Lumbar Flashcards
How many facet joints in lumbar spinal segments?
Five pairs
Apophyseal or zyoapophyseal (facet)
What direction do lubar facets face?
Superior: medial and posterior
Inferior: lateral and anterior
Which movements are limited by facet joints
Side flexion
Flexion
Extension
Relationship between lumbar TVPs and SPs
Same level
Lumbar joints: Capsular pattern
Side flexion = rotation, then extension
Degrees of AROM: lumbar flexion
40-60º
Degrees of AROM: lumbar extension
20-35º
Degrees of AROM: lumbar lateral flexion
15-20º
Degrees of AROM: Rotation
2-18º
Lumbar: IL side flexion increases pain; no radicular symptoms
Problem probably intra-articular (since muscles and ligaments relaxed)
Lumbar: IL side flexion increases pain and radicular symptoms
Likely disc protrusion lateral to nerve root
Lumbar: CL side flexion increases pain and radicular symptoms
Likely disc protrusion medial to nerve root
Lumbar: coupled movements
side flexion + rotation
Ligament unique to lumbar spine
Iliolumbar ligament
TVP of L5 to posterior ilium
Stabilizes L5, prevents anterior displacement
Commonly injured with flexion + twisting
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Occiput –> sacrum
Strongest ligament in body
Prevents hyperextension
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Occiput to sacrum
Anterior aspect of neural canal
Attaches to IVD but not vertebral bodies
Limits forward bending
Ligamentum flavum
Ant-inf border of superior lamina –> posterior border of inferior lamina
C2 –> S1
Most elastic tissue in the body
Prevents meninsci and synovial lining from being caught in articular joint surfaces
Intertransverse Ligaments
Limit lateral flexion and rotation
Interspinous ligaments
Go up and backwards, not up and forwards
–> allow for flexion but within control
Supraspinous ligaments
Connect aspices of spines C7-L4
Most superficial, most likely to sprain
Nuchal Ligament
Supraspinous ligament from C7–> occiput
Lumbar: Each nerve root is named for …
The vertebra above it.
Thoracic: same; Cervical: named for below
Two components of Intervertebral Discs
Nucleus pulposes
Annulus pulposes
Function of IVD
- shock absorption
- hold vertebrae together while allowing movement
- separate vertebrae into functional segments
- separate vertebrae to allow passage of nerve roots through intervertebral foramina
Lumbarization
Unfused S1 –> additional lumbar segment
Lower stability, increased mobility
Sacralization
Fused L5 –> additional sacral segment
Lower mobility, increased stability
Spondylosis
Degeneration of IVD
Spondylolysis
Defect in pars interarticularis