation create:
- Nutation: ant sacral tilt; post iliac rot; increased lumbar Lordotic curve
- Counternutation: post sacral tilt; ant iliac rot; decreases lumbar Lordotic curve
• What are the dynamics of pubic symphysis movt?
• Compression; distraction (separation); rotation in sagittal plane with SI jt motion; gliding (translation, A-P, sup-inf)
• What is the reciprocal motion b/w the ilium and sacrum during locomotion?
- Flexion of the hip and ilium (post inf movt of the PSIS) is accompanied by ipsilateral ant inf movt of sacral base (SI flexion)
- Extension of hip and ilium (ant sup movt of PSIS) is accompanied by ipsilateral post sup movt of sacral base (SI extension)
• What is the force couple for anterior and posterior pelvic tilt?
- Anterior: hip flexors (Iliopsoas and rectus femoris) and back extensors (erector spinae)
- Posterior: hip extensors (gluteus maximus and hamstrings) and abdominal muscle (rectus abdominus and obliquus externus abdominus)
• What are the ranges of lumbopelvic flexion (normal and limited)
- Normal, can reach toes
- Limited hip flexion with excessive lumbar flexion
- Limited lumbar flexion with excessive hip flexion
• What did Hippocrates (460-377 BC) write about manipulation? Quote?
- “Manipulation and importance of Good Health” and “Setting Joints By Leverage”
- “Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases
• What did Claudius Galen do?
• 130-200 AD; “Look to the nervous system as the key to maximum health”; famous for treating scholar Eudemus, manipulated his neck, which apparently cured a paralysis of hand and arm
• What is the biomechanical model for jt manipulation and mobilization?
• Biomechanical principles can be used to explain jt dysfunction; biomechanical info can be linked w/ neurophysiology to explain the role of jt dysfunction in pain and altered physiological function
• What are the 2 biomechanical approaches to jt assessment?
- Static model: structural emphasis, “bone out of place”
* dynamic model: functional emphasis, “loss of motion”
• What is the basis for the static model?
- Alterations in POSITION of adjacent bones create changes in mechanical and neurological function of a jt
- Based on idea of “structure determines function”; static position determines how well a jt functions
• How is malposition determined in static assessment?
• Static palpation; markings on x-rays; special instruments (thermography, electromyography, etc)