Vertebral Column 1 Flashcards
What is cervical lordosis?
Carrying the head upright
What is thoracic kyphosis?
Curavature of the thoracic spine outwards
Lumbar lordosis
Upright walking, curves inwards
Sacrum and coccyx kyphosis
Upright walking, curves outwards
How does the curvature of the spine develop from post natal to adulthood?
The vertebral bodies reorganise into wedge shapes
Length increases due to intervertebral disc height increasing
What occurs in hyperkyphosis?
Collapse of the thoracic vertebrae
What is the cause of hyperlordosis?
Weak back muscles
What is scoliosis?
Excessive lateral deviation and rotation of the spine
Name 3 main causes of scoliosis
Congenital
Neuromuscular
Idiopathic
What 2 structures could the cervical rib compress?
Brachial plexus
Subclavian artery
What can occur if the brachial plexus is compressed by the cervical rib?
Paraesthesia along ulnar border of forearm
Wasting of hypothenar and interossei muscles, ulnar lumbricals, adductors of the thumb
What can occur is the subclavian artery is compressed?
Can cause an aneurysmal dilation of the subclavian artery
In which plane are the joint facets of cervical vertebra able to be seen?
Transverse plane
What type of synovial joint is the Atlanta-occipital joint?
2 condyloid joints (ellipsoid)
What is the centre of the intervertebral disc called?
Nucleus pulposus
What is the periphery of the intervertebral discs called?
Anulus fibrosus
What is the periphery of the intervertebral discs called?
Anulus fibrosus
Do thoracic vertebrae have transverse foramen?
No!
In which plane can you see the joint facets of the thoracic vertebrae?
Coronal plane
In which plane can you see the joint facets of the lumbar vertebrae?
Sagittal plane
Name the gene that coordinates the development of the vertebral column
HOX genes
What is spondylolysis?
Defect/stress fracture on the vertebral arch and articular processes
What causes spondylolysis?
Overload of the lumbar spine
What causes spondylolysis?
Overload of the lumbar spine
What is spondylolisthesis?
When one or more of the lumbar vertebrae are unstable and slip out of place
The sacral vertebrae are _____ together
Fused
Name the joints that connect the spine to the pelvis
Sacroiliac joints
Which region of the spine is most mobile?
Cervical region
Which region of the spine is least mobile?
Thoracic region
What is the annulus fibrosus made up of?
Fibrocartilage and collagen fibres in alternating directions/layers
What is the nucleus pulposus made up of?
Gel like fluid
What is the nucleus pulposus made up of?
Gel like fluid
Where is the nucleus pulposus NOT found in the spine?
Between C1 and C2
In the sacrum and coccyx
What structure attaches the intervertebral disc to the vertebral bodies?
Endplates made from hyaline cartilage
List 2 reasons why disc degeneration occurs
1- nucleus pulposus dehydrates so disc cannot shock absorb as well
2- annulus fibrosus becomes weaker and endplates become more brittle
List 3 things that could occur in disc degeneration
1- tears in annulus fibrosus and endplates
2- temporary/permanent protrusions of annulus fibrosus into the vertebral canal/intervertebral foramina
3- herniation of the nucleus pulposus into the outer layers of the annulus fibrosus or the endplate
How many ligaments surround the vertebral column?
8
Which 2 ligaments extend from the skull to the sacrum?
Anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments
Which ligament, anterior or posterior longitudinal, is adjacent to the vertebral canal?
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Name the ligament on the opposite side of the vertebral canal to the posterior longitudinal ligament
Ligament flavum
What does the ligament flavum connect?
Vertebral arches
What do the supra spinal ligaments connect?
Tips of the spinous processes
What do the interspinal ligaments connect?
Between the bodies of the spinous processes
What do the inter transverse ligaments connect?
Transverse processes
What do the capsular ligaments connect?
Elongated bands of the fibrous capsule connecting the sides of the vertebral arch
What do the capsular ligaments connect?
Elongated bands of the fibrous capsule connecting the sides of the vertebral arch
What is the nuchal ligament?
The merging of the supra spinal and interspinal ligaments only in the cervical region
What is the function of the nuchal ligament?
Stops excessive rocking of the head
Name the 3 main ligaments of the Atlanta-occipital joint
Alar ligaments
Transverse Atlantic ligaments
Longitudinal fascicles
What main ligaments do all the ligaments of the Atlanta-occipital joint form when they join together?
Cruciform ligament
What is the longitudinal intrinsic muscle of the back?
Erector spinae
What 3 muscles make up erector spinae?
Iliocostalis
Longissimus
Spinalis
What 3 muscles make up erector spinae?
Iliocostalis
Longissimus
Spinalis
What is the function of the longitudinal muscles of the back?
Connects the skull, vertebral column and sacrum
Where are transverse intrinsic muscles of the back located?
Deep to erector spinae
What is the function of the transverse intrinsic back muscles?
Rotation and bending of the spine and vertebrae
Name the most prominent transverse intrinsic back muscle
Multifidus
What is the function of the thoracolumbar fascia?
Encloses the erector spinae and quadratus lumborum is separate compartments
What are the 3 layers of the thoracolumbar fascia?
Posterior (superficial)
Middle
Anterior (deep)
In evolution, mammals developed a ________ locomotion compared to a lateral locomotion
Sagittal
