Spine Flashcards
What are the different segments of the spine?
- Cervical
- Thoracic
- Lumbar
- Sacrum
- Coccyx
How many vertebrae are there in the lumbar spine?
5
What are the lumbar movements?
- Flexion 50 degrees/Extension 30 degrees
- Side (lateral) Flexion 20-30 degrees
- Rotation (only a few degrees)
Describe the structure of the lumbar spine.
- No foramen transversaria / facets for ribs
- Stouter and stronger than other regions
- Kidney-shaped body
- L5 wedge shaped (deeper anteriorly)
- Spines project horizontally backwards
- Interbody joints (vertebral bodies)
- Zygapophyseal (facet joints)
Which part of the spine receives the most stress?
the lumbar spine
What are spinous processes?
- short, flat and hatchet shaped
- easily seen when bending forward
- robust and projects directly backward as adaptations for attachments of large muscles
How is rotation prevented in the lumbar spine?
the facets of articular processes of the lumber vertebrae are orientated so that they lock together and provide stability
What are (3) types of disc herniation?
- Annulus protrusion (prolapse)
- Nuclear extursion
- Sequestration
What is annulus protrusion (prolapse)?
disc bulges without rupture of the annulus fibroses
What is nuclear extursion?
annulus fibroses is perforated and part of the nucleus pulposes moves to the epidural space
What is sequestration?
formation of discal fragments from the annulus fibroses and nucleus pulposes outside the disc proper
What are the signs and symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis?
- aching
- cramping
- tingling
- heaviness
- weakness of legs brought by walking or standing
- eased by sitting or leaning forward
How does lumber spinal stenosis occur?
due to the narrowing of the area of the spine that contains the nerves or spinal cord
–> can lead to irritation or compression of the nerves which travel down the legs
What is the cauda equina?
a group of nerves and nerve roots stemming from the distal end of the spinal cord (typically levels L1-L5), and contains axons of nerves that give both motor and sensory innervation to the legs, bladder, anus, and perineum
How many fused vertebrae make up the coccyx?
4
Where does the iliolumbar ligament attach to?
L5-S1
What does the iliolumbar ligament restrict?
lateral flexion
What are (5) main ligaments in the lumbar spine?
- anterior + posterior longitundinal ligaments
- ligamentum flava
- interspinous supraspinous ligaments
- iliolumbar ligament
- lateral lumbosacral ligament
What are (6) deep back muscles?
- spinalis
- longissimus
- iliocostalis
- spinalis thoracis
- longissimus thoracis
- iliocostalis lumborum
What are (3) superficial extensors of the back?
- illiocostalis
- spinalis
- longissimus
What are (3) deep extensors of the back?
- rotators
- semispinalis
- multifidous
What are (3) stabilizer muscles of the trunk?
- transversus
- abdominus
- multifidus
What are (3) mobilizer muscles of the trunk?
- erector spinae
- rectus abdominus
- quadratus lumborum
What are (4) trunk (abdominal) muscles?
- transversus abdominis
- internal oblique
- external oblique
- rectus abdominis
How many nerve roots make up the cauda equina?
20
Cauda Equina.
- Provides innervation to the lower limb and sphincter (it includes the nerves which supply and control the bladder and bowel sensation to back passage and the bottom)
- Descends in the spinal canal from the L1 or L2 level (the nerves descend almost vertically until they reach their corresponding foramina)
