Vertebral Column Flashcards
Forms from trying to stand/walk as a baby and counterbalancing the weight of the head/body.
-Curvatures are offset by switching directions and stacking on top of each other.
-Helps us balance weight loads placed upon it as we stand upright
-top: convexity faces forward
-Middle: convexity faces backward
-Lower Middle: convexity faces forward
-Bottom: convexity faces backward
S-Shape Curvature of Spine
-Shifts forward with aging or disease, abnormally shaped vertebrae, etc.
-When out of sync = inc risk of falls
-Passes through upper vertebra, behind middle vertebra, and through lower vertebra, and comes to a point at the Sacral Promontory.
Line of Gravity
The Center of Gravity is just 2-3 inches in front of this.
-Landmark on Sacrum
Sacral Promontory
The balance point of the body. The point where all the forces acting on the body = 0.
-In a normal person, should be 2-3 inches in front of Sacral Promontory
-With aging, muscles/ligaments get weak and they lean forward, and can shift this forward and make them prone to falling.
Center of Gravity
Spinal Column is in a C Shape
-Convexity is posterior and Concavity is anterior
Newborn
As they start to hold their head up, the spine starts to develop secondary curvatures
-First secondary curvature formed is in the neck. In the neck, convexity is front so baby can balance head on the neck
-Without reverse curvature, then the baby couldn’t hold its head up. Helps baby balance head on its spine
3-5 months Old
As baby starts to move, standing up forces the body to bear weight on the lumbar region of the spinal column. Start to see a reverse curvature forming there.
-Sacrum is fused and convexity is posterior
-Similar to adult spine
10-12 months old
How long is a normal adult vertebral column?
72-75 cm (28-30 in)
Curvatures that you are born with.
-Thoracic
-Sacral
Primary Curvatures
Curvatures that form as a result of gravity and balance.
-Cervical
-Lumbar
Secondary Curvatures
What is the normal number of vertebrae?
33
How many cervical vertebra?
7
How many thoracic vertebra?
12
How many lumbar vertebra?
5
How many sacral (fused) vertebra?
5
How many coccygeal (fused) vertebra?
4
Flexible Vertebra that give mobility to the spine
Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar