The Spine Flashcards
What are the three functions of the spine?
Protection, stability, mobility
What does the spine protect?
- Elements of the CNS and PNS
- Brain stem, spinal chord, spinal plexus, cauda equina, and nerve roots
How does the spine provide stability?
Provides a rigid column for stability for head and extremity movement against multi-directional forces
What multi-directional forces does the spine provide stability against?
Tension, compression, bending, twisting
How does the spine provide mobility?
Allows segmental, 3D motion directly within the rigid column when needed
What are the spinal regions? How many vertebrae are in each region?
-Sub-cranial
-Cervical (7 vertebrae)
-Thoracic (12 vertebrae)
-Lumbar (5 vertebrae)
-Sacral (5 fused)
-Coccyx
What does a spinal segment consist of?
-Adjacent halves of two vertebrae
-The disc
-Contents of vertebral and intervertebral foramen
-Facets
-Associated ligaments
-Associated muscle, fascia, and integumentary innervates by spinal nerve
What are the joints in a spinal segment?
-Disc (anteriorly)
-Two synovial facet joints (posteriorly)
What is annulus fibrosis?
Fibro collagenous circular layers laid down perpendicular to one another; resists tensile forces
What does the disc consist of?
Annular fibrosis, nucleus pulposis, vertebral end plates
What is the nucleus pulposis? What force does it resist?
-Centrally located proteoglycan rich gellatenous material
-Resists compression
What are the facets created by?
-Inferior articular process of superior vertebra
-Superior articular process of inferior vertebra
What does a spinal curve help with?
Load distribution
What type of curves are developed at a young age?
- Born w/ C curve
- C spine lordosis develops w/ onset of head lift
- L spine lordosis develops with onset of sitting
What are the concepts of spinal motion? For physiologic? For joint play?
- Regional; segmental
- Distraction; Translation
How to assess physiologic joint motion?
Through end range and end feel
How to assess non physiologic joint motion?
Component motions and joint play
What are 3 things that you should keep in mind when assessing motion?
Quality, quantity, subjective response
4 tools to measure spine ROM
-Tape measure
-Goniometer
-Inclinometer
-C-ROM device
What are the dynamic motions that are used to assess strength?
Eccentric and concentric
Ways to assess static strength?
Postural strength and endurance
How do you quantify strength?
MMT or functional tests
How do you qualify strength?
Coordination, motor control, functional movement patterns
How do you assess neural elements?
-Subjective, medical history, risk factors, and flags (cancer, instability, fracture)
-Dermatomes, myotomes, DTRs, neurotension tests
