Skeletal and vertebral column Flashcards
Describe the primary curvature
- Curvature produced in utero
- Concave anteriorly
- Thoracic and sacral curves
- Kyphosis = excess primary curvature
Describe the secondary curvature
- Curvature produced after birth
- Convex anteriorly
- Puts head over trunk and legs under trunk
- Cervical and lumbar curves
- Lordosis = excess secondary curvature
Define ‘scoliosis’
Abnormal lateral curvature of spine
Describe ‘ligamentum flavum’
Between lamina, behind vertebral canal
Describe ‘interspinous ligament’
Between spinous processes
Describe ‘supraspinous ligament’
Between tips of spinous processes
Describe ‘posterior longitudinal ligament’
Run along posterior sides of vertebral bodies and discs
Describe ‘anterior longitudinal ligament’
Runs along anterior sides of vertebral bodies and discs
Name muscles associated with vertebral column
- Extrinsic back muscles
- Intrinsic back muscles - located posterior to vertebral column:
1. Splenius group (superficial)
2. Erector spinae group (middle)
3. Transversospinalis group (deepest)
List spinal nerves associated with vertebral column
Spinal column is divided into segments:
- 7 Cervical
- 12 thoracic
- 5 lumbar
- 5 pelvic sacral (fused)
- <5 coccygeal (fused)
spinal cord has same number of spinal nerves except 8 cervical nerves.
Formation of spinal nerve:
- Dorsal (sensory) and ventral (motor) roots leave spinal cord
- Dorsal root has sensory ganglion (dorsal root ganglion)
- Root join to form spinal nerve
- Spinal nerve splits to Dorsal ramus (small) and ventral ramus (large)
Spine nerves exit from intervertebral foramen.
Define dermatome
Area of skin innervated by sensory fibres from a single spinal nerve
Define myotome
Area of muscle innervated by motor fibres from a single spinal nerve
List the spinal plexuses
- C1-C5 = Cervical plexus
- C5-T1 = Brachial plexus
- L1-L4 = Lumbar plexus
- L4-S4 = Sacral plexus
Unique features of C1-Atlas
- Ring of bone
- No vertebral body
- No spinous process
- Large lateral masses
Unique features of C2-Axis
- Dens
- Large superior articular facets
Unique features of C7-Vertebra prominens
- Long spinous process - not bifid like C2-C6
Unique features of thoracic vertebrae
- Demifacets on lateral sides of body for rib attachments
- Long downward projecting spinous process
Unique features of lumbar vertebrae:
- Large body
Describe the structure and function of intervebral discs
Parts of intervertebral discs:
- Annulus fibrosus -> fibrous outer ring; comprised of collagen
- Vertebral endplate -> cartilage plates adjacent to vertebral bodies
- Nucleus pulposus -> semifluid shock absorber in centre
Function:
- Tie vertebral bodies together
- Transfer weight
- Allow movement
- Shock absorber
Describe typical cervical (C3-6) parts and properties
- Small, wide and uncinate processes in cervical bodies
- Largest vertebral foramen is triangular
- Forward and down, short, gutter for nerve, transverse foramen in transverse process
- Spinous process is short and bifid
- superior facets are approximately 45 degrees back and up. Allows: F, E, LF, rotation (rotation is coupled with LF)
Describe typical thoracic (T2-9) parts and properties
- intermediate, heart-shaped body, demifacets for ribs
- Smallest, round vertebral foramen
- Posterior, stout, facet for rib (transverse process)
- Spinous process is long and downward projecting
- Vertical, face back and lateral facets. Allows for: F, E, LF, favours rotation
Describe lumbar parts and properties
- Largest, kidney-shaped
- Medium, triangular vertebral foramen
- Lateral and slender transverse process
- thick, oblong, horizontal spinous process
- Vertical, face back and medial superior facets. Allow: F, E, LF and limits rotation.
