The Back Flashcards by Rachel Haines

What does the vertebral column consist of?

Series of irregular bones, vertebrae

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What are vertebrae separated from each other by?

Fibrocartilaginous intervertebral discs

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Cervical vertebrae:

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Thoracic vertebrae:

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Lumbar vertebrae:

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Sacral vertebrae:

5 (1 fused to sacrum)

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Cocygeal vertebrae:

1-4 (fused)

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Functions of vertebral column:

Upright posture

Supports body weight

Protects spinal cord + nerves

Supports skull

Locomotion

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How does vertebral column allow locomotion?

Provides attachment for trunk muscles

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Where are primary curvatures present?

In-utero

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Bending of primary curvatures:

Concave anteriorly (kyphosis)

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Position of primary curvatures:

Thoracic and sacral regions

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Where are secondary curvatures present?

Not in-utero

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Bending of secondary curvatures:

Concave posteriorly (lordosis)

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Position of secondary curvatures:

Cervical and lumbar regions

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When do secondary curvatures develop?

Until infant lifts their head and stands to walk

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Elements of a typical vertebra:

Vertebral body

Intervertebral surface (endplate)

Vertebral arch - with pedicle and lamina

Vertebral foramen

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What processes are in typical vertebra?

Transverse process

Spinous process (spine)

Inferior articular process (facet)

Superior articular process (facet)

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What notch is in typical vertebra?

Inferior vertebral notch

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What processes are in cervical regional vertebra?

Uncinate processes

Bifid spinous process (except C7)

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Position of Uncinate processes in cervical regional vertebra:

At lateral edges

Synovial articulation with vertebra above

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What facets are in cervical regional vertebra?

Superior articular facets

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Position of superior articular facets in cervical regional vertebra:

Flat + facing superiorly and posteriorly

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Movement in cervical regional vertebra:

Flexion + some lateral flexion

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Body in cervical regional vertebra:

Small body

Body in Atlas C1 regional vertebra:

No body: anterior and posterior arches connecting lateral masses

Facets in Atlas (C) vertebra:

Superior Articular and Inferior articular facets

What do superior articular facets in atlas (C1) articulate with?

Occipital condylar

What do inferior articular facets in atlas (C1) articulate with?

Axis

What’s the groove for in Atlas (C1) vertebra?

Vertebral artery

What’s the body like in axis (C2) vertebra?

Has Odontoceti Process (dens) for articulation with anterior arch of atlas

What are the superior articular facets like in axis (C2) vertebra?

Flat + articulate with inferior facts of atlas

What joint allows rotation of head and neck?

Atlanta-axial joint

Facets in thoracic vertebra:

Superior articular facets Costal Demi-facets

Position of superior articular facets in thoracic vertebra:

Flat + face posterio-laterally Allow rotation

What do costal Demi-facets articulate with in thoracic vertebra?

Upper with head of own rib Lower with rib below

What process is in thoracic vertebra?

Transverse Process

Structure of transverse process in thoracic vertebra:

Long Transverse costal facet for articulation with tubercle of own rib

WHat’s the body like in thoracic vertebrae?

Heart shaped Has circular vertebral canal

What is the body like in lumbar vertebrae?

Largest body

What facets are in lumbar vertebrae?

Superior and inferior articular facets

Position of superior articular facets in lumbar vertebrae:

Concave Face postero-medially Interact with inferior facets

Movement by lumbar vertebrae:

Extension is greatest Flexion + some lateral flexion No rotation

What are sacrum vertebrae formed by?

Fusion of 5 vertebrae

What is the sacral promontory?

The anterior projection of S1

What are the union of spinous, articular and transverse processes?

Median, intermediate, lateral crests

What foramen are present in sacrum vertebrae?

Anterior and posterior

What else is found in sacral vertebrae?

Sacral hiatus

What joints are in vertebral column?

Zygapophyseal (facet) joints Symphysis or secondary cartilaginous joint

What are zygapophyseal joints between?

Articular processes

What type of joints are zygapophyseal joints?

Synovial

What is the symphysis joint between?

Endplates and intervertebral discs

What does the spinal nerve emerge from?

Intervertebral foramen

What’s the intervertebral foramen formed by?

Superior and inferior vertebral notches

What does intervertebral disc consist of?

Outer anulus fibrosus Central nucleus pulposus

What does the nucleus pulposus do in intervertebral disc?

Absorbs compressive forces between vertebrae

Properties of anulus fibrosus in intervertebral disc:

Very strong

Importance of intervertebral disc:

Contributes to shape of spinal curvatures

Nourishment of intervertebral disc:

Periphery of disc = neighbouring capillaries Center = diffusion from body of vertebra

Why may intervertebral discs deform?

To allow movement between vertebral bodies

What’s a herniated disc?

Nucleus may herniate or prolapse to compress

Position of most herniations:

Posterolateral - towards intervertebral foramen

What ligament is found between atlas to sacrum?

Anterior longitudinal ligament Limits extension

What membranes continue downwards as anterior longitudinal ligament?

Anterior Atlanta-axial and Atlanta-occipital membranes

What membrane continues downwards as posterior longitudinal ligament?

Tectorial membrane

What does tectorial membrane extend between?

Foramen magnum and C2

What ligament is between C2 to sacrum?

Posterior longitudinal ligament

What ligament is between vertebral laminate?

Ligaments flava

What does ligaments flava do?

Limit sudden flexion and supports survatures

What ligaments are between all transverse processes?

Intertransverse ligaments

What ligaments are between tips of spines and between sacrum to C7?

Supraspinous ligaments

What ligaments are between external occipital protuberance and posterior edge of foramen magnum, down to C7?

Ligamentum Nuchae

What liWhat does ligamentum nuchae do?

Limits flexion Provides muscle attachment

What ligaments are between all spinous processes?

Interspinous ligaments

What ligaments are between sides of dens to sides of foramen magnum?

Alar ligaments

What do alar ligaments do?

Prevent excessive rotation

What do transverse ligaments do?

Keep dens close to anterior arch

What makes up cruciate ligament?

Transverse ligament + superior and inferior longitudinal fascicles

What does cruciate ligament do?

Prevent excessive movement between axis, atlas and occiput