Spine Flashcards
How many cervical vertebrae are there
7
How many thoracic vertebrae are there
12
How many lumbar vertebrae are there
5
How many sacrum vertebrae are there
5 - fused
How many coccyx vertebrae are there
4 - fused
Which of the vertebrae are fused
Sacrum
Coccyx
What is the basic common structure which all vertebrae share
Anterior vertebral body
Posterior vertebral arch
Describe the vertebral body
Forms anterior part of each vertebrae
Weight-bearing component - lower column has larger bodies than upper
What are the superior and inferior aspects of the vertebral body lined with
Hyaline cartilage
How are adjacent vertebral bodies separated
Fibrocartilaginous intervertebral disc
Describe the vertebral arch
Forms the lateral and posterior aspect of each vertebrae
What is the hole which the vertebral body and vertebral arch form
Vertebral foramen
Where do all foramina of the vertebrae line up to form
Vertebral canal - encloses the spinal cord
In the vertebrae what do the transverse processes articulate with
Ribs
What do the ribs articulate with
Transverse processes on the vertebrae
What are pedicles
Connect the vertebral body to the transverse processes
What are lamina
Connect the transverse and spinous processes
What are articular processes
Form joints between one vertebra and its superior and inferior counterparts
Located at the intersection of the laminae and pedicles
What are the features of cervical vertebrae
Bifid spinous processes
Opening in each transverse process
Triangular vertebral foramen
What travels through the openings in the transverse processes in cervical vertebrae
Vertebral arteries travel to the brain
Describe bifid processes in the cervical vertebrae
Spinous process bifurcates at the distal end
C1 - no spinous process
C7 spinous processes longer + may not bifurcate
Describe the thoracic vertebrae
Increase in size superior to inferior
Specialised function to articulate with the ribs
Two ‘demi facets’
Costal facet on transverse processes
Spinous processes orientated obliquely inferiorly and posteriorly
What do the thoracic vertebrae and ribs articulate to form
Bony thorax
Describe the demi facets of the thoracic vertebrae
Each has 2
Either side of the vertebral body
Articulate with the heads of two different ribs
Describe the lumbar vertebrae
Largest in vertebral column
Large vertebral bodies - kidney shaped
Lack characteristics of other vertebrae
Triangular-shaped vertebral foramen
Describe the sacrum
Collection of 5 fused vertebrae
Inverted triangle with apex pointing downwards
Lateral walls are facets for articulation with the pelvis at the sacroiliac joints
Describe the coccyx
Small bone - articulates with the apex of the sacrum
Recognised by the lack of vertebral arches
No vertebral canal
What type of joints are vertebral body joints
Cartilaginous
Designed for weight-bearing
What are the articular surface of vertebrae covered and connected by
Covered by - hyaline cartilage
Connected by - intervertebral discs
What are the ligaments which strengthen the vertebral body joints
Anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments
Run full length of the vertebral column
Describe the anterior longitudinal ligament
Thick
Prevents hyperextension of the vertebral column
Describe the posterior longitudinal ligament
Weaker
Prevents hyperflexion
What is the name of the joints between articular facets
Facet joints
What is the purpose of facet joints
Allow for some gliding motions between vertebrae
What are the facet joints supported by
Ligamentum flavum
Interspinous and supraspinous
Intertransverse ligaments
Where does the ilioinguinal nerve come off
L1
Describe the ilioinguinal nerve
Sensory
- superior/antero/medial thigh
- roue of penis, anterior scrotum
- skin over mons pubis, labia majora
Motor
- internal obliques
- transverse abdominas
Where does the genitofemoral nerve come off
L1 - L2
Where does the genitofemoral nerve come off
L1 - L2
Describe the genitofemoral nerve
Sensory
- anterior scrotum
- mons pubis, labia majora
Motor
- cremaster muscle
Femoral branch - skin to the upper anterior thigh
Where does the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh come off
L2 - L3
Describe the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh
No motor
Sensory
- anterior/lateral thigh down to the knee level
Where does the obturator nerve come off
L2, L3, L4
Describe the obturator nerve
Motor
- muscles of the medial thigh
Sensory
- skin of medial thigh
Where does the femoral nerve come off
L2, L3, L4
Describe the femoral nerve
Motor
- muscles of the anterior thigh
Sensory
- skin of the anterior thigh, medial leg
What are the nerves of the lumbar plexus
Ilioinguinal
Genitofemoral
Lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh
Obturator nerve
Femoral nerve
Where does the superior gluteal nerve come off
L4, L5, S1
Describe the superior gluteal nerve
Motor
- gluteus minimums and Medius
- tensor fascia late
No sensory
Where doe the inferior gluteal nerve come off
L5, S1, S2
Describe the inferior gluteal nerve
Motor
- gluteus maximus
Where does the sciatic nerve come off
L4, L5, S1, S2, S3
Describe the sciatic nerve
Has a tibial and fibular portion
Motor
- muscles in posterior compartment of thigh
- hamstring compartment of adductor magnus
- all muscles in posterior compartment of leg
- sole of foot
- lateral and anterior compartment of leg
- extensor digitorum brevis
Sensory
- posterolateral leg
- lateral foot
- sole of foot
- skin of lateral leg
- dorsum of foot
Where does the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve come off
S1, S2, S3
Describe the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
No motor
Sensory
- skin on posterior surface of thigh and leg
- skin on peritoneum
Where does the pudendal nerve come off
S2, S3, S4
Describe the pudendal nerve
Motor
- peritoneum
- external urethral sphincter
- external anal sphincter
- levator ani
Sensory
- innervates penis/clitoris
- most of the skin of the peritoneum
Name the nerves of the sacral plexus
Superior gluteal nerves
Inferior gluteal nerves
Sciatic nerves
Posterior femoral cutaneous nerves
Pudendal
What are the nerve routes of the cervical plexus
C1-4
Divided into two groups muscular and sensory
What is the nerve from C3,4,5 anterior rami
Phrenic
What does the phrenic nerve supply
Motor function to diaphragm
What does the phrenic nerve supply
Motor function to diaphragm
Describe the thoracic plexus
Not one
Nerves distributes cutaneous to dermatomes
