Spine Flashcards
Bony landmarks on spine
Spinous process Lamina Superior and posterior articular process (facet) Pedicles Transverse processes Superior and inferior notches
Main section of spine
Vertebral body
Hole in centre
Vertebral foramen
spinal cord goes here (cauda equina)
Spongey bone in vertebral body function
shock absorption
haemopoesis
reduces weight of spine
What do the lamina form?
Bony roof to vertebral foramen
connect transverse process to spinous process
What is created when lamina come together?
Spinous process
What do pedicles do?
Connects transverse process to vertebral body
Articular facets?
Articular cartilage
Joints between adjacent vertebrae
Largest joint
Between ventral bodies
Cartilaginous vertebral disc join vertebrae together
What do superior and inferior notch form?
Converted into foramina when vertebra are connect
Intervertebral foramina (spinal nerves leave here)
Spine ligaments
Anterior/posterior longitudinal ligament
Ligamentum flavum
Interspinal ligament
Supraspinous ligament
Problems with intervertebral disc joints between ventral bodies
Herniation of contents posterolaterally
Can compress spinal nerves emerging from intervertebral foramina
Synovial joints between vertebrae known as
Facet / zygapophyseal joint
Function of facet joints
prevents antero-posterior displacement of vertebrae
create intervertebral foramina
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Full length of spine
Bind vertebral bodies and discs on anterior surface
Prevents hyperextension
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Full length of spine
Prevents hyperflexion
weaker than anterior
Ligamentum flavum
Joins adjacent lamina together
Yellow due to lots of elastic fibres
Prevents hyperflexion
Interspinal ligament
Weak fibrous
Joins adjacent spinous processes
Prevents hyperflexion
Supraspinous ligament
Full length of spine (strong white fibrous)
Connects tips of spinous processes
Prevents hyperflexion
Which ligament do you need to be most aware of and why?
Lumbar puncture
Ligamentum flavum will offer resistance to needle
Sections of spine
Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacrum Coccyx
Anterior part of spine
Vertebral body
Posterior and lateral part of spine
Vertebral arch
spinous process, 2x transverse process, 2x pedicles, 2x lamina, 4x articular process
Functions of spine
Supports weight of skull, pelvis, upper limbs and thoracic cage
Protects spinal cord and cauda equina
Movement
Haemopoesis
Spinal curvature
Primary curvature = Kyphosis
Secondary curvature = Lordosis
Primary curvature
kyphosis
retained throughout life in thoracic, sacral and coccygeal regions
Kyphosis
ANTERIOR CONCAVE
lose lumbar kyphosis during crawling
Lordosis
POSTERIOR CONCAVE
secondary curvatures
Lordosis 1st =Cervival (lifting head) THEN Lumbar (crawling/walking)
Blood vessels within epineurium called
Vasa Nervorum
Vertebrae column structure with number of vertebrae
Cervical - 7 thoracic - 12 Lumbar - 5 Sacral - 5 (fused) Coccygeal - 4 (fused)
mobility of spine regions
Lumbar and Cervical - relatively mobile
Thoracic - limited mobility as joined to ribs via sternum
Sacral structure
5 fused verterbrae
Coccyx structure
4 fused vertebrae
Primary curves
Kyphotic
Thoracic, sacral and coccygeal
(develop during foetal period)
Secondary curves
Lordotic
Lumbar and Cervical
develop during childhood - lifting head and crawling
Superior and inferior vertebral bodies articulating surfaces known as
Vertebral end plates (covered with hyaline cartilage)
Size of vertebrae change
Increase in size from superior to inferior spine
dissipate force
Transverse and spinous processes function
Attachment for muscles and ligaments to control vertebral bodies position
(lever arm, mechanical advantage)
intervertebral discs parts
Annulus fibrosus (peripheral) Nucleus pulposus (central)
Annulus fibrosus
Type 1 Collagen lamellar collagen in varying directions
Avascular and Aneural
Resists compression
Nucleus pulposus
Remenants of embryonic notocord
Gelatinous - type 2 collagen
Located posterior in adult
Acidic
What is filum terminale?
Continuation of pia mater (conus medullaris to 1st coccyx segment)
longitudinal support to spinal cord
Where does spinal cord begin and end?
Begin - medullary region
end - conus medullaris (L1/L2)
Cervical vertebrae compared to cervical nerves
8 cervical nerves but only 7 cervical vertebrae
Bone structure of vertebral body
90% cancellous bone = allows for haemopoesis, light, absorb force
10% cortical
What does vertebral foramen contain?
Spinal cord, conus medullaris, cauda equina, meninges
epidural veins, spinal arteries
Orientation of lumbar facet joints
Perpendicular to axial
45 degrees to coronal plane
allows flexion and extension
What directions do each facets face?
Superior articular facet - posteromedially
Inferior facet joint - anterolaterally
Movement at facet joints
Interlock
flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation
Types of joints in lumbar spine
Fibrous/non mobile - sacroiliac Secondary cartilaginous - intervertebral discs Synovial joints (very mobile) - facet joints
Intervertebral discs made of
70% water
20% collagen
10% proteoglycans
(compress throughout day which makes us shorter)
Where do infections occur spinal cord?
Disc side of endplate
Discs are avascular so more of a kinder environment for pathogens
Anterior vs posterior ligaments spine
Anterior stronger than posterior
Anterior ligaments
Anterior longitudinal ligament (anterior to vertebral body)
Posterior longitudinal ligament (posterior to vertebral body)
Why do paracentral prolapses occur
Posterior longitudinal ligament stops prolapse occurring at posterior so comes out of lateral side
Posterior ligaments
Supraspinous
Interspinous
Ligamentum flavum
what happens to intervertebral discs as you age?
Dehydrate
= greater forces through facet joints
What enables us to stand upright?
Pelvis is broader and more vertical
Curves in adult
5 (sinusoidal profile) 3 kyphosis (thoracic and sacococcygeal) 2 lordoses (cervical and lumbar)
What happens to vertebral column in old age?
Secondary curvatures dissapear
Loss of disc height / osteoporotic fractures
Continous primary curvature (hunched over)
What occurs during pregnancy?
Exaggeration of Lumbar Lordosis
