Spine Flashcards
Function
Protection - spinal cord and internal organs
Flexibility - intervertebral discs
Structural support - postural, anchor for rib cage
Lordic (lordotic) curve
Concave
Cervical and lumbar vertebrae
Kyphotic curve
Convex
Thoracic and sacral vertebrae
General vertebra structure - vertebral body
Not in C1
Most anterior and largest feature
Separated from the adjacent bodies above and below by intervertebral discs
General vertebra structure - vertebral canal
Opening
Posterior to the vertebral body
Passage of the spinal cord and meninges
General vertebra structure - pedicle
Two stout, posterior projections from the vertebral body
Posteriorly they form the vertebral arch with the laminae and spinous processes
General vertebra structure - intervertebral foramen
Opening between the pedicles of adjacent vertebrae
Allows spinal nerves to exit the vertebral canal
General vertebra structure - lamina
Two broad, flat structures
Posteriorly from each pedicle
Unite in the midline to form the spinous process
General vertebra structure - spinous process
Projection extending posteriorly from the midline
From the union of the laminae
General vertebra structure - transverse process
Projection that extends laterally
From the side of the vertebra at the junction between the lamina and the pedicle
General vertebra structure - superior articular facet
Projects superiorly from the junction between the lamina and the pedicle
Articulates with the inferior facet of the vertebra above
General vertebra structure - inferior articular facet
Projects inferiorly from the junction between the lamina and pedicle
Articulates with the superior facet of the vertebra below
General vertebra structure - costal facet
One superiorly and one inferiorly
Articulates with the head off the rib
Zygapophyseal articulation
Superior articular facet articulates with inferior articular facet
Make the Zygapophyseal joints
Between vertebrae
Rib articulation
Head of rib between the superior costal facet of one vertebrae and inferior costal facet of another
Spans area of intervertebral disc
Limits anterior flexion of spine
Tubercle of the rib articulates with the transverse costal facet on the transverse process
Forms synovial joint with the thoracic vertebrae
Cross sectional anatomy of the spine - spinal cord
Runs through the vertebrae foramen
Dorsal and ventral roots
Cross sectional anatomy of the spine - denticulate ligament
Physical support between meninges layers and nervous tissue
Cross sectional anatomy of the spine - spinal dural matter
Accommodates movement of the spine
Not bounded or fused with the vertebrae bones
Cross sectional anatomy of the spine - epidural space/fat
Allows the duration mater to move during flexion of the spine
So the spinal cord is not damaged
Spinal nerves
Allows central nervous system to communicate with the body
8 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
1 coccygeal
Each nerve attaches to the spinal cord by a dorsal and ventral root
Spinal nerves - dorsal roots
6-8 rootlets arise from the posterolateral side of the cord
Carrying sensory fibres to form the dorsal roots
Spinal nerves - ventral roots
6-8 rootlets arise from the anterolateral sides of the cord
Carrying motor fibres to form the ventral roots
Spinal nerves - dorsal root ganglion
Dorsal and ventral roots unite to form a mix of spinal nerve
Just before there is a small swelling id the dorsal root ganglion
Formed by the cell bodies of the sensory neurones
Spinal nerves - spinal nerves
Formed by dorsal and ventral nerve root
Exits via the intervertebral foramen
Spinal nerves - dorsal spinal rami
Supply the deep muscle and the skin of the back of the trunk
Spinal nerves - ventral spinal rami
Supplies the muscles and skin of the rest of the body
Thoracic spinal nerves form intercostal nerves - supply muscles of thoracic cage
Spinal nerves interlink to form five specialised nerve plexuses - supply the rest of the musculoskeletal system and skin
Cervical vertebrae
7 bones
Form the bones of the neck
C1 and C2 are specialised - allow the head to rotate
C1 Atlas
No body
It is a ring of bone that articulates with the occipital bone of the cranium
Anterior arch - fovea dentis: flattening
Superior articular surface - condyloid articulation with skull, flexion and extension, transverse ligament attaches
Posterior arch - roughening: nuchal ligament origin
C2 Axis
Dens - upward projection on the body where the atlas can rotate (fovea dentis)
Transverse ligament
Apical odontoid ligament - to skull
Lateral odontoid alar ligaments - to occipital bone
C3 to C7
Transverse process (foramen) - major arteries run through to supply the brain
Superior articular surface - forms Zygapophyseal joints, support rotation of the neck
Bifid spinous process - origin and insertion of ligaments and muscles, accommodates the nuchal ligament
Thoracic vertebrae
12 bones
Form vertebral column of thoracic and articulates with the ribs
Heart shaped body
Costal ‘Demi’ facet - articulates with the head of ribs
Spinous process - long: mechanical advantage, points down inferiorly, attachment point
Lumbar vertebrae
5 bones
Largest vertebrae, support the weight of the body
Body - massive, kidney bean-shaped, hold upper body weight
Facets of Zygapophyseal joints - medial, limits rotation of the spine
Spinous process - short, sturdy, attachment of bigger and more powerful muscles
Sacrum vertebrae
5 sacral vertebrae fuse to form the large triangular sacrum
Concave anteriorly
Articulates laterally with the hip bones
Coccyx vertebrae
3-5 coccygeal vertebrae fuse to form the coccyx
Intervertebral discs
Between the vertebrae bones
Make the spine flexible
Compressible and elastic
Fibrocartilage
Fluid gradually pushed out during the day leading to height varying
Imbition means the fluid goes back into the discs
Intervertebral discs - intervertebral joint
Secondary cartilaginous joints - symphysis
Between the intervertebral discs and the vertebral bones
Intervertebral discs - annulus fibrosus
Fibrocartilage
Shock absorber
Allows flexion of the spine
Intervertebral discs - nucleus pulposus
Semi fluid - part fibrous and part fluid
Shock absorber
As you age it becomes more fibrous - reduces flexibility
Intervertebral discs - cartilage plates
Hyaline cartilage
Where the nucleus pulposus is attached to
Intervertebral discs - posterior longitudinal ligament
Smaller and lighter
Found in the intervertebral foramen
Only attaches to the bone
Where herniation of discs normally occurs
Intervertebral discs - anterior longitudinal ligament
Goes the full length of the spin
Broad anf tough
Aid the prevention of hyperextension of the spine
Ligamentum flava
Appears yellow do to elastin and elastic fibres
Highly elastic
Stretches as you flex - energy is released to aid muscles in the back to go back to an up right posture
Supports the facet joints posteriorly
Interspinous ligament
Limits flexion of the spine
Supports the facet joints posteriorly
Supraspinous ligament
From C7 to the sacrum
Attaches to the tip or process
Limit hyperextension of the spine
Supports the facet joints posteriorly
Inter-transverse ligament
Blends with the inter-transverse muscles
Limits lateral flexion of the spine
Controls movement of Zygapophyseal joints
Supports the facet joints laterally
Movements of the vertebral column
Size and compressibility of the intervertebral discs
Shape and orientation of Zygapophyseal joints
Looseness of Zygapophyseal joint capsule
Resistance or elasticity of ligaments
