Vertebral Column Flashcards
What are the functions of the vertebral column?
- Muscle attachment
- Mobility
- Protection of spinal cord
- Weight transfer
- Haematopoiesis
What are the regions of the vertebral column and how many vertebrae are found in each?
- 7 Cervical
- 12 Thoracic
- 5 Lumbar
- 5 Sacrum (fused)
- 4 Coccyx (fused)
What are primary and secondary curvatures?
- Primary curvatures are similar to what is seen in the foetal position when the embryo has one kyphotic curvature
- Secondary curvatures occur as the back extends out from the foetal position
- Primary curvatures are retained in the thoracic and sacral region and secondary curves form in the cervical and lumbar
What are the curvatures of the vertebral column?
- Cervical - Lordosis
- Thoracic - Kyphosis
- Lumbar - Lordosis
- Sacral - Kyphosis
What is highlighted?
Spinous process
What is highlighted?
Transverse processes
What is highlighted?
Superior articular process
What is highlighted?
Inferior articular process
What is highlighted?
The lamina
What is highlighted?
Pedicles
What vertebrae is shown?
C1 - Atlas
What makes the shape of C1 unique?
It has no body or spinous process
Made up of anterior and posterior arches, each with a tubercle
What do the superior articular surfaces of C1 articulate with?
The occipital condyles
What vertebrae is shown?
C2 - Axis
What is highlighted?
The dens/odontoid process of C2
Describe the cervical vertebrae C3-C7
Body - Uncinate process
Transverse Process - Has transverse foramen and also anterior and posterior tubercles for the spinal nerve to pass in between
Spinous process - Bifid
What vertebral level is the shown vertebrae from and what passes through the highlighted structure?
Cervical vertebrae from C3-C7
Vertebral artery passes through the transverse foramen to the skull
From which vertebral region is this vertebrae?
Thoracic
Describe the features of the thoracic vertebrae?
- Costal facets for articulation of ribs
- Nearly vertical articular facets which are directed posteriorly and anteriorly
- Long, sloping spinous process
From what vertebral region is this vertebrae from?
Lumbar
Describe the features of the lumbar vertebrae?
- Large kidney bean shaped body
- Accessory process on each transverse process
- Mamillary process on each superior articular process
- Articular facets are directed posteromedially and anterolaterally
What is shown and from what view?
Sacrum from posterior aspect
What is highlighted and what forms this structure?
The median crest of the sacrum
Formed by spinous processes
What is highlighted and what forms it?
Lateral sacral crest
Transverse processes
What is highlighted and what forms it?
Intermediate sacral crest
Articular processes
What is highlighted?
Coccygeal cornu
rudimentary articular processes
What are the joints of the vertebral column?
Between vertebral bodies- Intervertebral discs (secondary cartilaginous)
Between articular processes - Facet/Zygopophysial joint (plane)
What structure of the intervertebral disc is highlighted?
Nucleus Pulposus
What structure of the intervertebral disc is highlighted?
Annulus Fibrosis
What are the 2 broad categories of extrinsic muscles of the back?
Superficial extrinsic muscles - connect to appendicular skeleton
Intermediate extrinsic muscles - superficial respiratory muscles
What muscle is shown and what is its innervation?
Trapezius Spinal Accessory (CN XI)
What are the attachments of the trapezious?
Medial 1/3 of superior nuchal line, nuchal ligament, spinous process of C7-T12
To the Lateral clavicle, acromion and spine of scapula
What is this muscle and its innervation?
Latissimus Dorsi Thoracodorsal nerve (C6-8)
What are the attachments of the Latissimus Dorsi?
Spinous processes T7-12, Thoracolumbar fascia, Iliac crest and lower 3/4 ribs
To edge of the bicepital groove of humerus
What are the attachments of Rhomboid major?
Spinous processes T2-5
To medial border of scapula (spine - inferior angle)
What are the attachments of Rhomboid major?
Spinous processes T2-5
To medial border of scapula (spine - inferior angle)
What are the attachments of Rhomboid minor?
Nuchal ligament, Spinous processes C7, T1
To medial end of the spine of scapula
What muscles are shown and what is their innervation?
Rhomboids major and minor
Dorsal scapular nerve (C4,5)
What muscle is highlighted and what is its innervation?
Levator scapulae
Cervical nerves C3,4 and dorsal scapular nerve (C4,5)
What is the attachments of the levator scapulae?
Posterior tubercles of transverse processes C1-4
To medial border of scapula above the spine
What is highlighted and what is its innervation?
Serratus Posterior Superior
Intercostal nerves 2-5
What muscle is highlighted and what is its innervation?
Serratus posterior inferior
Anterior Rami T9-12
What are the attachments of serratus posterior superior?
Nuchal ligament, spinous processes C7-T3
To superior borders of ribs 2-4
What are the attachments of serratus posterior inferior?
Spinous processes T11-L2
To inferior borders of ribs 8-12 near angle
What are the roles of the intrinsic muscles of the back and their innervation?
The deep muscles
- Maintain posture and control movements of the vertebral column
- Posterior rami of spinal nerves
What are the layers of the intrinsic muscles of the back?
Superficial - Splenius muscles
Intermediate - Erector Spinae group
Deep - many small muscles
What muscle is shown?
Splenius capitis
What muscle is shown?
Splenius Cervicis
What are the attachments of splenius cervicis and capitis
Nuchal ligament and spinous processes of C7-T3/4
- Capitus fibres to mastoid process and lateral 1/3 superior to nuchal line
- Cervicis fibres to tubercles of transverse processes C1 - C3/4
Name the erector spinae muscles from lateral to medial
Iliocostalis
Longismus
Spinalis
What is the common proximal attachment of the erector spinae muscles?
Posterior iliac crest
Posterior sacrum and sacroiliac joints
Spinous process of sacral and lower lumbar vertebrae
Supraspinous ligament
What muscle is highlighted?
Iliocostalis
What are the 3 parts of the iliocostalis?
Lumborum
Thoracic
Cervicis
Where does the iliocostalis attach?
Angles of the lower ribs
Cervical transverse processes
What muscle is shown?
Longismis
What are the parts of the longismis muscle?
Thoracic, cervicis and capitis
What are the attachments of the longismis?
Ribs between the tubercles and angles
Thoracic and cervical transverse processes
Mastoid process
What muscle is shown?
Spinalis
What are the parts of the spinalis muscle?
Thoracic, cervicis and capitis parts
What are the attachments of the spinalis?
Upper thoracic spinous processes
Cranium
What are some of the deep intrinisc muscles of the back?
- Semispinalis
- Multifidus
- Rotatores
- Levator Costarum
- Interspinale
- Intertransversari
What muscle is highlighted?
Semispinalis
What are the parts of the semispinalis muscle?
Thoracic, cervicis and capitis parts
What are the attachments of the semispinalis muscle?
Transverse processes of C4-T12
- Occipital bone
- Thoracic and cervical spinous processes
What muscle is shown?
Multifundus
In what region is the multifundus at its thickest?
Lumbar
Describe the fibres of the multifundus?
Pass superomedially to the spinous processes 2-4 vertebrae above
What muscles are highlighted?
Rotatores
In what region are the rotatores best developed?
Thoracic region
Describe the fibres of the rotatores
Pass superomedially to junction of the lamina and transverse process 1 or 2 vertebrae above
What muscle is seen and in what region is it found?
Levator Costarum
Found in the thoracic region
What muscles are highlighted and in what regions are they the best developed?
Interspinale
Better developed in the cervical and lumbar regions
What muscle is highlighted and in what regions are they better developed?
Cervical intertransversarii
Well developed in cervical and lumbar regions
