The Back Flashcards
Vertebral column
33 vertebrae
7 cervical 12 thoracic 5 lumbar 5 sacral Few coccygeal
Spine Motion
Flexion
Extension
Lateral bending
Rotation
2 primary curvatures of spine
thoracic, sacral (kyphosis, concave anteriorly)
2 secondary curvatures spine
cervical, lumbar (lordosis, concave posteriorly)
Lumbar lordosis (2 types)
Hyperlordosis (anterior pelvic tilt, increased lumbosacral angle) (butt sticking out)
- via weak hamstrings –> tight hip flexors, tilts pelvis ANTERIORLY
Hypolordosis (posterior pelvic tilt, decreased lumbosacral angle)
– via tight hamstrings –> straightening of lumbar spine
Kyphoscoliosis
lateral bending of spine AND excessive thoracic curvature
Caudal epidural block
inject into sacral canal (through sacral hiatus)
Cervical vertebrae
Have transverse foramina (vertebral arteries go through)
C1
atlas, no vertebral body. Has depressions for occipital condyle.
C2
axis, dens (pivot for skull)
spinal extension
Inc distant between anterior part of vertebral bodies
spinal flexion
Dec distance between anterior part of vertebral bodies
Stenotic intervertebral discs
W/ age, ligaments and bones thicken, narrowing (stenosis) impinges on nerves in spinal canal and nerve roots exiting spine to legs.
Causes pain and numbness in back of legs
Ostephytes
bone spurs
- As intervertebral discs degenerate –> extra movement in spine –> osteophyte formation (bone spurs)
- Ostephytes can also be formed via osteoarthritis
dorsal primary rami
supply sensation from facet joints
Anterior longitudinal ligament
starts at base of skull
narrow in cervical region, broader in lumbar
prevents hyperextension of spine
interspinous ligament
prevents hyperflexion
Posterior longitudinal ligament
prevents hyperflexion of spine and posterior protrusion of IV discs into canal
Ligamentum flavum
between lamina of vertebrae
prevent excessive flexion of spine
spondylopathesis
spine slippage (anterior displacement of vertebra or vertebral column in relation to vertebrae below)
Causes: congenital, isthmus (fracture), degenerative changes, etc.
Sx: LBP, musc tightness, pain, stiffness of thighs/buttocks, tenderness
Spondolysis
fracture/malformation of pars interarticularis (between inferior and superior articular process)
poss via repetitive trauma to lumbar spine or strenuous sports
SCOTTY DOG SIGN
Ankylosing spondylitis
chronic inflammatory arthritis and AI disease
affects joints in spine and sacroiliac joint in pelvis –> eventual fusion of the spine –> stiff and inflexible
HLA-B27
BAMBOO SPINE
Pott’s disease
Spread of TB from other sites (pulm) to spine
May lead to psoas abscess –> under fascial sheath of posas major muscle
3 layers of meninges
dura mater (outer) arachnoid mater pia mater (on spinal cord itself)
major bloody supply to the lumbar and sacral region of spinal cord
Great vertebral radicular artery (artery of Adamkiewicz)
movements of lumbar vertebrae
flexion/extension only, NO rotation
movements of thoracic vertebrae
rotation only, NO flexion/extension
