The Back

Question 1

What is primary curvature of the back?

Answer 1

It is present in-utero and concaves anteriorly, it is and present thoracic and sacral regions

Question 2

What is secondary curvature of the back?

Answer 2

This is not present in-utero and concaves posteriorly and are present in are cervical and lumbar regions.

Question 3

Describe the appearance of a typical vertebrate

Answer 3

It has a vertebral body which contains the intervertebral surface (endplate)

It has a vertebral arch which consists of the pedicle (connects lamina to the vertebral body) and the lamina (connects the spinous process to the transverse process)

Also has a vertebral foramen (canal). Superior and inferior processes (facets) and the inferior vertebral notch.

Question 4

Describe the fetures of a cervical vertebrate

Answer 4

It has a uncinate processes at lateral edges of the vertebral body and these articulate with vertebrate above.

Transverse foremen which is where blood vessels travel

Bifid spinous process (except for C7)

Superior articular facets, these are flat and face superiorly and posteriorly.

Cervical vertebrate allow for flexion and some lateral flexion

Question 5

Name some of the features of the Atlas vertebrate (atypical C1)

Answer 5

It has no vertebral body but two anterior and posterior arches connecting lateral masses.
Superior articular facet articulates with occipital condyles
Inferior articular facet articulates with axis
Also has a groove for vertebral artery.

Question 6

Describe some of the features of the axis vertebrate (C2)

Answer 6

It has a vertebral body with odontoid process/dens for articulation with anterior arch of atlas.
It also has superior articular facets to articulate with inferior facets of atlas.
Rotation of the head occurs at the atlanto-axial joint

Question 7

Describe some of the features of thoracic vertebrate

Answer 7

Has superior articular facets that face postero-laterally and allow for rotation
Transverse process are long and have a facet for articulation with tubercle of rib
Costal demi-facets; upper for facet with articulation of own rib and lower for articulation with rib below.
Spinous process is long and pointing inferiorly.

Question 8

What are the atypical thoracic vertebrate?

Answer 8

T1/10/12

Question 9

Describe some of the features of the lumbar vertebrate

Answer 9

Superior articular facets are concave and face posteriorly, they interlock with inferior facets.
Spinous process is sturdy, stumpy and quadrangular.
Doesn’t allow for lateral rotation but allows for lots of extension and flexion

Question 10

Describe some of the features of sacral vertebrate

Answer 10

It is formed by the fusion of 5 vertebrate.
The sacral promontory is the anterior projection of S1.
Medial, intermediate and lateral crests form from spinous, articular and transverse processes.
Anterior and posterior foramen allows for passage of nerves and blood vessels.
Sacral hiatus is the opening to the spinal chord at the bottom of the sacrum.

Question 11

Name and describe the joints of the vertebral column

Answer 11

Zygapophyseal - synovial joint between articular processes.
Symphysis/secondary cartilaginous joint - between intervertebral surfaces.
Intervertebral foramen - formed by the superior and inferior vertebral notches and intervertabral discs.

Question 12

Describe some of the features of the intervertebral discs

Answer 12

Consists of an outer anulus fibrosus which surrounds a central nucleus pulposus.
The intervertebral disks contribut 20/25% of the length of the column.
Periphery of the disk is supplied by neighbouring capillaries.
The centre of the disk is nourished by diffusion from body of vertebrate.

Question 13

Describe some of the features of the nucleus pulposus

Answer 13

It absorbs compressive forces between vertebrate. The relative collagen content increases with age and it made of mostly water (70-90%)

Question 14

Describe some of the features of the anulus fibrosus

Answer 14

It is made of concentric lamella fibrocartilage making it very strong.
It is kept in place by anterior and posterior ligaments.

Question 15

Describe what a herniated disc is?

Answer 15

when the nuclus pulposus can herniate/prolapse which can compress the spinal cord (stops at L1/2), the cauda equina (bundle of spinal nerves and spinal nerve rootlets) or an emerging spinal nerve.

Question 16

What is the most common position of a herniated disc? and why is this the most common?

Answer 16

Prolapse of discs poterolateral, towards the intervertabrate foramen is the most common position. This is because of the central position of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Spinal nerve above prolapsed disc is more likely to escape injury.

Question 17

Name the anterior ligaments of the vertebral column?

Answer 17

The atlanto-occipital ligament and the anterior atlanto-axial ligaments. These continue downwards as the anterior longitudinal ligament.
The anterior longitudinal ligament is a broad band on the anterior surfaces of the vertebrate discs. It is found between the atlas to sacrum and limits hyperextension

Question 18

Name the posterior ligaments of the vertebral column

Answer 18

Tectorial Membrane -extends between the foramen magnum and C2 and continues as the
Posterior longitudinal ligament - narrow band on posterior surfaces between vertebrate, between C2 and sacrum, prevents hyper-flexion.

Question 19

Name some of the ligaments found between the vertebrate in the vertebral column

Answer 19

The ligamenta flava - between vertebral laminae. Limits sudden flexion and continues as the posterior atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial ligaments.
Intertransverse ligaments - found between all transverse processes
Supraspinous ligaments - between the tips of spines between C7 and sacrum
Ligamentum Nuchae - Between external occipital protuberance and posterior edge of foramen magnum to C7 (allows muscle attachment and limits flexion.
Interspinous ligaments - Between all spinous processes

Question 20

Name the ligaments that hold the together the atlas and axis together.

Answer 20

Alar ligament - sides of the dens/odentoid process to the sides of the foramen magnum (prevent excess rotation)
Transverse ligament - keeps dens to anterior arch of atlas
Longitudinal fascicles
Cruciate ligament - formed from the transverse ligament and superior and inferior longitudinal ligaments (prevents excess movement between axis, atlas and occiput)

Question 21

Describe the vascular supply to the vertebrate

Answer 21

Has arteries from anastomotic rings that arise from vertebral arteries and the posterior intercostal and lumbar branches of the aorta.
The internal and external venous plexuses come together and drain to the the veins to the equivalent arteries above.

Question 22

What are the two types of muscles in the back and describe a bit about them

Answer 22

Extrinsic - Involved in movement of the upper limbs and innervated by the anterior rami of spinal nerves.
Intrinsic - Adapted to provide support and movement in resistance to effects of gravity and are innervated by the posterior rami of spinal nerves.

Question 23

Describe some features of the trapezius muscle

Answer 23

• Superficial/extrinsic muscle
• Attaches to skull, ligament nuchae, spines C7-T12 to the scapula and clavicle
• It extends the neck, retracts scapular, the upper fibres elevate and lower fibres depress the scapula
• Innervated by the accessory nerve (cranial nerve)

Question 24

Describe some of the features of the latissimus dorsi

Answer 24

• It is extrinsic
• Found from the iliac crest, spines of T6-T12, the lower ribs to the humerus.
• Involved extension, adduction and medial rotation of upper limb
• Innervated by thoracodorsal nerve

Question 25

What muscle is used in scapular elevation? and what type is it?

Answer 25

Levator Scapulae. It is extrinsic

Question 26

What muscles are used in scapular retraction and elevation? and what type is it?

Answer 26

Rhomboid major and minor. It is extrinsic

Question 27

What muscle is used in inspiration? and what type is it?

Answer 27

Serratus posterior superior. It is extrinsic

Question 28

What muscle is used in expiration? and what type is it?

Answer 28

Serratus posterior inferior. It is extrinsic

Question 29

Describe some of the features of the splenius capitis and cervicis

Answer 29

• Superficial muscle
• They act together to extend the neck
• They act alone to rotate and flex laterally

Question 30

Describe the erector spinae muscles

Answer 30

-consists of 3 columns;
Illiocostalis
Longissimus
Spinalis
-They lie very close to the spinal column and are ans intermediate layer of muscle

Question 31

Describe some of the features of the transversospinalis muscles

Answer 31

• They are located between the spinal process and transverse process.
  Made of 3 different muscles;
  Deepest - Rotatores
  Middle - Multifidus
  Superficial - Semispinalis (capitis, cervicis, thoracis)

Question 32

What are the deep muscles found in the neck?

Answer 32

-They are deep to semispinalis capitis
-Sub-occipital triange which consists of;
Obliquus capitis superior
Obliquus capitis inferior
Rectus capitis posterior major
-Another muscle found deep in the neck is the rectus capitis posterior minor.