Spinal Anatomy Flashcards
Articular facets in cervical region are in what plane?
oblique (called zygopophyseal)
Articular facets in thoracic region are in what plane?
coronal
Articular facets in lumbar region are in what plane?
saggital
What do anterior longitudinal ligaments connect?
adjacent bodies and the IVD along anterior aspect
What do posterior longitudinal ligaments connect?
adjacent bodies and the IVD along posterior aspect
What do supraspinous ligaments connect?
adjacent spinous processes along the posterior aspect
What do intraspinous ligaments connect?
adjacent inferior/superior spinous processes
What do ligamenta lava connect?
adjacent lamina
kyphotic
- thoracic and sacral curves
- present at birth
- concavity faces anteriorly
kyphosis
accentuation of a kyphotic curve, i.e. hunchback
usually caused by poor posture or osteoporosis
lordotic
- cervical and lumbar curve
- develop after birth for balance and ambulation
- concavity faces posteriorly
lordosis
accentuation of the lordotic curves, usually caused by weakened tank muscles, obesity or pregnancy
identifying features of C1 or Atlas
- ring-like
- superior facets articulates with occipital condyles
- two lateral masses with articulating facets and large transverse processes for muscle attachment
- no body, pedicles or laminae
- posterior tubercle instead of spinous process
- can rotate on articular processes of C2
- vertebral artery runs along groove on posterior arch
- articular facet for dens on posterior surface of anterior arch
identifying features of C2
- dens projects superiorly
- no uncinate processes (still has semilunar facets)
- deeply bifid spinous process
- superior articular facets of axis are large and face superiorly
- largest and strongest cervical vertebrae
Name facets of the dens and what they articulate with
- posterior articular facet of the dens articulates with transverse ligament of the dens
- anterior articular facet of the dens articulates with anterior arch of the atlas (C1)
What contributes to 25% of the length of the vertebral column?
IVD or intervertebral discs
-% decreases with age due to disc degeneration
Another name for the pelvic bones?
Os coxae
What is Scoliosis?
lateral curvature of the spine
Which are the typical cervical vertebrae?
C3-C6
What are the features of a typical cervical vertebrae?
- oval-shaped vertebral body (smaller than thoracic and lumbar)
- triangular-shaped vertebral foramen
- bifid spinous process
- oblique facets in articular processes
- uncinate processes
What are the features of a typical cervical vertebrae?
- small oval-shaped vertebral body (smaller than thoracic and lumbar)
- large triangular-shaped vertebral foramen
- short bifid spinous process
- short bifid transverse process
- transverse foramen for passage of vertebral artery (C1-6) and vein (C1-7)
- articular facets in oblique plane
- uncinate processes
What type of joint forms between superior and inferior articular facets?
zygopophyseal
Where are IVFs located and what passes through them?
- Posterior to the vertebral foramen between inferior and superior vertebral notches
- spinal nerves
What does the superior vertebral notch and inferior vertebral notch of adjacent vertebrae form?
Intervertebral foramen, or IVF