Vertebral Column Flashcards
Number of vertebrae
– 33 total
– 7 cervical
– 12 thoracic
– 5 lumbar
– 5 sacral
-4 coccygeal
Primary curves
Thoracic and sacral
: Kyphotic
Secondary curves
Cervical and lumbar; lordotic
Lamina
-transfer forces to pedicles
Articular Processes
-resist forces and transmit to laminae
SP and TP
-sites for muscle attachment
-resist compression
-transmit forces to laminae
Structures resisting Spinal Extension
-Anterior longitudinal ligament
-Anterior AA membranes: continuation of ALL
Anterior Longitudinal Ligament
-covers anterior surface of vertebral bodies
-C2-sacrum
-thicker in lumbar
Structures resisting Spinal Flexion
-PLL: same as ALL
-Ligamentum flava: post surface of spinal column
-Posterior OA and lig: continuation ligamentum flavum
-interspinous ligament: connect SP to vertebrae
-supraspinous lig: connects SP
-Facet joints
Structures resisting Spinal Lateral flexion
intertransverse ligament: btwn TP; provide stretch or compression
Structures resisting Spinal Rotation
Alar ligaments: C0-C2, limit ipsilateral lat flexion and contralateral rot
-Lat flexion will cause contra fibers to become tight
Facet joints: strongest @ transition zones
Lumbar Spine Primary movement
Flexion/Extension
Thoracic spine primary movement
Lateral flexion
Movement of Vertebral Bodies with Flexion
-Ant tilt (compression)
-Inferior facets slide up (tension)
Movement of Vertebral Bodies with Extension
-post tilt (tension)
-inferior discs slide down (compression)
Movement of Vertebral Bodies with Lateral Flexion
-interventricular foramen tension on contralateral size and compresses on ipsi
-rotation coupled
Upper Cervical Spine
C0-C2
-Lateral flexion: with contralateral rotation (mostly at (CO-C1); C1 moves ipsi
Flexion/Extension:
OA joint: convex (C0) on concave (C1)
-15-25 degrees
-Flexion: rolls ant, slides pos
-Extension: rolls pos, slides ant
Rotation:
AA Joint: Convex on concave
-Coupled with contralateral lat flexion
-contralateral move of C2 SP
-50% of rotation
Lower Cervical Spine
(C2-C7)
-saddle joints limit lat flexion
Flexion: ant tilt and slide coupled with upward shift of facets
-C5/C6 greatest range
Extension: pos tilt and slide coupled with downward shift of facets
-C5/C6 greatest range
Lateral Flexion: coupled with ipsilateral rotation
-ipsilateral tilt and slide at interbody joints
-downward slide of ipsilateral facet joints
-upward slide of contralateral facet joints
Rotation: coupled with ipsilateral lateral rotation
Thoracic spine
-Smallest intervertebral disc ratio
-Flexion limited by ribs and facet orientation
-Extension limited by abdominals and facet joints
-lateral flexion, coupled with ipsilateral rotation (upper thoracic more than lower)
- rotation causes ribs to shift: posterior ipsilateral rib concaves; anterior contralateral rib is less concave
Lumbar spine
-large vertebral bodies to support compressive loads 80% (2x more walking)
-Super spinous ligament terminates an L5 in blends with thoracic lumbar fascia
-Lumbo pelvic rhythm: bending requires lumbar flexion for first 20° followed by interior public tilt for last 25
Flexion/extension: tilt and slide occur ipsilaterally
Rotation: tilt and slide occur ipsilaterally
– Ipsilateral facet joint distracts, while contralateral compresses
Lateral flexion: body tilts, and slides ipsilaterally
– Downward slide of ipsilateral facet
-upward slide of contralateral facet
Sacrum
Nutation: sacral base rotates anteriorly on fixed pelvis
Anterior pelvic tilt: pelvis, and sacrum move anterior together
Counternutation: sacral base rotates posteriorly on fixed pelvis
Posterior pelvic tilt: pelvis and sacrum move posteriorly together
Squat lift
– Neutral, lumbar spine
– Erector spinae, offset large interior, shear force
-Lower disc pressure, with higher compressive forces
Stoop lift
– Elongated, spinal extension, muscles with decreased moment arm
– Erector spinae less able to counteract anterior sheer forces
Schmorl’s Node
Disc prolapse or protrusion as result of disc, laminate or annulus separating
