trunk and spine Flashcards
Spine functions
- Weight bear in upright posture
- Act as shock absorber through the curves and intervertebral discs
- Produce, accumulate and transmit forces through the body
- Be an attachment point for muscles of shoulder and pelvic girdles
- Carry and support thoracic cage
- Protect the spinal cord
- Movements as a whole, mostly not at 1 place.
Spinal regions
33 vertebrae
- 7 cervical
- 12 thoracic
- 5 lumbar
- 5 sacral (fused)
- 4 coccygeal (fused) coccyx
Normal spinal curvatures (2) + what is purpose
Thoracic and pelvis curves are convex posteriorly
- This is called a kyphosis
Cervical and lumbar curves are convex anteriorly
- This is called a lordosis
Having curves allows us to stand with little muscular effort
Development of curves (3 stages0 + how they increase (3 types + why bad)
- Primary curve at birth (kyphosis)
- Development of secondary cervical curve as a baby learning to sit (lordosis)
- Development of secondary lumbar curve as a toddler learning to walk
Hyperkyphosis- hunch back
Hyperlordosis- extreme arch
Scoliosis- abnormal curve in frontal plane. Mostly idiopathic and identified in childhood. Can be secondary to another condition
These impact the centre of gravity and gravity can cause further damage.
cervical and thoracolumbar movements
TL=
90 deg flexion (touch toes), 30deg extension (bend back)
30 deg lateral flexion (bending either side)
30 deg rotation (twisting spine either side)
C=
Flexion and extension 45 deg
Lateral flexion either side 80 deg
Axial rotation either side 45 deg
all parts of spine do same movements, but which parts move more/less
Cervical= Rotation (47degrees rotation between 1st and 2nd vertebrae)
thoracic= more limited flexion-extension
lumbar= more limited rotation
vertebrae basics-
- what separates bodies
- purpose of transverse and spinous processes
- how to palpate spinous processes
- where are transverse processes
- where are articular processes, how many and what type of synovial joint they form
- where is the lamina
- what forms vertebral arch
- where is pedicle
- what and where is neural canal (+another name)
- where do spinal nerves leave
- structure link to function for vertebral body
separated by intervertebral discs
Articulations at two
processes provide attachments for muscles
Lumps on spine
on either side sticking out
2 superior and 2 inferior articular processes/facets in each vertebra form zygapophyseal (plane) joints with other vertebrae.
Lamina between trans processes and spinous processes.
The transverse process, lamina and spinous process form a vertebral arch- which attaches to the vertebral body by Pedicle (between trans pro and body)
The spinal cord travels through the neural canal in the middle (also called vertebral foramen).
pair of Nerve roots/spinal nerves leave at each spinal level via intervertebral foramen which is between the facet joint and body and the inferior and superior vertebral notches of each vertebra’s pedicles
a large round portion of bone that weight bears
Cervical vertebrae-
-C1 vertebrae- the atlas
(articulation with skull, movements, structural differences)
-C2- the axis
(joint formed and how, movements,
-C3-7-
(structure)
-C1 vertebrae- the atlas
Has 2 larger superior articular facets that Articulate with base of skull- occipital processes (forms atlantooccipital joint- YES joint)
Allows cervical flexion extension and lateral rotation, no rotation and holds skull
No spinous process or body
Large foramen in middle
-C2- the axis
Joint with C1 (forms atlantoaxial joint- NO joint)
allows large degree of cervical rotation (47 deg), no lateral flexion due to the structure and flexion extension
Odontoid process sticks up and fits in big hole in middle of C1, Held in place by transverse ligament
begin to look more normal
Body relatively small as less weight bear
Transverse processes have transverse foramen (protect blood supply to and from the brain)
Spinous processes have 2 heads called bifid (more horizontal angle)
Thoracic vertebrae-
(what attaches to them, structure)
Each vertebrae has pair of ribs attaching to sternum (12 ribs- 1-7 to sternum, 8-10 to costocartilage, 11-12 no attachment)
Neural canal smaller as upper limb nerves have left
Spinous process 1 end point (steeper than cervical angle- 45deg)
Large transverse processes with costal facet on ends + facets on side of each body where ribs articulate
Lumbar vertabrae-
(structure)
All typical shaped
Largest body bears more weight
Neural canal is triangular and smaller
Spinous processes broad and fat
key differences
(body, neural canal, spinous and transverse processes, facet joints)
on one note
Ligaments and intervertebral discs
- Posterior longitudinal ligament
- Anterior longitudinal ligament
- Ligamentum flava
- Intertransverse ligaments
- Interspinous ligaments
- Supraspinous ligament
- Intervertebral disc- (location, function, structure, what happens during movement, different positions affecting disc pressure, impact of disc degenerating and herniating)
-back of vertebral body, reinforce spine and vertebral discs in place.
-in front of vertebrae, prevents hyperextension and reinforces vertebral discs in place.
-keeps posture and prevents hyperextension.
-between transverse processes keeping vertebrae within certain ROM during lateral flexion.
-broad ligaments between spinous processes, limit flexion preventing spinous processes overly separating.
-Small ligaments supporting spine shape, maintaining upright position of head.
between 2 vertebrae supporting them, helping us bear weight.
Outer layer strong structure called annulus fibrosus which functions to keep the central part (nucleus pulposus- jelly-like) in place.
NP absorbs impacts and distributes weights evenly.
During movement, discs move slightly, stretch and compress. The ALL and PLL prevent discs from moving too far.
Disc pressure- sleeping lowest, then standing, sitting highest.
If disc degenerates, the annulus fibrosus cannot keep the nucleus pulposus, so disc becomes flat making the intervertebral foramen smaller. If it touches a spinal nerve can cause problems.
If disc herniates annulus fibrosus is weaker and the contents of nucleus pulposus bulge out causing irritation and pain if it touches a spinal nerve.
what makes up thoracic cage and where does each rib attach
Sternum, 12 pairs of ribs from 12 thoracic vertebrae.
1-7 direct to the sternum, 8-10 indirectly attach to the sternum via costocartilage.
11 and 12 do not attach and are floating.
muscles of thorax and their functions
diaphragm (insp + exp), internal intercostals (exp), external intercostals (insp + exp
categories of neck muscles
(functions, how they function, impact of dysfunction)
Global overs-
Larger muscles involved in generation of torque and ROM. Tend to move spine when contracting
Function in phasic manner.
Dysfunction leads to spasm, pain and restricted movement.
Local stabilisers-
Smaller, Deeper muscles (most connecting to spine) controlling segmental movements of the spine. Maintain curvature, stability and posture of spine.
Function is tonic and low for long periods of time.
Dysfunction leads to reduced stability, seggmental control and posture
