The Back: Bones, Joints, Ligaments & Muscles Flashcards by Anna Dunlop

What are the different vertebral regions of the spine, and how many vertebrae does each consist of?

(C) Cervical (7)
(T) Thoracic (12)
(L) Lumbar (5)
(S) Sacral (5 fused to 1)
(Co) Coccygeal ( variable 3/4 fused to 1/2

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the functions of the spinal cord?

+ Locomotion
+ Supports body weight
+ Protects and transmits spinal cord and nerves

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is primary curvature?

+ Kyphosis
+ Concave anteriorly
+ Bases on spinal curvature in utero
+ Remains in thoracic and sacral regions

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is secondary curvature?

+ Lordosis
+ Concave posteriorly
+ Cervical and lumbar regions

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the different movements allowed throughout the vertebral column, to varying degrees?

+ Extension
+ Flexion
+ Lateral flexion
+ Rotation

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the features of a typical vertebra?

\+ Body
\+ Vertebral foramen (canal)
\+ Pedicle
\+ Transverse process
\+ Superior articular facet
\+ Inferior articular facet
\+ Lamina
\+ Spinous process (spine)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are features of typical cervical vertebrae?

Body: smaller, short AP diameter, longer lateral diameter

Uncinate Processes at lateral edges, synovial articulation with vertebra above

Superior articular facets: flat, facing superiorly and posteriorly

Bifid spine (C7 is not bifid, but prominent)

Vertebral foramen: large, triangular

Foramen transversarium

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What movements are assocciated with the cervical region?

Flexion is greatest movement

2. Some lateral flexion

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are features of typical thoracic vertebrae?

Body: heart shapes, longer AP diameter, shorter later diameter

Costal demi-facts: upper (articulation with head of own rib) lower (articulation with head below)

Transverse process: long with a facet for articulation with the tubercel of its own rib

Superior articular facets: flat and facing postero-laterally, on the arc of a circle

Spinous process/spine: long and pointing inferiorly, overlapping 2 vertebrae

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What movements are associated with the thoracic region?

Rotation is the greatest movement

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are features of typical lumbar vertebrae

Body: large for weight bearing, short AP, diameter, longer lateral diameter

Vertebral foramen: small, triangular

Transverse process: length and size variable, 3rd is longest

Superior articular facets: concave, facing postero-medially (interlocking with inferior facets)

Spinous process/spine: sturdy, stumpy, quadrangular

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What movements are associated with the lumbar region?

Extension is greatest movement
Then flexion
Some lateral flextion
No rotation

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the faetures of the sacrum and coccyx from an anteroinferior view?

\+ Sacral promontory
\+ Ala
\+ S1
\+ Anterior foramen
\+ Coccyx

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the features of the sacrum and coccyx from a posterosuperior
view?

\+ Median crest
\+ Intermediate crest
\+ Lateral crest
\+ Posterior foramen
\+ Sacral hiatus

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the two atypical vertebrae?

Atlas and Axis

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the features of the atlas?

Anterior (short) and posterior (long) arches between two lateral masses but no body

Transverse process with foramen

Superior articular facets: concave oval to reciprocate with the occipital condyles

Inferior facets: flat, circular to articulate with the axis

Groove for vertebreal artery

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What movements are associated with the atlas?

Flexion and extension at the atlanto-occipital joint

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the features of the axis?

Body: with odontoid process or Dens for articulation with the anterior arch of the atlas

Transverse process with foramen

Vertebral foramen: large, triangular

Spinous process/spine is bifid

Superior articular facets: flat and circular to reciprocate with the inferior facets of the atlas

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What movements are associated with the axis?

Rotation of the head and neck at the atlanto-axial joint, around the odontoid process

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are features of the joints of the vertebral colum?

Zygopophyseal facet joints: synovial with fibrous capsule and supportive ligaments
Intervertebral (IV) discs of fibrocartilage (symphysis or 2y cartilaginous joint)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Where in the vertebral column doe the spinal nerves emerge?

The intervertebral foramen

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the boundaries of the intervertebral foramen?

Pedicle
Vertebral body
IV disc inferiorly

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are features of the IV discs?

+ They bind the ventral bodies together
+ Contribute to the shape of the spinal curvatures
+ Form 20-25% of the length of the column
+ Consist of the anulus fibrosus and the nucleus pulposus

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are features of the anulus fibrosus?

+ Very strong

+ Concentric lamellae of fibrocartilage

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are features of the nucleus pulposis?

+ Draws in water + Semi-fluid + Tense and resilient + Flexible

What are the functions of IV discs?

+ Strong, resilient shock-absorbers + Deform to allow movement between the vertebral bodies

IV discs have the ability to deform - what effect does this have on the discs?

+ Puts pressure on the nucleus pulposus + Anulus fibrosis may degenerate and weaken

What can happen to the nucleus pulposus when pressure is applied?

The nucleus may herniate or prolapse to compress: - spinal cord (which stops at L1/2) - cauda equina - emerging spinal nerve

Where are disc herniations most likely to occur?

+ Most disc herniations are postero-lateral, towards the intervertebral foramen + This is due to the central position of the posterior longitudinal ligament

How does a prolapsed L5 disc manage to escape injury?

The disc forms the anterior aspect of the foramen, but inferiorly, so the spinal nerve probably emerges above the prolapsing disc and escapes injury Consequently, a prolapsed L4 disc is likely to compress the L5 (and lower) nerves

Where are the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments in relation to the vertebral column?

+ Anterior and posterior longitudinal ligament are ant. and post. to vertebral bodies + Posterior ligament is anterior to spinal cord

What are features of the posterior longitudinal ligament?

+ Resists hyper-flexion + Narrow band + Attached mainly to discs + From C2 to sacrum

What are features of the anterior longitudinal ligament?

+ Limits extension + Thick, broad band + Attached to vertebral bodies and discs + Passes from occipital bone and atlas all the way to the sacrum

What are features of the ligamenta flava?

+ Limits sudden flexion + Supports the curvatures + Strong, elastic bands of varying thickness + Between the vertebral laminae + Left and right may meet and fuse in the midline

Where can the intertransverse ligaments be found?

Between all the transverse processes

What are features of the supraspinous ligaments?

+ Thick cords between tips of spines | + From sacrum to C7 where it continues with the Ligamentum Nuchae

What are features of the interspinous ligaments?

+ Thin membrane | + Found between all spines

What are features of the ligamentum nuchae (nuchal ligament)

``` + In cervical region + Limits flexion + Provides muscle attachment + Broad, fibro-elastic band + From external occipital protuberance and posterior edge of foramen magnum down to C7 ```

What structures does the ant. longitudinal ligament continue as?

+ Anterior atlanto-axial membrane + Atlanto-occipital membrane

What structure is the tectorial membrane a continuation of?

The posterior longitudinal ligament

What does the ligamentum flavum continue as?

+ Posterior atlanto-axial membrane + Atlanto-occipital membrane

Where do the alar ligaments attach?

From sides of dens to sides of foramen magnum

What is the function of the alar ligaments?

To stop excess rotation

What is the role of the inf. longitudinal bands of the cruciate ligament?

+ Bind together | + Prevent excess movement between the acis, atlas and occiput (back of head)

Where is the transverse part of the crucial ligament located?

+ Spans the lateral masses of the atlas + Holds its anterior arch close to the dens

The aorta branches off to form arteries - how does the blood supply come about and where?

Arteries form anastomotic rings that arise segmentally from: - vertebral arteries - posterior intercostal and lumbar branches of aorta

What is facilitated by the venous plexuses?

The spread of tumours

Where do the basivertebral veins emerge?

Between the vertebral body and posterior longitudinal ligament

What are the muscles that form the superficial layer?

+ Trapezius + Latissimus dorsi + Levator scapulae + Rhomboid minor and major

What is another term for the deeper layer muscles?

Intrinsic (proper) muscles

What is the role of the intrinsic muscles?

Keep the vertebral column upright and in extension against gravity

Where do the intrinsic muscles range from?

Skull, through C, T, L regions to pelvis

How are the intrinsic muscles supplied?

Supplied segmentally by the dorsal rami of spinal nerves (also passing to the overlying skin)

What are the 3 layers that form the intrinsic muscles?

+ Superficial + Intermediate + Deep

What are the superficial intrinsic muscles of the back?

+ Splenius capitus | + Splenius cervicis

Where do the superficial intrinsic muscles attach to?

+ Ligamentum nuchae + C & T spines + Trans processes and skull (laterally)

What is the intermediate intrinsic muscles of the back?

Erector spinae

What are features of the erector spinae?

+ Has 3 columns from lateral to medial, each subdivived 3 times depending on position

Where does the erector spinae cover?

From spines and supraspinous ligaments to ribs, trans processes and skull

What are the three colums of the erector spinae?

+ Iliocostalis + Longissimus + Spinalis

What is the deep intrinsic muscle of the back?

Transversospinalis

Where does the transversospinalis span from?

Trans processes upwards to spines

What are features of transversospinalis?

Consist of multiple small muscles: - in between the spines - in between the trans processes - from trans processes to ribs

What is the role of the venous plexuses?

Venous plexuses, internal and external, coalesce and drain to the veins equivalent to the above arteries