The Back Flashcards
normal posture depends on?
balance of forces between back and abdominal muscles
hyperlordosis
more pronounced lumbar lordosis
Abnormally strong hip flexors (iliopsoas/psoas major) or puny hamstrings will result in an anterior pelvic tilt (butt sticks out)
lordosis = concave posteriorly
hypolordosis
less pronounced lumbar lordosis
Overdeveloped hamstrings can tilt the pelvis posteriorly resulting in “flatback”
hyperkyphosis
More pronounced thoracic kyphosis
Two potential causes:
- congenital: vertebrae fuse together in development instead of segmenting. Or can result if vertebrae succeed in segmenting but fail to develop into the correct shape.
- “Dowager’s Hump”: Anterior portions of vertebrae can erode over time becoming wedge shaped. Results in the affected individual becoming increasingly stooped. Preferentially affects women.
kyphosis = concave anteriorly (the spine’s “natural” curve)
scoliosis
lateral bending of the spine (concave lateral bend)
kyphoscoliosis
The so-called “killer combo”* of scoliosis AND kyphosis. Spine is bent concave laterally and displays a more pronounced thoracic kyphosis.
Can be especially bad because the ribs tend to be scrunched together on one side of the body but spread apart on the other, which can make breathing using the intercostal muscles more difficult.
*not really called the “killer combo”
spina bifida
incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube.
spina bifida: types
- spina bifida occulta
- spina bifida cystica with meningocele
- spina bifida cystica with myelomeningocele
*spina bifida is the only time that being in a cult is good
**As the names get longer the outlook gets worse
cystica from the Greek “kystis” meaning “pouch”
spina bifida occulta
split in the vertebrae is so small that neither the spinal cord nor the meninges escapes out of the vertebral canal
No cyst present on the back
spina bifida cystica with meningocele
Cyst present on the back
Spinal cord remains within vertebral canal but the meninges (the cord’s surrounding membrane) does escape into the cyst
spina bifida cystica with myelomeningocele
Cyst present on the back
Both meninges AND spinal cord tissue escape into cyst.
To remember “myelomeningocele”= myelin in the cele
the suffic -“cele” means “related to a hernia or swelling”
spondylolisthesis
anterior slippage of a vertebra relative to its inferior partner.
spondylo meaning spine
listhesis meaning slippage
tons of things can cause this
spondylolysis
one particular cause of spondylolisthesis.
A fracture of the pars interarticularis
(the region located between the inferior and superior articular processes)
“scottie-dog sign”
On x-ray you can see what looks like a scottish terrier.
If its neck is severed from its body, suspect a fractured pars interarticularis.
spondylitis
inflammation of the spine