Spine Flashcards
How many vertebrae do we have in the spine?
33 all together
7 cervical vertebrae
12 thoracic vertebrae
5 lumbar vertebrae
Sacrum & Coccyx (fused vertebrae)
Lordosis
Inward curve
Kyphosis
Rounded back
Parts of a vertebrae
Facet joints
The joint that allows the vertebrae to sit on top of each other
Allow rotation & side movements
Facet joint pain
When doing side or later flexion as it closes the joints causing discomfort
Cervical spine
1) C1 Atlas
2) C2 Axis
3) C3 - 6
4) C7 Vertebra Prominens
Sally has a pain on the right side of her neck, if she tilts her head towards the right side she feels pain? What is causing this and why?
Most likely joint pain rather than muscle as she is closing the joints
Sally has a pain on the right side of her neck, if she tilts her head towards the right side she doesn’t feel pain but when tilting to the left she does? What is causing this and why?
Most likely muscle pain and she is stretching her muscles
Disc involvement in movement
When bending forward in something like the roll down it can cause a weakening at the back of the disc which can cause X?
Disc herniation (slip disc)
What movement should be done for people with disc herniation?
Extension movements like swan dive level 2 & cobra
What do discs allow?
1) Movement
2) Shock absorption
Muscles of the cervical region (neck)
Origin and instertion of the Sternocleidomastoid muscle
Origin: Clavicle & Sternum
Insertion: mastoid process (temporal bone behind ear)
Movement of the sternocleidomastoid
Rotation and flexion
Sternocleidomastoid
How many pairs of scalene muscles are there?
3
Where can scalene muscles be found?
Lateral neck
Name the 3 scalene muscles
1) Anterior scalene
2) Middle scalene
3) Posterior scalene
Anterior scalene origin
Origin: anterior tubercles of the transverse process of the 3rd - 6th vertebrae (c3 - c6)
Anterior scalene insertion
Insertion: inserts as a flat tendon into the scalene tubercle on the inner border of the 1st rib, the ridge on the upper surface of the 2nd rib
Action of the anterior scalene
Elevates 1st rib and laterally flexes Cx to same side
Middle scalene origin
Origin: the posterior tubercles of the transverse process of the lower six cervical vertebrae
Middle scalene insertion
Insertion: attaches to the 1st rib
Action of middle scalene
Elevates 1st rib or laterally flexes to the same side
Posterior scalene origin
Origin: by 2 or 3 separate tendons, from the posterior tubercles of the transverse process of the lower 2 or 3 cervical vertebrae
Posterior scalene insertion
Outer surface of the 2nd rib, behind the attachment of the anterior scalene
Posterior scalene action
Elevates 2nd rib & laterally flexes to the same side
Deep neck flexors - DNF
Longus Colli origin
Transverse process of C5 - T3
Longus colli insertion
Anterior arch of the atlas (C1)
Longus colli action
Ipsilateral & rotation side: assists in lateral flexion to the same side
Acting bilateral: Flexes the head and neck
Longus capitus origin
Come from the transverse processes of the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae
Longus capitus insertion
Into the occipital bone (skull)
Posterior Cervical Muscles
Posterior cervical muscles
Neck extensors that balance out the forces that are applied by our deep neck flexors
Rectus Capitus Posterior Major Origin
Spinous process of axis (C2)
Rectus capitus posterior major insertion
Occipital bone
Rectus Capitus Posterior Major Action
Bilateral (extend)
Unilateral (rotates)
Rectus capitus posterior minor origin
Spinous process of C2
Rectus capitus posterior minor insertion
Occipital bone
Rectus capitus posterior minor origin
Same as major
Thoracic vertebrae
Disc degeneration
What does the vertebral column consist of?
- 24 vertebrae
- Sacrum
- Coccyx
- The spinal cord through the foremen magnum
What is the spinal cord protected by?
Meninges
What do ligaments of the spine help do?
1) Reinforce the vertebral column
2) Stabilize intervertebral joints
What is the vertebral canal?
A hollow space inside the vertebrae which encloses the spinal cord
Cervical spine landmarks
- superior articular processes and facets
- inferior articular
- bifid spinous process
- transverse process & foramina
Thoracic Spine Landmarks
- spinous process
- transverse process
- transverse costal facet
- superior costal facets
- body
- inferior notch
- inferior costal facets
- vertebral foramen
- superior articular processes and facets
Lumbar spine landmarks
- Vertebral foramen
- Spinous process
- Transverse process
- Body
- Superior articular processes and facets
- Inferior articular processes and facets
- Inferior notch
Sacrum landmarks
- superior articular processes
- sacral alae
- body
- median crest
- promontory
- sacral canal
- first dorsal (posterior) sacral foramina
- first pelvic (anterior) sacral foramina
- inferior lateral angles
What does the Sternum consist of?
- Manubrium
- Body of the sternum
- Xiphoid process
How many ribs do humans have?
12 in total
- 7 true ribs (connect directly to the sternum)
- 5 false ribs (don’t articulate directly with the sternum)
Rib 11 & 12 are called floating ribs as they have no anterior attachment
What are the anterior ends of all ribs made from?
Costal cartilage
Name the 3 muscles of the spinal flexors
1) Longus capitus
2) Longus colli
3) Quadratus lumborum
Longissimus muscles classified in:
Capitis
Cervicis
Thoracis
Extend & laterally flex the vertebral column
