movement term 2 Flashcards
what 2 parts of the spine are most mobile?
cervical and lumbar
what is excessive kyphosis
‘hunchback’
what is excessive lordosis? who does it often occur in?
excessive arching of back
heavily pregnant women, due to the weight distribution of baby
describe the curvature of a normal vertebral column
Thoracic and sacral kyphosis – primary curvatures – present in the foetus
Cervical and lumbar lordosis – secondary curvatures – develop later
what is scoliosis?
you see like a S shape when look at spine from back (should be straight, when viewed from back)
learn general plan of vertebrae and how it differs in each part of spine
see movement lecture on 4th jan 2017
what foramina do spinal nerves pass?
intervertebral foramina
which vertebrae contain transverse foramina? what is the function of transverse foramina?
C1-C6
passage of vertebral artery and vein to/from brain
which vertebrae are most prone to dislocation? is this likely to harm spinal cord?
cervical
less likely as vertebral foramen is very large in cervical part of spine
what is another name for the C1 vertebrae? and what is special about it?
atlas (C1)
- “circular like a globe, which shows the world like an atlas does”
- no spinous process or body
Consists of anterior and posterior arches, each of which has a tubercle and a lateral mass.
There is a tubercle each on the medial surface of the lateral mass for the transverse ligament, which holds in place the dens of the C2 vertebrae.
what is another name for the C2 vertebrae? and what is atypical about it?
axis (C2)
- “the axis on which the globe (atlas) spins on”
C2 has two large flat surfaces, the superior articular facets, upon which the atlas rotates.
It’s distinguishing feature is the dens (G. tooth), also known as the odontoid process (or peg)
This held in position by the transverse ligament of the atlas - prevents horizontal displacement of the atlas.
nb together the atlas and the axis allow for rotation of neck
what type of joint is the one between the atlas and the dens (of the axis)? why is this clinically relevant?
synovial
it can be affected by rheumatoid arthritis
what part of the axis is most vulnerable to fracture, why?
the dens
- as this part is less dense
what shape is the vertebral body of thoracic vertebrae?
heart shaped
“the heart is in the thorax”
what part of thoracic vertebrae do the tubercles of the ribs articulate with?
tubercle articulate with costal facets on transverse process of vertebrae (SAME number as rib)
what part of thoracic vertebrae do the heads of the ribs articulate with?
Head of rib articulates with the superior demifacet of the corresponding (same number) vertebra and the inferior demifacet of the vertebra above
what is spondylolisthesis?
Spondylolisthesis is where a bone in the spine (vertebra) slips out of position, either forwards or backwards.
what is the name of the joints between vertebrae? (not the ones seperates by discs)
zygapophysial (facet) joints
Facet (zygapophysial) joints occur between superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae
Orientation of articular facets determines types of movements that are possible
what are the 2 parts of intervertebral discs?
Annulus fibrosis – peripheral fibrocartilage ring attached to the rim of vertebral body
Nucleus pulposus – central gelatinous substance that acts as a ‘shock absorber’
- and distribution of weight
what happens to your vertebral discs as you get older? and what affects does this have?
water content of discs decreases
- reduced flexibility of spine
- reduced shock-absorber capability
what are the 5 main ligaments of the vertebral column?
- ligamentum flavum
- posterior longitudinal ligament
- anterior longitudinal ligament
- interspinous/supraspinous ligament
- intertransverse ligament (between transverse processes)
what is the function of ligamentum flavum?
binds lamina of adjacent vertebrae (paired)
- ie around zygapophysial joints
holds vertebrae together
what is the function of the posterior longitudinal ligament?
prevents posterior herniation of articular discs (ie slipped disc) onto spinal cord
what is the function of the anterior longitudinal ligament?
prevents hyperEXTENSION of vertebral column
what is the function of the interspinous/supraspinous ligaments?
prevents hyperFLEXION of vertebral column (along with the posterior longitudinal ligament)
what is ‘whip lash’? what is it caused by?
hyperEXTENSION of cervical spine
- anterior ligament is torn
- (in severe cases, get ‘tear drop’ fracture of vertebrae and dislocation of one above)
Commonly caused by rear-end shunts (RTAs), especially if head rest too low
what are the 3 places in the body where osteoporosis is most common?
- distal radius (colles fracture)
- shaft of femur
- vertebrae (especially thoracic)
what type of fractures occur in the vertebraeof people with osteoporosis?
compression (‘wedge’) fracture
what happens to vertebral bodies as you get older?
loss of bone density with age –> CONCAVE vertebral bodies
this puts increased force of rims of vertebrae, and OSTEOPHYTES develop in response
what is a ‘slipped disc’? where is it most likely to occur?
herniation(/prolapse) of nucleus pulposus (of intervertebral disc) into vertebral canal
normally L4/L5 or L5/S1
what can severe cases of slipped disc cause? what are the red flags for this?
cauda equina syndrome (compresses most of cauda equina)
- incontinence (loss of bladder function)
- inability to squeeze external anal sphincter (when do PR)
- can’t feel around anus
- loose function of bladder, bowel and legs if not treated!!!
“unable to ride a horse if you have cauda EQUINA syndrome”
what does a normal intervertebral disc look like on MRI? and an abnormal one?
normal = whiteish (shows high water content!)
dehydrated = black and thinner than normal
what part of the normal curvature of the spine do people tend to loose as they get older? (which can cause back pain)
lumbar lordosis
what happens to the vertebrae and intervertebral discs as you age?
Discs lose water and lose strength and become thinner
Vertebral endplates and underlying bone structure loses strength
Repetitive loading/trauma can result in annular tears in the discs
Dryer, weaker discs result in slacker ligaments
Spine is less stable
New bone grows to try to stabilise the spine
Increased load over the facet joints
what is an osteophyte?
a bony projection associated with the degeneration of cartilage at joints
(in spine, means that patients cannot extend their spine)
what does the growth of osteophytes result in?
osteoarthritis
what two things should patients with lower back pain do?
keep flexible
keep strong
(even if it hurts!)
what are 7 risk factors for back pain?
- genetics
- high BMI
- low muscle strength
- not using spine enough (mechanical loading strengthens vertebral bodies + increases water content in discs)
- heavy physical jobs (/not lifting things correctly)
- poor mental health
- poor posture (incl sitting at comp descs)
what is a typical presenting history of someone with mechanical (‘simple’) back pain?
- 1st episode: sudden onset while lifting/twisting/turning
- recurrent episodes with decreasing inter-episode frequency
- variable pain related to posture/position
- better lying flat
- may radiate to but or leg
- often worse at end of day
- does NOT wake them up at night
what is the recommended management of mechanical back pain?
- light exercise
- no imaging (100% of people over 65 have changes on x-ray)
- keep active (not bed rest)
- return to work with light duty option
- analgesics as needed
how long does lower back pain have to be going on for before you consider secondary care referral?
longer than 6 weeks
if lower back pain is not responsive to normal analgesics (paracetamol, NSAIDs, opiods) - which it often isn’t!, what drugs should be used?
low dose antidepressants
(amitriptyline, duloxetine)
nerve modulators/anti-epileptic drugs
(pregabalin, gabapentin)
what are the spinal roots of the sciatic nerve?
L4-S3
what are the symptoms of sciatica? 3
pain: radiating from back down leg to BELOW knee
may be associated with pins + needles in leg
may be associated with numbness and weakness (most commonly foot drop and loss of ankle jerk reflex)
what is the most common cause of weight loss in the elderly?
depression
what are ‘red flag’ symptoms of back pain? 9
- age at FIRST onset very young (20s) or very old (70+)
- history of cancer
- weight loss
- constant (24hr) pain >1 month
- no response to treatment
- pain worse at rest
- history of immunosuppresion, positive HIV or IV drug abuse
- UTI or other infection
- pain wakes patient up at night
what infection in the back do immunosuppressed patients sometimes get?
discitis
what cancers commonly metastasise to bone? 6
Breast. Prostate. Lung. Kidney. Thyroid. liver.
what is a typical presentation of inflammatory back pain?
- insidious onset (can’t remember/pinpoint when it started - as came on so gradually)
- nocturnal pain with marked early morning stiffness (stiff back >30mins after waking)
- better with exercise, worse with rest
- family history
- buttock pain (normally unilateral, and swaps sides, comes + goes)
why do patients with inflammatory back pain get pain in their buttocks?
inflammation in sacroilliac joints
what is ankylosing spondylitis?
a type of RA which involves long term inflammation of the spine
pain and stiffness in spine
affects young people
(men more than women)
FH of associated diseases (IBD, psoriasis, RA, type 1 diabetes etc)
what is ‘bamboo spine’?
Bamboo spine is a radiographic feature seen in untreated ankylosing spondylitis that occurs as a result of vertebral body fusion by marginal syndesmophytes. It is often accompanied by fusion of the posterior vertebral elements as well.
what are the risk factors for osteoporosis? 7
- age
- female (esp LACK of oestrogen post menopause)
- smoking
- steroids
- alcohol
- family history (important)
- inflammatory conditions (incl autoimmune stuff)
what are the symptoms of osteoporosis?
NO symptoms
until you get a fracture
(eg hip fractures or wedge fractures in spine)
‘the silent disease’
what are the risk factors for osteomalacia?
- low calcium/vit D diet
- darker skin
- low sunlight exposure
what is paget’s disease?
thickening/increased turnover of bones (esp pelvis, spine and/or thigh)
often asymptomatic
have very high alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
prevelence increases with age
what is a typical presentation of back pain caused by a neoplasm or infection
- insidious onset (sometime subacute)
- slow deterioration
- 24hr pain
- weight loss
- associated symptoms
- sometimes fever
what are the ‘red flag’ symptoms of cauda equina syndrome? 5
lower back (and/or leg) pain
numbness around the anal and genital region
(ask! - patients won’t volunteer this!)
paralysis of one or both legs
loss of bowel control (bowel incontinence)
loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence)
what is spinal stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is an abnormal narrowing (stenosis) of the spinal canal that may occur in any of the regions of the spine. This narrowing causes a restriction to the spinal canal, resulting in a neurological deficit.
The main symptoms of spinal stenosis are pain, numbness, weakness and a tingling sensation in one or both legs. This can make walking difficult and painful.
Most cases occur in people aged over 60
requires surgery
what are the three joints of the pelvic girdle?
2x sacroilliac joint
1x pubic symphysis
what is another name for the hip bone?
what three bones make up the hip bone?
where do they fuse?
innominate bone
- illium
- ischium
- pubis
fuse at the acetabulum
what three structures stabilise the hip joint?
- acetabular anatomy (natural deep, made deeper by acetabular labrum - a rim of cartilage)
- fibrous capsule
- ligaments
what are the three ligaments that stabilise the hip joint?
- ILEOfemoral
- PUBOfemoral
- ISCHIOfemoral
each originate from bone that’s in their name