Lumbopelvic region Flashcards
What are the primary and secondary curvatures of the spine?
Primary: Kyphosis (thoracic & sacral)
Secondary: Lordosis (cervical & lumbar)
What is the lumbosacral angle?
130-160 degrees
the junction b/w the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine
- changes with increased/decreased lordosis or pelvic tilt
What are vertebral Endplates?
discs of hyaline cartilage that are remnants of the cartilaginous model from where the bone develops
touches the intervertebral discs and it is where they attach to
Which parts of the vertebra make up the vertebral arch?
2 pedicle
2 lamina
spinous process
vertebral body
superior/inferior facets
Describe the cervical vertebrae compared to the thoracic and lumbar
smallest bodies
largest canals
transverse foramen
bifid processes
facets slope upward toward nose
Describe the thoracic vertebrae compared to the cervical and lumbar
slightly larger bodies
long sloping spinous processes
costal facets
articular facets face anterior/posterior (frontal plane)
Describe the lumbar vertebrae compared to the cervical and lumbar
largest bodies
vertebral canal slightly larger than thoracic
transverse processes are largest
articular facets are located in sagittal plane (for flex/ext)
well innervated capsules around facet joints
What are some of the unique features of the intervertebral discs?
Anulus fibrosus:
- outer layer of the disc
- outer 1/3rd is innervated/vascularized
- less numerous layers posteriorly
- diagonal layers that resist rotational forces
Nucleus pulposus:
- gelatinous core
- sits more posteriorly in the disc
- avascular/aneural
- gets nutrition via diffusion
What are some structures that help hold the L5 vertebra on the S1 vertebra?
(prevent from slipping forward)
- Iliolumbar ligament
- L5/S1 facet joints (oriented b/w sagittal & frontal planes)
Define the Anterior Longitudinal Ligament (ALL)
- runs along anterior portion of the vertebral column
- only one that resists extension
Define the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL)
- runs along the posterior side of vertebral column
- resists flexion & posterior disc bulge
- narrows as it travels down the vertebral column
Define the ligamentum flavum
- yellow
- runs from lamina to lamina
- helps w/ return from flexion motions
Define the supraspinous ligament
- runs over the tips of each spinous process (to C6)
Define the interspinous ligament
- runs b/w spinous processes
Define the intertransverse ligament
- runs t/w transverse processes
What are the layers of the Thoracolumbar Fascia?
Anterior TLF: in front of the QL and behind Psoas
Middle TLF: b/w QL & erector spinae
Posterior TLF: covers posterior erector spinae
What muscles does the Thoracolumbar fascia house?
- Quadratus lumborum
- transversospinalis group
- erector spinae group
Which muscles contribute to lumbar stabilization?
-Psoas major/minor
- Quadratus Lumborum
- internal oblique & transverse abdominis
Name the extrinsic muscles of the back
Superficial
- trapezius
- latissimus dorsi
- levator scapula
- Rhomboids
Intermediate
- Serratus posterior superior/inferior
Name the intrinsic muscles of the back
Superficial
- splenius cervicis
- splenius capitis
Intermediate
- Erector spinae group
Deep
- Transversospinalis group
Name the muscles in the Erector spinae group
Most lateral
- Iliocostalis lumborum
- iliocostalis thoracis
- iliocostalis cervicis
Next medial
- Longissimus thoracis
- longissimus cervicis
- longissimus capitis (inserts @ mastoid process)
Most medial
- spinalis thoracis
- spinalis cervicis
- spinalis capitis
Name the muscles in the transversospinalis group
Posterior to multifidus
- semispinalis thoracis
- semispinalis cervicis
- semispinalis capitis
Multifidus
Anterior to multifidus
- Rotatores
What are the erector spinae muscles a part of and where do they attach to?
- common broad tendon at the iliac crest, sacrum, SI ligaments, & lumbar/sacral spinous processes
Which muscles would be active for flexion of the trunk? (returning from an extended position)
- rectus abdominis
- psoas major
Which muscles would be active for extension of the trunk? (returning from a flexed position)
- erector spinae group
- multifidus
- semispinalis
Which muscles would be active for side bending of the trunk? (returning from a side bent position)
- abdominal obliques
- quadratus lumborum
What muscles would be active for rotation of the trunk?
- external oblique (contralateral) & transversospinalis muscles
- internal oblique (ipsilateral) & erector spinae muscles
What do the outside recurrent meningeal nerves innervate?
- anterolateral vertebral bodies & discs
- periosteum
- ALL
What do the inside recurrent meningeal nerves innervate?
- periosteum (mainly posterior vertebral bodies, pedicles, laminae)
- ligamentum flavum
- posterior anulus
- PLL
- dura mater
- blood vessels
Where does the spinal cord end?
L1 or L2
- depends on individual
What is a spinal cord segment?
- a portion of the cord that gives rise to a bilateral pair of spinal nerves
- named from where they arise from
How do nerve roots get out of the vertebral canal after the spinal cord ends?
- exit b/w the vertebrae much lower than the actual spinal cord segment
- spinal cord ends at the conus medullaris then splits into its own segments known as the cauda equina
Explain the relationship between a lumbar disc bulge and which spinal nerve root is affected
- compression of the nerve root affects the root below the level of the disc bulge
- EX: L4 bulging disc but compresses the L5 nerve root