Lecture 5 - The Back: Vertebral column Flashcards
What are the functions of the vertebral column?
Movement
Support
Protection of spinal cord
Provides attachment for limb girdles & trunk muscles
Where are the curvatures of the spine?
In the thoracic region and in the sacrum there is a concave curvatures facing forwards (kyphosis)
In the cervical and lumbar region there are concave curvatures facing backwards (lordosis)
Describe the development of the curvatures of the back
Before birth the whole vertebral column is concave anteriorly (this is why the thoracic and sacral kyphoses are called primary curvatures )
The secondary curvatures (cervical and lumbar lordoses) begin to form once the infant starts to lift up its head to and begins to stand
What is lateral flexion of the spine called?
Scoliosis
Label this
Describe a typical cervical vertebrae
The body is small, delicate and saddle shaped.
The arch has a short, bifid spinous process (except C7)
The vertebral foramen is large and triangular shaped, and in their transverse process they have a transverse foramen
What are the atypical cervical vertebra?
The atlas (C1) and axis (C2)
The atlas articulates with the occiptal condyles, and with the axis below
How does the neck rotate, and what joint allows this?
The dens of the axis allows the head and atlas to rotate. The dens is a vertebral body of the axis that projects upwards and is held in place by a strong transverse ligament
neck flexion and extension is done via the Atlanto-occipital joint
Label these thoracic vertebrae
What does the vertebral foramen of the vertebrae form when the spinal column is fully intact?
The vertebral canal
Between the inferior notch of the pedicle of a vertebrae above, and the superior notch of the pedicle on the vertebrae below, what is formed?
The intervertebral foramen
What passes through the intervertebral foramen?
It provides a gateway for:
- A spinal nerve
- segmental spinal artery
- spinal veins
How do thoracic vertebrae differ from the cervical and lumbar vertebrae?
The 12 thoracic vertebrae are characterised by their artiuclation with the ribs
Each vertebral body of a thoracic vertebrae has a superior and infereior costal facet which articulates with the ribs
Label the inferior and superior costal facets
Why are lumbar punctures done in the lumbar region?
The lumbar vertebrae don’t overlap, and this gives a posterior space between the vertebrae
Since the spinal cord finishes at L1, a lumbar puncture can be done further down the lumbar region in the posterior space of two vertebrae
Describe the movements of flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation, and what is rotation restricted by?
Flexion = bending over
Extension = opposite of bending over
Rotation = rotating trunk - restricted by ribs
Label this
How many vertebrae make up the sacrum, and where are the foramina located?
The sacrum consists of 5 fused sacral vertebrae and has both anterior and posterior foramina
Describe the components of a intervertebral disc
An intervertebral disc consists of a central nucleus pulposus, which is a shocker absorber with a gel like consistency.
Surrounding the nucleus pulposus is the annulus fibrosus, which are concentric layers of fibrocartilage.
What are the functions of an intervertebral disc?
- Resist compression
- Binds vertebrae
- Absorbs shock
- Resists motion
- Provides stability and mobility
How does an intervertebral disc prolapse occur?
A tear can occur in the anulus fibrosis, and the nucleus pulposus can track outwards and can impinge on the roots of the lumbar nerves. It can protrude posterolaterally and impinge on the descending root.
What are the synovial intervertebral joints called?
Zygapophyseal joints
What dictates the type of movement allowed in each region?
The orientation of the articular surfaces
What movements are permitted by the cervical vertebrae?
Flexion
Exstension
Lateral flexion
Rotation
What movements are permitted by the thoracic vertebrae?
Trunk rotation
What movements does the lumbar vertebrae permit?
Flexion
Extension
Lateral flexion
What ligaments support the intervertebral joints?
Anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments
Label these ligaments
Which ligament joints the laminae of adjacent vertebrae?
Ligamentum Flavum
Which ligament joins the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae, and which liagement joints the tips of the spinous processes?
Interspinous ligament
Tips are joint together by Supraspinous ligament
In the cervical region, what does the supraspinous ligament become between C7 and base of skull?
Ligamentum nuchae
Label this
Label this
Which major muscles perform extension of the trunk?
Erector spinae
Multifidus
Semispinalis
Thoracis
Gluteus maximus
Which muscles perform flexion of the trunk?
Rectus abdominus
Psoas major
Which muscle performs lateral flexion and rotation of the neck?
Sternocleidomastoid
