Surface Anatomy Flashcards
Why is the spine curved?
Increased mobility
Increased ability to bear axial load during movement
Name primary spinal curves
Thoracic and sacral kyphosis
Name secondary spinal curves
Cervical and lumbar lordosis
Where do secondary curves come from?
Initially spine is C-shaped
Cervical lordosis forms when lift head at 6 months
Lumbar lordosis forms when standing/walking at 10-14 months
What is scoliosis? Causes?
Abnormal lateral curvature of the spine
Affects ribcage making it prominent
Makes shoulder levels uneven
Congenital, idiopathic, neuromuscular, degenerative
Post trauma, tumour, infection
Why is there increased kyphosis in elderly people? Worsened by?
Ageing is naturally kyphotic process
Worsened by osteoperotic compression fracturses
Can develop cascade of sequential fractures
What is a winged scapula?
Scapula lifts away from ribcage
Significance of winging scapula in a brachial plexus injury?
Caused by injury to long thoracic nerve - given off at roots of plexus
Scapula winging = plexus injury is high
If no winging then injury below root level
Prominent vertebra at top of neck?
C7
Signficiance of brusing/palpating tenderness or swelling over spinous process of trauma patient?
if Posterior element of spinal column are bruised, swollen or tender it increases suspicion of an unstable injury with posterior structures e.g. ligaments disrupted and threat to spinal cord/roots
What are most vertebral fractures?
Most vertebral fractures stable compression fractures of anterior body of vertebrae
Surface landmarks of:
T3
T7
T12
L4
T3 - level of base of spines of scapula
T7 - level of inferior angle of scapula
T12 - level of lowest ribs
L4 - level of a line drawn between iliac crest
What happens at L1/2? Why is this not the same in infants?
spinal cord terminates
cauda equina below
spinal column lengthens more than cord during growth and development so extends beyond cord
Where do most spinal fractures occur and why?
Cervical/thoracic and thoracic/lumbar junctions
Thoracic segment immobile
Between stiff and mobile segments
What is a myotome?
Group of muscles supplied by specific spinal nerve root
