Spine anatomy Flashcards
How many vertebrae are there?
33
What are the sections of the spine?
Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Coccygeal
How many vertebrae are in the cervical spine?
7
How many vertebrae are in the thoracic spine?
12
How many vertebrae are in the lumbar spine?
5
How many vertebrae are in the sacral spine?
5
How many vertebrae are in the coccyx?
4
How many curves are there in the spine?
4
Name the curves of the spine
Cervical lordosis
Thoracic kyphosis
Lumbar lordosis
What is C1 called?
Atlas
What is C2 called?
Axis
What is the bit that C2 has that C1 doesn’t?
Odontyoid process
What is the first palpable cervical vertebrae?
C7
Where is the pedicle of a vertebrae?
The “foot”
Attaches to the body
What is the bit that is palpable on the spine?
Spinous process
What is the bit beside the spinous process called?
Transverse process
Where is a facet joint?
Created by the superior and inferior facet articulations of the vertebrae
What kind of joints are facet joints?
Synovial joints
What disease can develop in the facet joints?
Osteoarthritis
What are the two layers of the intervertebral discs?
Annulus fibrosus
Nucleus pulposus
What can happen if the nucleus pulposus escapes from the annulus fibrosis?
prolapsed disc
What is the nucleus pulposus made of?
Gelatinous material
Where is the intraspinous ligament?
Between the body of the spinous processes of each vertebrae
Where are the supraspinous ligaments?
Between tips of the spinous processes
Where are the ligamentum flavum?
Attaches the vertebral lamina together
How far do the anterior and posterior longtitudinal ligaments run?
The whole length of the vertebral column
What are the 3 types of muscle in the spine?
Superficial/extrinsic
Intermediate
Deep
What is the origin and insertion of the intermediate muscles?
Spinous process and insert to ribs.
Give an example of an intermediate spinal muscle
Serratus inferior
What is the function of the superficial muscles of the spine?
Movement of shoulder and upper limb
What are the 5 superficial muscles of the spine?
Trapezius
Lattissimus dorsi
Rhomboid minor and major
Levatus scapularis
Where is the trapezius?
Originates at the spinous process as far as T12
Inserts to the occiput and the spine of the scapula
What is the nerve innervation to the trapezius?
CN XI
Accessory nerve
What is the function of the trapezius?
Elevates, depresses and retracts scapula
What is the function of latissimus dorsi?
Adducts, extends and internally rotates the humerus
What is the origin and insertion of latissimus dorsi?
Origin: spinous process and pelvis
Insertion: humerus
What is the nerve innervation to latissimus dorsi?
C6,7 and 8
What is the function of levatus scapularis?
Elevates the scapula
What is the origin and insertion of levatus scapularis?
Transverse process of C1
Superior angle of scapula
What is the nerve innervation of levatus scapularis?
C4/5
What is the function of the rhomboid major and minors?
Keeps scapular against thoracic wall
What is the origin of rhomboid major?
Spinous process C7/T1
What is the origin of rhomboid minor?
Spinous process T2-T5
What is the nerve innervation of the rhomboids?
Dorsal scapular nerve C3/C4
What are the deep intrinsic spinal muscles called?
Erector spinae muscles
What is their function?
Movement of vertebral column and posture
Why are the erector spinae muscles clinically relevant?
Largest group of muscles in the back
Pain due to spasm in trauma
What is the origin of the erector spinae?
Occiput of the skull
Where does the erector spinae insert?
Pelvis
What are the 3 erector spinae muscles?
Lateral: iliocostalis
Longismus thoracis
Spinalis thoarcis
Where does the spinal cord originate from in the brain?
Medulla oblongata
What is the hole in the skull called from where it exits?
Foramen magnum
Where does the spinal cord terminate?
Cauda equina at L2
What comes off at each vertebral level?
Nerve roots
What is a myotome?
Muscles controlled by the motor element of the nerve root
How are myotomes named?
Same as dermatomes
What is a dermatome?
Skin sensation supplied by the sensory element of the nerve root
True or False
In the spinal cord, the white matter is on the inside.
False
White matter is on the outside
What is found in the white matter?
Ascending sensory tracts
Descending motor tracts
What is the crossed pyramidal motor tract?
Crosses at medullary level.
AKA lateral cerebrospinal tract
What is the anterior cerebrospinal tract?
Uncrossed pyramidal.
Crosses at the same level it exits.
What are the two ascending sensory tracts?
Anterior and posterior spinocerebellar tracts.
Where do the ascending sensory tracts travel ?
On the ipsilateral side of the cord to the cerebellum
What do the ascending sensory tracts do?
Carry information from the skin to the brain regarding proprioception
What are the lateral and anterior spinothelamic tracts?
Carry information relating to pain and temperature.
Where do the lateral and anterior spinothelamic tracts travel?
Initially ipsilateral then cross to contralateral cord.
Enters the thalamus
What are the posterior column of the ascending sensory tracts called?
Fasciculus gracilis of Goll
Fasciculus cuneatus of Burdach
What do the posterior columns of the ascending tracts do?
Carry information to fine touch and proprioception, ipsilaterally.
In the grey matter, what is the route of the descending motor tracts?
Tracts enter the anterior horn of the grey matter and are transmitted via the ventral root to the nerve root and then the muscle.
Where does the ventral root connect to on the vertebral body?
The anterior side
Where does the dorsal root connect to?
The posterior side
What do the the ventral and dorsal roots join to become?
The nerve root
What does the nerve root divide to become?
Anterior and posterior rami
What do the posterior rami carry?
Sensory and motor fibres to the intrinsic muscles of the back
What do the anterior rami carry?
Sensory and motor fibres to the rest of the body and limbs
Where do the nerve roots exit the spinal column?
Intervertebral foramen, between superior and inferior pedicles
What is a prolapsed disc?
Part of the nucleus pulposus bulges through the annulus fibrosis and presses on the nerve root.
What nerve roots are involved in cauda equina?
L2-L5
S1-S5
Coccygeal
What do these nerves in the cauda equina innervate?
Pelvis organs
Lower limbs
What are the motor functions of the cauda equina nerves?
Hips, knees, ankles, internal and external anal sphincter
What are the sensory functions of the cauda equina?
Hips, knees, ankles, feet and perineum
What is the arterial supply to the spine?
Anterior and posterior spinal arteries
Where do the spinal arteries come from?
Intercranial part of the vertebral artery.
What other arteries also feed into the spinal arteries?
Cervical, intercostal and lumbar arteries
What is the cerebrospinal venous system?
Interconnection of the venous system of the brain and the spine
What is Batson’s venous plexus?
Network of valveless veins.
Connects deep pelvic veins and thoracic veins to the internal vertebral venous plexuses
Why is Batson’s venous plexus of significance?
If carcinoma in prostate then can easily spread haematologically to brain
What lies in the transverse foramen?
Vertebral artery, vein and nerve fibres
What is a gibbus?
Wedging of a vertebrae causing an angular deformity
