Joints of the Vertebral Column

Question 1

Describe the Atlanto-Occipital Joint?

3 articulations, Joint Type, action, attachments

Answer 1

• joins the head with the neck -
• the occipital condyle of the head above forms a condyloid synovial joint with the superior articular surface of the lateral masses of the Atlas below.
• this joint is reinforced by the anterior and posterior atlanto-occipital membrane that attach to from cranium to C1

Action:

Allow the movement of flexion and extension of the head (nodding the head) and some lateral flexion (head tilts)

Question 2

The den of the axis is held to the atlas by a strong ligament.

Answer 2

Transverse ligament of atlas

Question 3

What is the alar ligament? Attachments, function.

Answer 3

• strengthens the AtlantO-axial joint

This pair of short ligaments run from the sides of the foramen magnum to the den of the second cervical vertebra and helps

• Prevent excessive rotation of the head on the atlas relative to the axis

Specifically the alar ligament connects to the occipital condyle, medial surfaces).

Question 4

Spina Bifida?

Answer 4

a disorder in which the two sides of vertebral arches fail to fuse during development, resulting in an “open” vertebral canal.

Question 5

What is the transverse ligament of the atlas ? Attachments and Function?

Answer 5

One of several ligaments that reinforces the ATLANTO-AXIAL JOINT. A strong band that wraps around the odontoid like a collar, it attaches to the medial side of the atlas (on the tubercles of the lateral masses) This ligaments prevents the atlas from sliding forward on the axis, holding it in position when bending the head forward.

Question 6

What are the Cruciate Ligaments? Attachments and function.

Answer 6

This ligament reinforces the transverse ligament. It’s really a superior and inferior extension of the transverse ligament The superior band runs above to the occipult, the inferior band runs below to C2

Question 7

Describe the AtlantO-Axial Joints?

Type of joint, articulations, ligaments

Answer 7

Formed between the atlas and axis. -

It contains 3 synovial articulations:

• 2 lateral plane joints
• a central pivot joint
• The two lateral articulation is formed by the inferior articular facet of the atlas and the superior articular facet of the axis
• the 3rd joint is formed through the dens of the axis which forms a pivot joint with the anterior arch of the atlas

Ligaments that reinforces this joint.

1. Alar Ligament

• a pair of ligaments that connect the odontoid of the den (2 facets on the posterior surface of the den) run supriorly to the lateral margin of the foramen
• prevent excessive head rotation

2. Transverse Ligament of the Atlas

-wraps around the odontoid like a collar to the medial margin of the lateral masses

Prevents the atlas from sliding forward on the axis when bending the head forward.

The transverse ligaments reinforced vertically by the cruciate ligaments

Cruciate ligaments

-extensions of the transverse ligament

superiorly, the ligament runs to the occipult

inferiorly, it runs below to C2

Tectorial membrane

is a extension of the posterior longitudinal ligament

• Most superficial structure…
• from C2 and run superior to enter the foramen magnum where it attaches to the floor of the occipital cavity

Question 8

What is the primary movement of the AtlantO-Axial Joint?

Answer 8

Allow the head to rotate on its axis (80 degree) about 50 percent of head movement occurs at the Atlanta axial joint. It also allows for a small degree of flexion & extension

Question 9

The vertebral column contains how many vertebras?

Answer 9

33

7 cervical

12 thoracic

5 lumbar

5 sacraum

1 coccyx

Question 10

Describe the Anterior longuitudinal ligament

and

the Posterior Longuitinal Ligament

and

Tectorial membrane

Answer 10

• attaches from the skull and run inferiorly to the anterior surface of the sacrum. It joins all the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs.
• resist hyperextension

PLL is on the anterior portion of the vertebral canal, and joining the vertebral bodies from inside the vertebral canal. Attaches from the sacrum to the axis.

• resist hyperflexion

The extension of the posterior longitudinal ligament from the axis to the skull is the tectorial membrane.

The tectorial membrane joins the upperpart of the PLL to the skull.

Question 11

Describe the joints of the intervertebral column are?

Type, form, articulations

Ligamentum flavum

Interspinous ligament

supraspinus ligament

Answer 11

intervertebral joints

• these joints are fibrocartilangingous joints with an intervertebral discs in between the vertebral body.

The intervertebral discs has two parts, the annulus fibrosis and the nucleus fibrosis

The joints between the vertebral arches are the zygapophysial joints or facet joints.

Synovial plane joints, and allow gliding movements of adjacent vertebrae

These joints are formed between the superior articular processes of the vertebrae below, articulating with the inferior articular processes of the vertebra above.

These joints exist in pairs and forms a right and left pophyseal joint at each vertebral level.

Ligamentum Flavum

an elastic connective tissue attached between the lamina and spinous process of each vertebra and helps to return the spine upright from a flexed position.

Interspinous ligaments- connect between the spinous proceses

suprspinous ligaments- connects the tips of spinous processes

all these ligaments resist hyperflexion of the spine.