Vertebral Column and Back Muscles

Question 1

list 5 categories of vertebrae w/ number of segments

Answer 1

cervical-7
thoracic- 12
lumbar-5
sacral-5
coccygeal-4

Question 2

distinguishing feature of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar

Answer 2

c= transverse foramen for vertebral artery

t= costal articulations

l= large for weight bearing

Question 3

primary and secondary curves

Answer 3

primary= thoracic and sacral
(same direction in fetal column)
secondary= cervical and lumbar
(compensate for fetal curve)

Question 4

kyphosis vs lordosis vs scoliosis

Answer 4

kyphosis- excess thoracic curve

lordosis- excess lumbar curve

scoliosis- abnormal lateral curve

Question 5

bony strut b/w superior and inferior articular processes

Answer 5

pars intra articularis- common site of fracture in spinal injury

Question 6

facet joints

Answer 6

aka zygapophysial joints- synovial joints b/w superior and inferior articular processes

very little gliding motion individually, significant amount collectively (lots in total)

Question 7

IV discs

Answer 7

designed for adherence and strength, not synovial

tightly adhere to surface of vertebral bodies

Question 8

2 components of IV discs

Answer 8

outer annulus fibrosis- very strong and adherent

inner nucleus pulposus- gelatinous central mass w/ high water content, acts as shock absorber

Question 9

in b/w facet joints and IV discs (potential patho?)

Answer 9

intervertebral foramina- openings for spinal nerves

if disc compresses/degenerates or facet joint is arthritic, foramen shrinks and compresses spinal nerve

Question 10

contrast orientation of articular processes in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar

Answer 10

c= 45 degrees of horizontal plane

t= frontal plane

l= sagittal plan

Question 11

why different orientation of facet joints?

Answer 11

determines motion of segments of spine-
c= multiaxial motion
t=rotation
l=flexion/extension

Question 12

main regions for motion in spine

Answer 12

cervical and lumbar- more susceptible to injiury esp cervical (most motion)

Question 13

significance of cervicothoraci and thoracolumbar junction

Answer 13

flexible to rigid transition and rigid to flexible, respectively

common sites for fractures

Question 14

articulation of atlas and axis

Answer 14

dens of axis articulates w/ anterior arch facet of atlas

Question 15

atlanto occipital joint

Answer 15

synovial joint b/w C1 and atlas, allows for nodding yes

fractures of C1 called jefferson fracture, often multiple spots of fracture

Question 16

atlantoaxial joints

Answer 16

3 b/w atlas and axis

median b/w dens and anterior arch of C1

2 lateral are synovial b/w articular facets

allow for shaking head no

Question 17

hangmans fracture

Answer 17

fracture of axis- usually dens or odontoid process which can displace and injure spinal cord

Question 18

how many spinal nerves

Answer 18

31 total- 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, 1 coccygeal

Question 19

ventral root conveys

Answer 19

somatic motor efferent

Question 20

dorsal root conveys

Answer 20

somatic sensory afferent

Question 21

cell body location in motor vs sensory somatic

Answer 21

motor- ventral horn of gray matter

sensory- dorsal root ganglion

Question 22

dorsal rami fn

Answer 22

innervate skin of back and intrinsic (true) back muscles

Question 23

anterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 23

anterior surfaces of vertebral bodies- prevents hyperextension

Question 24

posterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 24

posterior surface of bodies, located inside vertebral canal near spinal cord

Question 25

supraspinous ligament (and cervical component)

Answer 25

connects spinous processes from sacrum to C7

ligamentum nuchae in cervical, attachement for many cervical muscles

Question 26

ligamentum flavum

Answer 26

yellow elastic fibers connecting adjacent lamina, lays along anterior wall of vertebral arch

prevent hyperflexion

Question 27

superficial back muscles

Answer 27

aka extrinsic, really more of upper limb muscles than back

trapezius, latissimus dorsi, levator scapulae, rhomboids

Question 28

latissimus dorsi

Answer 28

inserts on bicipital groove of humerus

extends, adducts, medially rotates humerus

innervated by thoracodorsal nerve (ventral rami of C6, 7 and 8)

Question 29

trapezius

Answer 29

inserts on clavical, acromion, and spine of scapula

elevates, rotates, retracts scapula (shrug)

innervated by spinal accessory (CN 11)

Question 30

intermediate muscles

Answer 30

serratus posterior superior and serratus posterior inferior

less important, help w/ respiration

Question 31

3 further divisions of deep muscles

Answer 31

superficial- splenius muscles in cervical

intermediate- erector spinae complex

deepest- transversospinalis complex

Question 32

innervation of deep muscles

Answer 32

dorsal rami of spinal nerves

Question 33

erector spinae complex

Answer 33

3 masses- from lateral to medial

iliocostalis
longissimus
spinalis (I Like Standing)

posture, extension, stability of vertebral column

Question 34

transversospinalis complex

Answer 34

deepest layer, 3 segments

semispinallis- superficial and longest

multifidus- intermediate

rotatores- deepest and shortest

posture, rotation, proprioceptive fn