Spine Lecture Questions Flashcards
What are the functions of the spine?
-Support the body’s weight
-Transmit forces
-Carry & positioning of the head
-Brace & help maneuver the upper limbs
What are the primary curvatures of the spine? What kind of curvature is it? When do they develop?
-Thoracic curvature: kyphosis
-Sacral/coccygeal curvature: kyphosis
-Present at birth
What are the secondary curvatures of the spine? What kind of curvature is it? When do they develop?
-Cervical curvature: lordosis
-Lumbar curvature: lordosis
-Cervical develops when babies start lifting their head
-Lumbar develops upon walking and sitting up
Why do we need secondary curvatures?
-After birth, we need secondary curvatures to counteract the primary ones so that we are able to stand up straight
-They bring the center of gravity into a vertical line so we can be bipedal
What do extrinsic back muscles do?
Move the upper limbs & ribs
What do intrinsic back muscles do?
Maintain posture & move vertebral column (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation)
What does the spine protect?
-The CNS (brain and spinal cord)
-The PNS (cranial and spinal nerves)
How many cervical vertebrae are there?
7
How many thoracic vertebrae are there?
12
How many lumbar vertebrae are there?
5
How many sacral vertebrae are there?
5, but they are fused
How many coccygeal vertebrae are there?
3-4, but they are fused
What is the function of the body of the vertebrae?
Receives weight & provides mobility
What does the vertebral arch form? What does it do?
-It forms the vertebral canal
-It restricts some movement
What are the facet joints? What do they do?
-The articulation between two vertebrae
-They restrict and guide movement
What is a symphysis?
-A major joint between vertebrae
-Each symphysis includes an intervertebral disc
What makes up an intervertebral disc?
-Annulus fibrous, which is a ligament like structure that surrounds the nucleus pulposus and holds it together
-Nucleus polposus, which is a gellatenous like structure that helps the spine resist compression
What happens when the annulus fibrous degenerates?
Discs can be very easily herniated w/ degeneration of the annulus fibrous, because it can no longer properly hold the nucleus polposus in place
What are the extrinsic back muscles innervated by?
Anterior rami of spinal nerves
What are the intrinsic back muscles innervated by?
Posterior rami of spinal nerves
Where is the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) located?
In the subarachnoid space
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31 total
-8 cervical
-12 thoracic
-5 lumbar
-5 sacral
-1 coccygeal
What is the difference between rami and roots?
-Rami have both motor & sensory components, while roots do NOT
Why is the cervical vertebral foramen larger than the thoracic & lumbar?
Because the cervical vertebrae houses the cervical & brachial plexuses