Spinal Osteology Flashcards
Axial Skeleton
skull, vertebral column, ribs
Appendicular Skeleton
scapula, clavicle, pelvic girdle, extremities
Breakdown of the Spine
7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 (fused) sacrum, 4 (fused) coccyx
Primary (1) Spinal Curves
kyphosis; thoracic and sacral
Secondary (2) Spinal Curves
lordosis; cervical and lumbar
What causes the spinal curves to form?
curves become more defined during standing and walking … the spine is pulled during these movements because of the muscles that attach to it
Scoliosis
“side to side” spinal curvature
3 types: idiopathic adolescent, neuromuscular, congenital
Vertebral Arch
all of the vertebrae except for the vertebral body
C1 (atlas)
large vertebral foramen, transverse foramen, articular facet for articulation w/ dens
Atlanto-occipital (OA) Joint
nod, “yes” motion
Alar Ligament
v-shape connecting dens to occipital bone; restricts excessive rotation and lateral flexion of neck
Cruciate Ligament
horizontal (occipital bone to C2) and vertical band (across C1); limits movement of dens
C2 (axis)
odontoid process/dens
Atlantoaxial (AA) Joint
“no” motion
Features of Cervical Vertebrae
transverse foramen, uncinate processes on vertebral body, bifid spinous processes (C3-C6)
Features of Thoracic Vertebrae
spinous process is longer and points down, costal facets (articulates w/ ribs)
Features of Lumbar Vertebrae
large vertebral body, long spinous processes
Zygapophysial Joint
synovial; formed by articulations b/w superior facet of one vertebrae and inferior facet of another
Orientation of Zygapophysial Joints
cervical: slanted upward
thoracic: facing backward (upright)
lumbar: facing inward/towards each other
Intervertebral Foramen
houses nerves
Intervertebral Discs
cushion b/w vertebrae that acts as a shock absorber; inner, softer nucleus pulposus and outer, harder anulus fibrosus
Herniated Intervertebral Discs
“slipped disc”; part of nucleus pulposus protrudes, hitting nerves and causing spinal/extremity pain, muscle weakness, and/or sensory changes
Spinal Stenosis
narrowing of vertebral foramen, causing spinal cord compression; laminectomy can be used to widen foramen
Spondylosis
degeneration, wear-and-tear of any part of the vertebrae
Spondylolysis
a pars interarticularis fracture w/o separation; can be unilateral or bilateral
Spondylolisthesis
a pars interarticularis fracture WITH separation, causing a shift or slippage; bilateral
