Spine Flashcards
How many thoracic vertebrae do we have?
12
How many vertebrae makes up the vertebral column?
33
Where does the vertebral column start and end?
It extends from the occipital bone of the skull to the coccyx
How many different regions is the vertebral column divided into?
5
How many curvatures does the vertebral column have?
4
Label the anterior view of the vertebral column:
Label the lateral view of the vertebral column:
Label the posterior view of the vertebral column:
What is C1 also known as?
Atlas
What is C2 also known as?
Axis
What are the 3 types of vertebrae?
Cervical vertebrae
Thoracic vertebrae
Lumbar vertebrae
How many cervical vertebrae is there?
7
How many thoracic vertebrae is there?
12
How many lumbar vertebrae is there?
5
Which vertebrae is at the top?
Cervical
Which vertebrae is in the middle?
Thoracic
Which vertebrae is at the bottom?
Lumbar
What are the functions of the vertebral column?
(5)
Supports the skull
Keeps the body upright (posture)
Provides protection to the spinal cord
Allows the body to be flexible and to move
Provides attachment for upper limbs and pelvic gridle
What are the movements of the vertebral column?
(5)
Flexion (bending forward)
Extension (bending backwards)
Lateral flexion (bending to the side)
Lateral extension (returning to normal from lateral flexion)
Rotation (twisting)
How many vertebrae’s does the sacrum have?
5
How many vertebrae’s does the coccyx have?
4
What is the vertebral body?
Everything at the front
What are the features of the vertebral body?
(2)
It’s the anterior part
It’s the weight bearing component
What is the vertebral arch?
Everything at the back
What are the features of the vertebral arch?
(2)
It’s the lateral and posterior parts
It forms the vertebral canal, enclosing the spinal cord (the spinal cord is in the middle of the vertebral arch)
Label the common structure of a vertebra:
How many portions are there in the vertebral arch?
5
What are the portions that make up the vertebral arch?
(5)
Spinous process
Lamina
Articular processes
Pedicles
Transverse process
What does the spinous process do?
It projects posteriorly from where the laminae meets
What is the laminae?
The singular word for lamina
What does the lamina do?
It connects the transverse and spinous processes
What do the Articular processes do?
They form joints between one vertebra and its superior and inferior counterparts
What do the pedicles do?
They connect the vertebral body to the transverse processes
What are transverse processes?
The projections on the side of each vertebra
How many transverse processes does each vertebra have?
2
What do transverse processes do?
They extend laterally and posteriorly from the vertebral body
What do the transverse processes articulate with in the thoracic vertebrae?
The ribs
Label the vertebral arch:
What does bifid mean?
Divides into 2
Which is the smallest vertebrae in the body?
Cervical vertebrae
What are the features of the cervical vertebrae?
(3)
Their transverse processes contain a foramen for the vertebral artery
Their spinous processes are bifid (divide into 2) except for C7
The first 2 vertebrae are atypical
Which vertebrae is this?
Cervical
What is the first vertebrae called?
C1- atlas
What are the features of C1/atlas?
(4)
It articulates with the skull
It has no body
It has short transverse processes
It has flattened facet joints (so that the skull can sit on top)
Label the superior view of the atlas:
What is the atlanto-occipital joint?
The joint between the occipital bone (occipital condyles) of the skull with the Articular processes of the atlas
What type of joint is the Atlanto-occipital joint?
Condyloid synovial joint
What does the Atlanto-occipital joint allow?
(4)
Flexion
(Nodding of the head)
Extension
Slight lateral rotation
Lateroflexion
What is the 2nd vertebra called?
C2/axis
What are the features of C2/axis?
(4)
It sits inferiorly to the atlas
It has a small body
It has a dens (odontoid process)
It occupies the anterior part of the foramen of the atlas
What is the dens also known as?
Odontoid process
What does the dens do?
It acts as a pivot, allowing the atlas to rotate around it, enabling the head to turn side to side
Label the superior view of the axis:
Label the anterior view of the axis:
Where is the Atlanto-axial joint found?
In between C1 and C2
What are the features of the atlanto-axial joint?
(3)
It’s found between the dens of C2 and the transverse ligament of C1
It’s a pivot joint
Rotation is the primary movement at this joint
Is C7 a typical or atypical vertebra?
Atypical
What are the features of C7?
(2)
It has a long spinous process
It can b felt at the base of the neck
Label the spinous processes
The first spinous process we see is C2 because the 1st vertebra doesn’t have a spinous process
What are the features of the thoracic vertebrae?
(4)
They contain Demi-facets
Their transverse processes have facets so they can articulate with the ribs
The spinous processes are oriented obliquely, inferiorly and posteriorly
T12 is located at the level of the last rib
What is the largest vertebrae?
Lumbar
Where is L4 located?
At the level of the iliac crest
Which vertebrae do most pathologies occur?
Why?
Lumbar vertebrae
Because that’s where we weigh bear
Which vertebrae is this?
Thoracic
Which vertebrae is this?
Lumbar
Label the thoracic vertebrae:
Why is the superior Articular process important in the lumbar vertebrae?
Because it can articulate with the vertebra that’s above
Label the lumbar vertebrae:
Why is the inferior Articular process important in the lumbar vertebrae?
Because they articulate with the vertebra that’s below
How many fibrocartillaginous discs are there?
23
What do fibrocartilaginous discs do?
They act as a cushion and prevent friction in the bones
Which imaging modality is the best to check for slip discs?
MRI
What are the features of intervertebral discs?
(3)
They’re located between each vertebral body, except between C1,C2, the sacrum and the coccyx
They vary in thickness
The discs provide shock absorption and prevent friction between vertebrae
Label the intervertebral disc:
What does the sacrum articulate with?
The ilium
What is the sacrococcygeal area?
The sacrum and coccyx
What is the coccyx also known as?
(2)
Tailbone
Vestigial tail
Which part of the vertebra is this?
Sacrum and coccyx
Label the anterior view of the sacrum and coccyx:
Label the posterior view of the sacrum and coccyx:
What are all of the back muscles?
(5)
Trapezius
Sternocleidomastoid (neck)
Latissimus dorsi
Psoas major muscle (abdominal)
Psoas minor muscle
Where does the trapezius muscle attach to?
(2)
The occipital bone proximally
The clavicle and spine of the scapula distally
What does the trapezius muscle do?
(2)
It affects movements of the scapula
It crosses the scapula-thoracic joint
What dos the sternocleidomastoid muscle do?
(2)
It laterally flexes and rotates the head
It divides the neck into anterior and posterior portions
What do the latissimus dorsi muscles attach to?
(2)
The inferior thoracic spinous processes, the ribs and the iliac crest proximally
The floor of intertubercular sulcus (bicipital groove) of the the humerus distally
What do the latissimus dorsi muscles do?
(2)
They affect movements of the shoulder (medial rotation, extension and adduction)
They cross the glenohumeral joint
Which back muscle is very visible when doing CT or MRIs?
Psoas major muscle
Can we feel the Psoas major muscle?
Why?
No
Because it runs on the internal side
What does the Psoas major muscle attach to?
(2)
The transverse processes and vertebral bodies of T12-L5 proximally
The lesser trochanter of the femur distally
What does the Psoas major muscle do?
It acts on the flexion of the thigh at the hip and lateral flexion of the vertebral column
What % of the population is the Psoas minor muscle present in?
60%
What does the Psoas minor muscle do?
It helps with the flexion of the vertebral column
Where is the trapezius back muscle?
Where is the trapezius back muscle and the sternocleidomastoid back muscle?
Where is the latissimus dorsi?
Where is the Psoas major muscle and the Psoas minor muscle?
Where is the Psoas major muscle and the Psoas minor muscle?
