muscles joints and ligaments of spine and thorax

Question 1

intercostals – general description

Answer 1

• attach adjacent ribs
• fibers of external + internal intercostals run perpendicular to each other (and can be visualized as extensions of the external + internal oblique myo)

Question 2

intercostals – origin

Answer 2

inferior border of the rib above

Question 3

intercostals – insertion

Answer 3

superior border of the rib below

Question 4

intercostals – nerve

Answer 4

thoracic nerve

Question 5

external intercostals – action

Answer 5

• assist w/ INhalation

- draw ribs superiorly to increase space of thoracic cavity

Question 6

internal intercostals – action

Answer 6

• assist w/ EXhalation

- draw ribs inferiorly to decrease space of thoracic cavity

Question 7

serratus posterior superior + inferior – general description

Answer 7

these 2 myo only affect movement of the ribs, thereby assisting with breathing

Question 8

serratus posterior superior – origin

Answer 8

spinous processes of C-7 to T-3

Question 9

serratus posterior superior – insertion

Answer 9

ribs 2 thru 5

Question 10

serratus posterior superior – action

Answer 10

elevate ribs during INhalation

“superior” = at top, pulling ribs up

Question 11

serratus posterior inferior – origin

Answer 11

spinous processes of T-12 to L-3

Question 12

serratus posterior inferior – insertion

Answer 12

ribs 9 thru 12

Question 13

serratus posterior inferior – action

Answer 13

depress ribs during EXhalation

“inferior” = at bottom, pulling ribs down

Question 14

intertransversarii – general description

Answer 14

these small, short myo span b/w the TVP’s of cervical + lumbar vertebrae (but NOT in thoracic area, which is less mobile)

Question 15

intertransversarii – origin + insertion

Answer 15

origin + insertion are the same!

• spanning TVP’s of C-2 thru C-7 (all cervical vert except C-1)
• spanning TVP’s of L-1 to L-5 (all lumbar vert)

Question 16

intertransversarii – action

Answer 16

• laterally flex vert. column to same side (unilaterally)

- extend the vert. column (bilaterally)

Question 17

intertransversarii – nerve

Answer 17

spinal nerve

Question 18

interspinalis – general description

Answer 18

small, short myo span b/w spinous processes of cervical + lumbar vertebrae, plus a few thoracic vertebrae

Question 19

interspinalis – origin + insertion

Answer 19

origin + insertion are the same!

• spanning spinous processes of C-2 thru T-3 (does not include C-1)
• spanning spinous processes of T-12 to L-5 (all lumbar vert, plus T-12)

Question 20

interspinalis – action

Answer 20

extends the vertebral column

Question 21

interspinalis – nerve

Answer 21

spinal nerve

Question 22

ligamentum nuchae – location

Answer 22

• sheet of connective tissue in the neck

- runs along sagittal plane from EOP to spinous process of C-7

Question 23

ligamentum nuchae – function

Answer 23

• main function is to stabilize head + neck
• also an attachment site for myo like trapezius + splenius capitus (since cervical spinous processes do not extend far enough for these superficial myo to attach)

Question 24

transverse ligament of atlas – location

Answer 24

• thick, strong band that spans the anterior arch of the atlas, posterior to the dens (odontoid process of axis)

Question 25

transverse ligament of atlas – function

Answer 25

• holds the dens (odontoid process of axis) in place
• keeps it from going into the spinal chord
• very important in SIDS research *

Question 26

anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) – location

Answer 26

continuous sheet from C-3 to L-5 that covers anterior 1/3 of body of vertebrae

Question 27

anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) – function

Answer 27

• very strong
• prevents extreme extension (back-bending)
• prevents anterior herniation of discs

Question 28

posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) – location

Answer 28

continuous sheet from C-3 to L-5 that covers posterior body of vertebrae

Question 29

posterior longitudinal ligament – function

Answer 29

not as strong as ALL (that’s why we have more spinal flexion than spinal extension)

Question 30

ligamentum flavum – location

Answer 30

• attaches lamina of vertebra above to lamina of vertebra below (therefore bilateral)
• from C-2 thru L-1

Question 31

interspinous ligament – location

Answer 31

• attaches spinous process of vertebra above to spinous process of vertebra below
• as opposed to supraspinous ligament, which attaches TIPS of adjacent spinous processes

Question 32

supraspinous ligament

Answer 32

• continuous sheet that connects tips of spinous processes of thoracic + lumbar vertebrae
• extends inferiorly from ligamentum nuchae

Question 33

ligaments of spine (deep to superficial)

Answer 33

• anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL)
• posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL)
• ligamentum flavum
• interspinous ligament
• supraspinous ligament

Question 34

costovertebral joint

Answer 34

where ribs articulate w/ body of vertebra

Question 35

costotransverse joint

Answer 35

where ribs articulate with TVP of vertebra