Vertebral column Flashcards
Primary Spinal Curvature
Present at birth
- Thoracic kyphosis
- Sacral kyphosis
Secondary Spinal Curvature
After birth
- Cervical lordosis - when holding head up
- Lumbar lordosis - when first walking
Intervertebral disc function
- link adjacent vertebral bodies
- limit rotation
- inc. strength
- transmit loads
- absorb shock
Annulus fibrosis
- alternating fibers
- Limits rotation
- inc. strength
- around edges of IVD
- thinner posteriorly
Nucleus pulposus
- core of IVD
- inc. flexibility
- inc. resilience
- avascular
- remnant of notochord
Atlanto-occipital joint
sup. articular facets of C1 and occipital condyles
1. No IVD
2. primary fxn: flexion
3. some extension, lateral flexion, and rotation
Atlanto-axial joint
C1 and C2 (dens process)
1. primary fxn: rotation
Uncovertebral joints
- uncinate processes of C3-C7 and superior adjacent body
- common sire of bone spurs (osteophytes)
- saddle-like structures
- may compress nerves/arteries
zygapophyseal joints
- articular facets determine ROM
- Cervical: sloped/horizontal
A. promotes flexion/extension, some lateral flexion
B. limits rotation
C. Most mobile region - Thoracic: vertical
A. promotes rotation
B. limits flexion/extension - Lumbar: wrapped (facets cup each other)
a. promotes flexion/extension
b. limits rotation
Vertebral column development
Week 3: paraxial mesodern -> somitomeres
Week 4: surround notochord -> somites
End week 4: scleratome -> mesenchyme
a. scleratome: cranial = loose, caudal = dense
Adult vs. Embryp vertebrae components
- body > centrum
- arch < neural arch
- body = centrum + part neural arch
- arch = part neural arch
Resegmentation of scleratomes
centrum from caudal part of superior scleratome + cranial prtion of inferior adjacent scleratome
a. remaining mesenchyme -> IVD
Rib development
costal processes (elements) on all vert,
a. should only elongate on thoracic
b. common defects
1. extra ribs: C7 and L1
2. sacrilization of L5
3. lumbarization of S1
Mermaid syndrome
defect in caudal scleratome migration
Klippel-Feil syndrome
- 2+ cervical vertebrae fused
- short neck, dec. mobility, low hairline
- associated w/ cervical dystonia, facial asymmetry, high scapula, spinal stenosis and compression