Spine Flashcards
what is the anterior longitudinal ligament
- prevents hypertension of the vertebral column and reinforces the anterior aspect of the sacrum
- from cervical down to cervix
where are intervertebral discs located
in-between each vertebrae
what is the posterior longitudinal ligament
- back of vertebral body
- keep spine and discs in place
what are intervertebral discs made out of
- anulus fibrosus (outer structure)
- keep central part in place (nucleus pulposus)
at what point is disc pressure at its greatest
when leaning forward and when sitting down
what is the intervertebral foramen
spinal nerves leave spinal cord through intervertebral foramen
what is common spinal pathology
- degeneration
- flatter
- herniated disc
what makes up the thoracic cage
- sternum
- ribs
- diaphragm
- internal intercostal muscles
how many ribs are there and where do they attach
- 12 pairs of ribs
- only first 7 directly attach to sternum
- 8-10 indirectly attach
- 11-12 are floating and don’t attach
how does the diaphragm move
- when contracts it moves down
- when relaxes it moves up
what is the role of the intercostal muscles
move ribcage to increase breathing capacity
where does the external oblique originate and insert and what is its action
- origin: external surfaces and inferior borders of fifth to twelfth ribs
- insertion: anterior superior iliac spine, anterior half of iliac crest, pubic crest, pubic tubercle, linea alba
- action: flexes, laterally flexes and rotates trunk (opposite side contraction)
where does the internal oblique originate and insert and what is its action
- origin: thoracolumbar fascia, iliac crest, inguinal ligament
- insertion: inferior margins of tenth to twelfth ribs and adjacent costal cartilages, linea alba, pecten pubis
- action: flexes, laterally flexes and rotates trunk (same side contraction)
where does rectus abdominis originate and insert and what is its action
- origin: pubic crest and symphysis
- insertion: xiphoid process and costal cartilages of fifth to seventh ribs
- action: flexes trunk
where does transversus abdominis originate and insert and what is its action
- origin: costal cartilages of seventh to twelfth ribs, thoracolumbar fascia, iliac crest and inguinal ligament
- insertion: linea alba, pubic crest and pecten pubis
- action: provides support
where does transverse (middle) trapezius originate and insert and what is its action
- origin: external occipital protuberance and superior nuchal line of occipital bone, nuchal ligament, spinous processes of C7 to T12 vertebrae
- insertion: posterior aspect of lateral one third of clavicle, acromion and spine of scapula
- action: elevates, depresses, retracts and upwardly rotates the pectoral girdle
where does ascending (lower) trapezius originate and insert and what is its action
- origin: spinous processes of T5-T12 vertebrae
- insertion: medial end of spine of scapula
- action: depresses, retracts and upwardly rotates the pectoral girdle
where does latissimus dorsi originate and insert and what is its action
- origin: spinous processes of T7-T12 vertebrae, spinous processes of L1-L5 vertebrae via thoracolumbar fascia, ninth to twelfth ribs, iliac crest
- insertion: floor of intertubercular sulcus of humerus
- action: adducts, medially rotates and extends arm at glenohumeral joint
what makes up erector spinae
- spinalis
- longissimus
- iliocostalis
where does multifidus originate and insert and what is its action
- origin: posterior superior iliac spine, dorsal surface of sacrum, mammillary processes of lumbar vertebrae, transverse processes of thoracic vertebrae, articular processes of C4-C7 vertebrae
- insertion: spinous processes of lumbar, thoracic and cervical vertebrae
- action: extends neck and trunk; stablises vertebral column
where does quadratus lumborum originate and insert and what is its action
- origin: posterior half of iliac crest and iliolumbar ligament
- insertion: inferior border of twelfth rib, transverse processes of first to fourth lumbar vertebrae
- action: extends and laterally flexes trunk
what are the functions of the spine
- weight bear in upright position
- act as a shock absorber through the curves and intervertebral discs
- produce, accumulate and transmit forces through the body
- be an attachment point for muscles of shoulder and pelvic girdles
- carry and support thoracic cage
- protect the spinal cord
what are the different spinal regions
- 7 cervical
- 12 thoracic
- 5 lumbar
- 5 sacral (fused)
- 4 coccygeal (fused)
what are the different types of spinal curvature
- thoracic and sacral curves are convex posteriorly
- this is called kyphosis
- cervical and lumbar curves are convex anteriorly
- this is called lordosis
what is the development of curves
- primary curve at birth
- development of secondary cervical curve as a baby learning to sit
- development of secondary lumbar curve as a toddler learning to walk
what are the names of increased curves
- hyperkyphosis
- hyperlordosis
what is scoliosis
- an abnormal curve in the frontal plane
- commonly idiopathic and identified in childhood
- can be secondary to other conditions
what are thoracolumbar movements
- flexion
- extension
- lateral flexion
- axial rotation
what are cervical movements
- flexion
- extension
- right side flexion
- left side flexion
- right rotation
- left rotation
where does movement occur in the spine
- cervical
- flexion/extension
- lateral flexion
- rotation
- thoracic
- rotation
- lateral flexion
- more limited flexion / extension
- lumbar
- flexion/extension
- lateral flexion
- more limited rotation
what are some basic facts about vertebrae
- spinal cord runs along neural canal
- bodies separated by intervertebral discs
- articulations between vertebrae and two zygapophyseal joints
- transverse and spinous processes provide attachments for muscles
where are the vertebral arteries found in the vertebral spine
- from part of blood supply to the brain alongside internal caratoid arteries
- pass through transverse foramen in transverse processes on either side of cervical spine
what is the C1 vertebrae known as and where is it
- the atlas
- articulates with the base of the skull at the atlantooccipital joint
what is the C2 vertebrae known as and where is it
- the axis
- articulates with the atlas at the atlantoaxial joint
- odontoid process held in place by transverse ligament
what is the spinal cord and nerve roots
- spinal cord passes down neural canal through vertebral foramen
- nerve roots leave at each spinal level through the gap posterior to intervertebral discs, between pedicles of vertebrae above and below
what are the main nerves in the upper limbs
- musculocutaneous nerve
- axillary nerve
- median nerve
- radial nerve
- ulna nerve
what is the axillary nerve
- goes close to armpit
- inferiorly wraps underneath neck of humerus
- innervates: teres minor, deltoid
- superior lateral cutaneous nerve of arm
what is the radial nerve
- into posterior compartment of arm
- teres major, humerus, long head of triceps
- goes along spiral groove of humerus
- comes in front of elbow joint
- goes down lateral side of forearm (radius)
- cross down to posterior and passes branches into thumb and three fingers
- inferior lateral cutaneous nerve of arm
- posterior cutaneous nerve of arm
- posterior cutaneous nerve of forearm
- superficial branches
- innervates: triceps, forearm/wrist extensors
what is the musculocutaneous nerve
- comes down anterior part of arm
- innervates elbow flexors
- lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm
- biceps, brachialis, coracobrachialis
what is the median nerve
- medial aspect of anterior arm
- cross over anterior elbow
- moves from ulna side to centrally
- enter wrist through carpal tunnel
- mainly focusses on hands/fingers
- wrist flexors/pronators
what is the ulnar nerve
- medial aspect of upper arm
- goes posterior around the elbow (behind medial epicondyle)
- front of forearm and wrist
- medial wrist and fingers
- innervates finger flexors
