Surface Anatomy - spine and brachial plexus Flashcards
which areas of the body can do protraction and retraction?
shoulders or jaw
why is the spine curved?
increased mobility and ability to bear axial load during development
what are the spinal curves?
-thoracic and sacral kyphosis are backwards curving primary curves (posterior convexity)
-cervical and lumbar lordosis are forward curving secondary curves (anterior convexity)
when and why does cervical lordosis develop?
cervical lordosis develops at about 6 months to improve lifting of the head and head control.
when and why does lumbar lordosis occur?
lumbar lordosis develops at about 10-14 months to allow standing and walking
why Is the spine initially c shaped?
to fit in the womb
what is scoliosis?
An abnormal lateral curvature/rotation of the spine. Can affect ribcage & make this prominent, or make shoulder levels uneven. Can be congenital, idiopathic, neuromuscular, degenerative (also post-trauma/tumour/infection)
what causes abnormally increased kyphosis in thoracic spine of elderly?
ageing is a kyphotic process. can be worsened by osteoporotic compression fractures
what is a winged scapula?
when the scapula lifts away from the thoracic cage
which nevrve can be damaged in the which nerve in the brachial plexus can cause scapula winging?
injury to the long thoracic nerve. if there is a scapula winging then the plexus injury is high, no winging means injury is likely below root level
what is the first very prominent vertebrae?
C7 - vertebra prominent but can cometimes be T1
generally what does bruising, tenderness or swelling on the spinous process mean?
If the posterior elements of the spinal column are bruised, swollen or tender increases suspicion of an unstable injury with posterior structures such as ligaments disrupted and a threat to the spinal cord/roots.
what is the surface landmark for T3?
level of base of the spines of the scapula
what is the surface landmark for T7?
inferior angle of scapula
what is the surface landmark for T12?
level of lowest rib
what is the surface landmark for L4?
level of a line drawn between iliac crests
what happens at L1/2?
spinal cord terminates
what movements occur at the cervicle spine?
flexion/ extension
lateral flexion
head nodding and rotation
what is a dermatome?
an area of skin supplied by a specific single nerve root and spinal segment
what movement happens at the thoracic spine?
rotation and lateral flexion
what movement happens at the lumbar spine?
flexion/extension
why do most fracures occur at the junction between cervical and thoracic vertebrae and thoracic and lumbar?
thoracic segment relatively immobile- biomehcnaical focus of stress at junction between stiff and bile segments
what is a myotome?
a group of muscles supplied by a specific spinal nerve root.
what is muscle tone?
muscles resistance to passive stretch
what is muscle power?
tension/ strength generated by voluntary contractions
what are the 4 parts of the brachial plexus?
5 roots
3 trunks
6 division
3 cords
