Narrow thorax Flashcards
5th Lumbar Vertebrae - feature
• L5 is the largest, most inferior lumbar discovertebral unit in the vertebral column
• Participates in forming the lumbar lordosis (from L1 to L5, ranging from 20 to 40°)
• Components
o large vertebral body with transverse width > AP diameter (kidney shaped if looking axial sections)
o pedicles which project directly posteriorly
o short, massive, pyramidal transverse processes
o broad, thick lamina
o single, short, thick spinous process which is roughly horizontal
o superior and inferior articular processes with pars interarticularis between
o facet joints obliquely oriented
5th Lumbar Vertebrae - articulation
- Superior articular facet with inferior articular facet of L4
- Inferior articular facet with superior articular facet of sacrum
- Intervertebral discs - superior and inferior
5th Lumbar Vertebrae - muscular attachments
- Psoas major (origin from transverse processes of T12-L5 and lateral aspects of IV discs)
- Erector spinae muscle
- Quadratus lumborum muscle (inserts into transverse processes and last rib)
5th Lumbar Vertebrae - ligamentous attachments
- Anterior longitudinal ligament
- Posterior longitudinal ligament
- Ligamentum flavum
- Interspinous ligament
- Supraspinous ligament
- Iliolumbar ligament
- Lumbosacral ligament
- Intertransverse ligaments
5th Lumbar Vertebrae - relations
- External vertebral venous plexus (lying within muscle)
- Lumbar fascia
- Thecal sac and cauda equina
- Basivertebral veins and internal vertebral venous plexus
5th Lumbar Vertebrae - variants
- Sacralisation: assimilation of L5 to the sacrum
* Limbus vertebra
C7 - description
- Seventh cervical vertebra and looks like vertebrae C3-C6, but has some distinct features making it an atypical vertebrae
- C7 also called vertebra prominens (long spinous process) which is easily palpable
C7 - features
o spinous process ends in a rounded tubercle and is not bifid
o C7 transverse foramen are small, and do not transit the vertebral artery
o C7 transverse process anterior tubercle is small, and is the site of attachment for scalenus pleuralis and suprapleural membrane
o C8 nerve, which does not have an associated cervical vertebrae, exits in the C7-T1
Typical cervical vertebra features
o small, oval-sized vertebral bodies
o relatively wide vertebral arch with large vertebral foramen
o relatively long, bifid (except for C7) inferiorly pointing spinous processes
o transverse foramina protecting the vertebral arteries and veins
o anterior components: body
o posterior components: lamina, pedicle, spinous process, superior and inferior articular process, transverse process
C7 - articulations
• Intervertebral discs (superior and inferior): interposed between hyaline cartilage on the centrum of the vertebral bodies
• C6 and T1 uncovertebral joint (Luschka’s joints): in the cervical spine, the superior surface of the vertebra below curves upward to form a hyaline covered lip that articulates with the bevelled inferior surface of the vertebra above
• C6 and T1 facet (zygapophyseal) joint: articular processes lie at the junction of pedicle and lamina
o upper facets face obliquely up and back
o lower facets face down and forward
C7 - muscle attachments
- Trapezius
- Longus colli
- Middle scalene
- Posterior scalene
- Rhomboid minor
- Semispinalis cervicis
- Spinalis cervicis
- Longissimus cervicis
- Semispinalis capitis
- Splenius capitis
- Longissimus capitis
- Semispinalis dorsi
- Rotares
- Intertransversarius
- Mutlifidus
- Interspinales
C7 - ligament attachments
- Anterior longitudinal ligament
- Posterior longitudinal ligament
- Ligamentum flavum
- Interspinous ligament
- Supraspinous ligament
- Nuchal ligament
- Intertransverse ligaments
- Sibsons’s fascia
C7 - relations
- Inferior: C8 spinal nerve
- Superior: vertebral artery, C7 spinal nerve
- Intervertebral foramen: spinal cord, anterior and posterior spinal arteries, thecal sac, CSF
C7 - variant anatomy
• C7 may possess a cervical rib
o anterior root of the transverse process attains a large size and exists as a separate bone
• C7 foramen may transmit:
o posterior vertebral vein
o vertebral artery
o grey ramus from the inferior cervical ganglion to the anterior ramus of C7
• Hemivertebrae
• Butterfly vertebrae
• Block vertebrae
• Bifid spinoud process
• Limbus vertebrae: well-corticated osseous fragment due to herniation of the nucleus pulposus through the the vertebral body endplate
Spinal cord arterial supply - description
• Spinal cord blood supply is formed by many different vessels with an extensive collateral supply and drainage
• The spinal cord is supplied by three longitudinal arteries:
o single anterior spinal artery: supplies the anterior two-thirds of the spinal cord
o paired posterior spinal arteries: supply the posterior one-third of the spinal cord
o anastomoses between the anterior and posterior spinal arteries (arterial vasocorona) supply the peripheral lateral aspect of the spinal cord (lateral columns)
• Reinforcement by segmental spinal arteries -> radicular + medullary
o which are branches of:
ascending cervical artery (branch of the inferior thyroid)
deep cervical artery (branch of costocervical trunk)
intercostal arteries
lumbar arteries
lateral sacral arteries
o segmental arteries pass through the intervertebral foramen and divide into anterior and posterior radicular arteries
they have variable anastomoses with the spinal arteries
o the dominant segmental artery is called the artery of Adamkiewicz
can have a variable origin and side
damage to this vessel can cause paralysis from spinal cord infarction
critical to the supply of the lumbar enlargement
• If arterial supply being interrupted from the aorta (eg. surgery, trauma) collateral arterial flow can come from the internal thoracic and lateral thoracic arteries which anastomose with the posterior intercostal arteries
Spinal cord arterial supply - variants
• Anterior spinal artery:
o origin from right vertebral only (9%)
o origin from left vertebral only (3%)
o origin from angle between two vertebrals (3%)
o anterior spinal arteries do not fuse and travel as two separate arteries
• Posterior spinal artery normally arises from the vertebral arteries adjacent to the medulla, but may arise from PICA
o and origin may be intra- or extra-dural
• The artery of Adamkiewicz has a variable origin (most commonly arises on the left (~80%) and at the level of T9-T10)
o lumbar arteries at the level of L1 or L2 (10%)
o intercostal arteries at the level of T5 to T8 (15%)
o arises on the right (20%)
• Variation in number of radicular branches
Atlantoaxial articulation - description
- Synovial joint in the upper part of the neck between the first and second cervical vertebrae; the atlas and axis
- Primary articulation which allows rotation of the head
Atlantoaxial articulation - Aricular surfaces
• There are two atlantoaxial joints: median and lateral
o The median atlantoaxial joint
one between the posterior surface of the anterior arch of atlas and the front of the odontoid process
one between the anterior surface of the ligament and the back of the odontoid process
o The lateral atlantoaxial joint involves the lateral mass of atlas and axis
arthrodial or gliding joint
Atlantoaxial articulation - ligaments
ligament of the atlas: unites the medial aspects of the lateral masses
• Longitudinal bands (superior and inferior): attaches to the foramen magnum and the body of the axis
o together with the transverse ligament = the cruciate ligaments of the atlas
o this ligament holds the anterior part of the dens against the posterior side of the anterior arch of the atlas
• ALL: thick fibrous band attaches from inferior border of anterior arch of C1 to the anterior axial body
• Median apical ligament and two lateral alar ligaments: connect the dens to the occipital bone
• Tectorial membrane: the upward continuation of the PLL, anchored to the basilar part of the occipital bone
• Posterior atlantoaxial membrane: continuation of ligamenta flava, attaches the lower border of atlantal arch to the lamina of C2
• Anterior atlantoaxial membrane
• Accessory atlanto-axial ligament: connects posterior body of C2 to lateral mass of C1
Atlantoaxial articulation - movement
- 10-15 degrees of flexion/extension
* 30 degrees of axial rotation
Atlantoaxial articulation - variants
• Atlas o aplasia o hypoplasia o clefts of the atlas arches o split atlas o arcuate foramen • Axis o persistent ossiculum terminale o odontoid aplasia o os odontoideum
C1 - description
- 1st cervical vertebrae
- Does not have a body nor spinous process
- Consists of two lateral masses connected by a short anterior and a longer posterior arch
- Each lateral mass has an upper and lower facet
- Vertebral foramen exists in the lateral masses, through which the vertebral artery ascends
- The transverse processes are long
- Anterior arch presents an anterior tubercle in front (for the anterior longitudinal ligament) and a facet posteriorly (for the dens of the axis)
- Posterior arch is grooved above by the vertebral artery and the small C1 nerve on each side, and has a posterior tubercle behind
C1 - articulation
- Superior articular facet with occipital condyle
- Posterior aspect of the anterior arch of C1 articulates with the dens
- Inferior articular facet with superior articular facet of C2
C1 - muscle attachments
- Rectus capitis anterior
- Rectus capitis lateralis
- Rectus capitis posterior minor
- Obliquus capitis superior
- Obliquus capitis inferior
- Splenius cervicis
- Levator scapulae
- Intertransversarius posterior cervicis
- Intertransversarius anterior cervicis
- Interspinalis cervicis
- Longus colli
C1 - ligament attachments
- Anterior longitudinal ligament
- Posterior longitudinal ligament / tectorial membrane
- Transverse ligament - provides the most stability retaining the dens in contact with the atlas (C1)
- Anterior atlanto-axial ligament
- Posterior atlanto-axial ligament
- Nuchal ligament
- Ligamentum flavum / posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
- Intertransverse ligament
- Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane
C1 - variants
• Accessory ossicle of the anterior arch of the atlas
o observed as a corticated osseous density that articulates with the inferior aspect of the anterior arch of the atlas
• Arcuate foramen of the atlas
o vertebral arteries pass through this foramina.
o seen over the posterosuperior aspect of the atlas on lateral projections
• Incomplete fusion of posterior arch
• Occipital vertebrae
C1 - relations
- Superior: brain stem
- Inferior: C2
- Lateral: vertebral arteries and veins,
- Intervertebral foramen: spinal cord, anterior and posterior spinal arteries, basivertebral veins
C2 - description
• Axis is the second cervical vertebra and is an atypical cervical vertebra
• Prominent feature is the odontoid process (which is embryologically the body of the atlas)
• Important role in rotation of the head - majority of movement occurring around the dens and at the atlanto-axial joint
• Five primary and two secondary ossification centres
• Body with the attached dens, two lateral masses, a posterior neural arch (formed by the pedicle and a thick lamina), and a large spinous process, which is commonly bifid
• Components: body, lateral mass, superior and inferior articular processes, pars interarticularis, transverse process, transverse foramen, lamina, pedicle, spinous process
• Typical cervical features:
o relatively wide vertebral arch with large vertebral foramen
o transverse foramina protecting the vertebral arteries and veins
• ADI < 3 mm in adults and < 5 mm in childrens
• BDI < 12 mm in adults
C2 - Articulations
- Superior articular facet with inferior articular face of C1
- Dens articulates with the posterior aspect of the anterior arch of C1
- Inferior articular facet with superior articular facet of C3
- Uncovertebral articulation (Luschka’s joints) with C3
- Intervertebral discs (inferior): interposed between hyaline cartilage on the centrum of the vertebral bodies
C2 - muscle attachments
- Semispinalis cervicis
- Obliquus capitis inferior
- Rectus capitis posterior major
- Longus colli
- Levator scapulae
- Rotatores
- Intertransversarius
- Interspinales
- Middle scalene
C2 - ligament attachments
- Anterior longitudinal ligament
- Cruciate ligaments - superior and inferior longitudinal bands
- Transverse ligament - provides the most stability retaining the dens in contact with the atlas (C1)
- Apical ligament - embryological remnant of the notochord, anchors dens to occipital bone
- Alar ligament - anchors dens to occipital bone
- Accessory ligament
- Posterior atlanto-axial ligament (ligamentum flavum)
- Tectorial membrane (posterior longitudinal ligament)
- Interspinous ligament
- Nuchal ligamentum
- Intertransverse ligaments
C2 - relations
- Superior: brain stem
- Inferior: C3
- Lateral: vertebral arteries and veins,
- Intervertebral foramen: spinal cord, anterior and posterior spinal arteries, basivertebral veins
C2 - variant anatomy
• Hypoplasia
• Aplasia (rare)
• Single spinous process
• Os odontoideum
o separation of the odontoid process from the body of the axis
o two main types
orthotopic: normal position with a wide gap between C2 and os odontoideum
dystopic: displaced
• Persistent ossiculum terminale
o ossiculum terminale appears as a secondary ossification centre between 3-6 years and normally fuses by 12 years
o failure of fusion results in a persistent ossiculum terminale
o small, well-corticated ossicle at the tip of the dens
Spinal Cord - Description
• Spinal cord is the part of the CNS that is found within the central canal of the vertebral column
• Divided into cervical, thoracic and lumbar parts and ends at the conus medullaris (approximately L1 level)
• 31 segmental nerves: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, 1 coccygeal
o C1-C7 arise above pedicle of the corresponding vertebra, rest arise below pedicle of corresponding vertebra
• Spinal nerve is formed by the dorsal and ventral roots
o dorsal root is afferent sensory (cell body in the DRG), ventral root is efferent motor (cell body close to target tissue)
• Expansions of the cord occur at C5 - T1 due to the brachial plexus, and L2 - S3 due to the lumbosacral plexus
• Nerve roots that exit below the conus at L1/L2 are called the cauda equina
• 3 layers of meninges surround the cord: the pia, arachnoid and dura mater
• 21 pairs of denticulate ligaments attach the pia mater of the cord to the arachnoid and dura mater of the sac
• Anterior median fissure dips into it anteriorly, posterior median sulcus exists posteriorly
• Central canal is filled with CSF
• Grey matter is central (dorsal, lateral and ventral horns)
• White matter is peripheral and has spinal cord tracts (dorsal, lateral and ventral columns)
Spinal Cord - neurovasculature
Arterial supply:
• Posterior spinal arteries
• Anterior spinal artery
• Segmental supply from ascending cervical, intercostal and lumbar arteries
• Artery of Adamkiewicz: critical to the supply of the lumbar enlargement (usually from left side, T8-L1)
Venous drainage:
• Anterior and posterior spinal veins –> internal vertebral venoux plexus –> external vertebral venous plexus –> regional veins
o Neck: vertebral veins
o Thorax: azygos veins
o Lumbar: lumbar veins
Spinal Cord - variants
• Spinal dysraphism
o includes neural tube defects:
incomplete closure of the neural tube in very early pregnancy
spina bifida
anencephaly
o categorised into two groups
open spinal dysraphism: meningocele, myelomeningocoele
closed spinal dysraphism
• Tethered cord
• Spinal cord may end at a variable level
Epidural space - Decription
- The spinal epidural space is located between the spinal dura mater and the vertebral column
- It extends from the foramen magnum to the sacral canal at the level of S2-S3
Epidural space - boundaries
- Inner: spinal dura mater
* Outer: PLL, neural arches/intervertebral foramen, ligamentum flavum
Epidural space - contents
- Loose areolar connective tissue
- Fat
- Vertebral venous plexus
- Lymphatics
- Radicular arteries
- Spinal nerve roots
Facet joints - description
• Synovial joints that have a fibrous capsule and connect the articular facets of the vertebrae
• Facet joints are situated between the pedicle and lamina of the same vertebra and form the articular pillars that act to provide structural stability
• Articular surfaces have different orientations in the various vertebral regions
o Cervical Region = 45 degrees; frontal plane; all movements are possible such as flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation
o Thoracic Region = 60 degrees; frontal plane; lateral flexion and rotation; no flexion/extension
o Lumbar Region = 90 degrees; sagittal plane; only flexion and extension
Facet joints - articular surface
- Hyaline covered
* Superior facet of the lower vertebra articulates with the interior facet of the vertebra above
Facet joints - Ligaments
• Posterior ligamentous complex acts to hold the facet joints of the neighbouring vertebrae in fixed relation with each other
o ligamentum flavum
o interspinous ligament
o supraspinous ligament
o fibrous joint capsule is including in posterior ligamentous complex
Facet joints - relations
• Structures that pass through the intervertebral foramen
o spinal nerve
o dorsal root ganglion
o spinal artery of the segmental artery
o communicating veins between the internal and external plexuses
o meningeal (sinu-vertebral) nerves
o transforaminal ligaments
Facet joints - neurovasculature
Nerve Supply:
• Meningeal branch of the spinal nerve
Blood Supply:
• Cervical Area - Ascending Cervical Artery and Spinal branch from Verterbral Arteries
• Thoracic - Posterior Intercostal Arteries
• Lumbar - Lumbar Arterie
Intervertebral disc - Description
• Intervertebral discs are located between the vertebral bodies
• Account for approximately 25% of the total height of the vertebral column
• Decreases with age as disc height is lost
• Greater thickness anteriorly contributes to the normal cervical and lumbar lordosis
• Each intervertebral disc is comprised of:
o peripheral annulus fibrosus
o central nucleus pulposus
• L4/5 and L5/S1 most prone to herniation
• Embryology: notochord becomes the nucleus pulposus
Intervertebral disc - relations
- Above and below the intervertebral disc are the vertebral body endplates
- Posterior spinal nerve
- Anterior spinal artery
- ALL, PLL
- Anterior: muscles/organs at that particular level
Intervertebral disc - supply
• Inner layers of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus have neither innervation nor blood supply
o receives nutrition via diffusion across the vertebral body endplates
o outer fibres of the annulus fibrosus are innervated by sinuvertebral nerves arising from the dorsal root ganglia
Ligaments of the lumbar spine - description
• Spinal ligaments essential in keeping joints between vertebrae congruent / strong
Ligaments of the lumbar spine - ligaments
- Anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL): arises from anterior tubercle of the atlas, travels downwards, anterior to the vertebral body (firmly united to the periosteum) and discs (attaching to the anterior annulus), attaches to the front of the upper part of the sacrum; it broadens as it travels downward
- Posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL): arises from the back of the axis (C2) body, travels downward posterior to the vertebral body (attached loosely) and discs (firmly attaching to the posterior annulus), attaching to the back of the sacrum; narrows as it travels downward
- Ligamentum flavum: yellowish, elastic ligament, runs between adjacent laminae (front of the upper lamina to the back of the lower lamina); in the lumbar region, it runs laterally, covering the anterior aspect of the facet joints
- Interspinous ligaments: join spinous processes along adjacent borders, relatively weak fibrous tissue that fuses with supraspinous ligaments
- Supraspinous ligaments: join tips of adjacent spinous processes, strong bands of fibrous tissue
- Intertransverse ligaments: join transverse processes along adjacent borders, relatively weak fibrous tissue
- Iliolumbar ligaments: strong band of connective tissue which courses from the transverse process of L5 to the posterior iliac wing and iliac crest; it functions to maintain the alignment of L5 on the sacrum during various movements
- Lumbosacral ligament
Spinal meninges - Description
• Three layers of meninges cover the spinal cord - dura, arachnoid and pia mater
• Dura mater
o extends from the foramen magnum to the sacrum and coccyx
o attached to the foramen magnum and the periostium covering the uppermost cervical vertebrae
o remainder of the vertebral canal, the dura is not attached to the vertebrae, being separated by the epidural space
• Arachnoid mater
o invests the spinal cord loosely
o continuous with the cerebral arachnoid above
o traverses the foramen magnum and descends to around the S2 vertebral level (spinal cord ends at ~L2)
• Pia mater
o much thicker than cerebral pia mater (two layers in the spine)
o invests the spinal cord closely
o ensheathes the anterior and posterior spinal arteries
o enters the anterior median fissure
o laterally, the pia forms 21 pairs of denticulate ligaments which attaches to the arachnoid and dura on each side
o inferiorly the pia is thickened as the filum terminale, which continues into the sacrum and fuses with the dura mater
Spinal meninges - spaces
• Epidural space
o contains fat and the internal vertebral venous plexus
• Subdural space
o potential space between dura and arachnoid, has no contents
• Subarachnoid space
o wide interval which contains CSF
Trapezius - origin
- External occipital protuberance
- Nuchal ligament
- Medial superior nuchal line
- Spinous processes of vertebrae C7-T12
Trapezius - insertion
- Posterior border of the lateral third of the clavicle
- Acromion process
- Spine of scapula
Trapezius - neurovasculature
Artery: • Transverse cervical artery Innervation: • Accessory nerve (motor) • Cervical spinal nerves C3 and C4 (motor and sensation)
Trapezius - actions
• Rotation, retraction, elevation, and depression of scapula
Trapezius - relations
- Anterior border forms the posterior margin of the posterior triangle
- Shares insertion with the deltoid
Anterior Mediastinum - Borders
- Anteriorly: sternum, transverse thoracic, 5th-7th costal cartilages
- Inferiorly: diaphragm
- Superiorly: thoracic plane
- Posteriorly: pericardium
- Laterally: mediastinal pleura
Anterior Mediastinum - Contents
- Loose areolar tissue
- Lymph nodes
- Small mediastinal branches of the internal thoracic artery
- Thymus (involuted in adults)
Aortic Arch Variants - Double aortic arch
- formation of a vascular ring from the splitting of the ascending aorta into two limbs that pass to either side of the trachea and oesophagus (both of which gets encircled), which then joins as a single descending aorta
- right dominant arch ~75%
- co-dominant arch ~5%
- left dominant arch ~25%
Aortic Arch Variants - Right sided aortic arch
• right sided arch can be divided into at least three types
o type I: right sided aortic arch with mirror image branching (associated with congenital heart disease)
o type II: right sided aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery (most common)
o type III: right sided aortic arch with isolation of the left subclavian artery (*isolated subclavian means artery no longer arises from aorta)
Aortic Arch Variants - Interrupted aortic arch
• uncommon congenital cardiovascular anomaly where there is a separation between the ascending and descending aorta
• can either be complete or connected by the a remnant fibrous band
• an accompanying large ventricular septal defect (VSD) and/or patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is frequently present
• classified to three types according to location of occurrence:
o type a: second commonest, interruption occurs distal to the left subclavian arterial origin
o type b: commonest (>50%), interruption occurs between left common carotid arterial and left subclavian origins
o type c: rare, interruption occurs proximal to left common carotid arterial origin
• each type is divided into 3 subtypes:
o sub-type 1: normal subclavian artery
o sub-type 2: aberrant subclavian artery
o sub-type 3: isolated subclavian artery that arises from the ductus arteriosus
Aortic Arch Variants - Coarctation of the aorta
• refers to a narrowing of the aortic lumen
• primarily divided into two types:
• infantile (pre-ductal) form
o diffuse hypoplasia or narrowing of the aorta from just distal to brachiocephalic artery to the level of ductus arteriosus
o blood supply to the descending aorta is via the patent ductus arteriosus
• adult (post-ductal) form
o short segment abrupt stenosis of the post-ductal aorta
o due to thickening of the aortic media and typically occurs just distal to the ligamentum arteriosum (remnant of the ductus arteriosus)
Azygous vein System - Description
- Azygos (venous) system is a collective term given to the H-shaped configuration of the azygos, hemiazygos, accessory hemiazygos veins and left superior intercostal vein
- Responsible for draining the thoracic wall and upper lumbar region
- Provides important collateral circulation between the SVC and IVC should they become obstructed