Lecture 5.1: Vertebral column & back Flashcards
How many vertebraes do we have?
33 in total
What is the “axial” skeleton?
It’s where our upper and lower limbs ‘hang’ off. Skull, rib, vertebral column.
Name the regions of the vertebral column
Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacrum, Coccyx
What structures compose the vertebral column?
Distinct vertebrae, intervertebral joints and discs, intervertebral foramen and vertebral canal
What is the “vertebral canal/foramen”?
It’s the hole we can see in each vertebrae, where the spinal column passes through. (top view)
What is the intervertebral foramen?
The hole that is formed when two vertebrae are joined together (side view)
Describe the development of the structure of the vertebral column
When we are born, we have a PRIMARY ‘C’ shaped curvature. Months after we are born, we develop our SECONDARY lumbar and cervical regions.
What are the names of some abnormal curvatures that may occur? Describe them. (3)
- Kyphosis: hunchback
- Scoliosis: Spine is not straight
- Abnormal lordosis: Sway back; opposite of hunch
What type of bone are vertebrae?
IRREGULAR BONES
What is the structure of the BODY of the vertebrae like?
It has bone in the middle, covered by the epiphyseal ring (cartilage)
What is a “process”? And name the ones we have
A projection or outgrowth of tissue from a larger body. IT may be used as a muscle attachment point, for leverage…
Transverse, spinous, articular.
Articular has 2 inferior and 2 superior
What are pedicles?
A stub of bone that connects the lamina to the vertebral body to form the vertebral arch.
What forms the vertebral foramen? i.e What are the structures that make the circle?
Pedicles and lamina
Describe the vertebral arch
Vertebral body; coming off on both sides is the pedicles, then coming off these is the lamina, that are joined. On the left and right of the lamina is the transverse processes and straight in the middle is the spinous process.
How many vertebrae is each part composed of?
Cervical: 7 Thoracic: 12 Lumbar: 5 Sacrum: 5 Coccyx: 4
What does the cervical and thoracic support?
Cervical: weight of head
Thoracic: ribs
Describe the spinal cord; length + placement
The spinal cord runs through the vertebral column but NOT ALL THE WAY; terminates at L1. This is where the cauda equina begins. As we grow older, our vertebral column grows longer than our spinal cord, outgrowing it.
What is the cauda equina?
A bundle of spinal nerves and roots. L2-L5
How is the spinal cord protected?
It is covered by meninges; dura, arachnoid and pia mater
What sort of things run through the intervertebral foramen?
MIXED spinal nerves, vessels
How are spinal nerves named? Exception?
For CERVICAL: nerves are named by which vertebrae they “sit” on
For THORACIC: nerved are named by which vertebrae is on TOP of the nerve
The exception is C8; we only have up to C7 but because of the naming convention, there is a C8 nerve
Where are each type of spinal nerves located?
Motor: ventral horn
Sensory: dorsal root ganglion
Mixed: anterior and posterior rami in the intervertebral foramen
What are rami
Is a “branch”; They contain both sensory and motor components
What are the types of vertebral joints?
- Intervertebral
2. Zygapophyseal
What are intervertebral discs/joints? Describe their structure.
- Join adjacent vertebral bodies
- Secondary cartilaginous joints
- In the middle is the NUCLEUS PULPOSUS, covered by the ANULUS FIBROSUS
What is the NUCLEUS PULPOSUS, ANULUS FIBROSUS?
Nucleus pulposus: a hydrated ‘gel’; water
Anulus fibrosus: multi layered fibre, connects to the epiphyseal ring
What is the nucleus pulposus like in adults vs children?
adults: dried out
child: hydrated
Describe the structure of the anulus fibrosis
Each layer is different; either oriented like / or like . This enables movement in all directions without tearing, and also resists excessive movement. When we ‘twist’, one type tightens while the other loosens; therefore never twist+lift!
Describe the features of the nucleus pulposus
Deformable but not compressible. Shock absorber
What are zygapophyseal (facet) joints?
They are plane synovial joints (permits gliding in one axis). It is where articular processes join.
What is the difference between articular processes in the T and L vertebra?
T: orientated in the coronal plane, permits rotation
L: orientated in the sagittal plane: permits flexion and extension
What is the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments?
inter: connect adjoining spinous processes of the vertebra in the spine
supra: found along the vertebral colum; covers it
What is the ligamenta flava?
Elastic; connect the lamin of adjacent vertebrae, all the way from the second vertebra, axis, to the first segment of the sacrum.
What are superficial/extrinsic muscles of the back?
‘FAKE’ They all attach to and act on the upper limb; one attachment to back, the other to limb
Name the superficial/extrinsic muscles of the back
- Trapezius
- Latissimus Dorsi
- Levator scapulae
- Rhomboid; major and minor
What does the trapezius connect?
Spine + scapula
What does the rhomboid connect?
back + scapula
What does the latissimus connect?
T and L vertebrae, with humerus
What are deep/intrinsic muscles of the back? What are the two groups called?
They are the TRUE back muscles; they all attach to and act on the back.
Erector spinae and transversospinalis
What is erector spinae?
Group of TRUE back muscles: they are LONG, ‘prime’ movers, allows us to stand straight, and ben down; flexion
What is transversospinalis?
Group of TRUE back muscles; they are SHORT, act as stabilisers; prevents excess movement
What is lumbar fascia?
Surrounds the lower back muscles and ‘binds’ them; provides attachments for extrinsic muscles of the back and erector spinae
forms tight compartment for the intrinsic muscles; enhanced their actions
Bulge; herniation; extrusion?
When the disc bulges, pokes out, and a part leaves, into the vertebral foramen.
What is osteophytes?
Vertebrae rub against each other, thinning down the cartilage/disc; loses fluid there… can affect the nerves that run there
In what region does the spinal cord terminate?
L1/L2
What kind of joint are intervertebral discs?
Secondary cartilaginous joints; has both hyaline and fibrocartilage
Nucleus pulposus: deformable? compressable? Features?
Deformable but not compressable. SHOCK ABSORBERS
What are the different types of spinal ligaments we have?
- Anterior longitudinal ligament
- Posterior longitudinal ligament
- Interspinous ligament
- Supraspinous ligament
What is the ligamentum flavum?
Covers the laminas; allows them to separate a little for flexion; VERY ELASTIC
