Vertebral Column and Muscles Flashcards
What is the vertebral column
Curved flexible pillar of segmented bone separated by intervertebral discs
What are 5 functions of the vertebral column
- Muscle attachment
- Mobility
- Protection
- Weight transfer
- Haematopoiesis
Name the 5 sections of the vertebral column; how many vertebrae are in each
- Cervical (8)
- Thoracic (12)
- Lumbar (7)
- Sacral (5 fused to sacrum)
- Coccygeal (4 fused to coccyx)
Name the primary curvature
Kyphosis (concave anteriorly)
Name the secondary curvature
Lordosis (convex anteriorly)
What sections have a kyphosis curve
Thoracic and sacral
What sections have a lordosis curve
Cervical and lumbar
What is a lateral curvature called
Scoliosis; can be postural or pathological
What are the two main sections of a vertebra
- Vertebral body
2. Vertebral arch; 2 pedicles and 2 laminae
What are the 7 processes of a vertebra
- 1x spinous process
- 2x transverse processes
- 4x articular processes
What do the vertebral notches give rise to
The spinal nerves entering and exiting the spinal cord
What are the vertebral notches
Indentations superior and inferior to the pedicles
What is unique about the C1 vertebra
The atlas has no vertebral body or spinous process
Describe the arches of the C1 vertebra
It has one anterior and one posterior arch; both have a tubercle in the centre
What area does the skull articulate with the C1 vertebra
The occipital condyles; superior articular surfaces
What section of the C2 vertebra articulates with the C1 vertebra
The dens/odontoid process which projects upwards from the body
Where does the atlas rotate on the axis
Flat superior articular facets
What is the body of the cervical vertebrae called
Uncinate process
What is the hole within the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae, and what emerges through them
Transverse foramen, and the vertebral arteries which ascend to supply the brain
Where do spinal nerves of the cervical vertebrae path through
The groove between the anterior and posterior tubercles of the transverse processes
What is unique about the spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae
They are bifid
Where do the rib heads articulate with the thoracic vertebrae
The costal facets; each vertebra (apart from T1) contains a superior and inferior costal facet
Where does the tubercle of each rib articulate with the thoracic vertebrae
The transverse costal facet
What is characteristic about the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae
They are very long and slope inferiorly (nearly vertically)
Are the lumbar vertebral bodies larger or smaller than the thoracic vertebral bodies
Larger
What arises from the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae
Accessory processes
What arises from the superior articular processes of the lumbar vertebrae
Mammillary processes
What direction do the articular facets face
Posteromedially and anterolaterally
How many sacral vertebrae fuse together to form the sacrum
Normally 5
Which side of the sacrum is smooth, and which side is rougher
Smooth = anterior (facing pelvic viscera) Rough = posterior (lots of sites of muscle and ligament attachment)
What is the median crest of the sacrum and remnant of
Spinous processes of the old sacral vertebrae
What is the intermediate crest of the sacrum and remnant of
Articular processes of the old sacral vertebrae
What is the lateral crest of the sacrum and remnant of
Transverse processes of the old sacral vertebrae
How many vertebrae have fused to form the coccyx
~4 rudimentary coccygeal vertebrae
What is at the superior end of the coccyx
The coccygeal cornu
What joints are located between the vertebral bodies
Secondary cartilaginous; IV discs
What joints are located between the articular processes
Plane synovial; called zygapophysial joints
What structure is located around the IV discs
The analus fibrosis
What is located in the central compartment of the IV discs
Nucleus pulposus; this is a remnant of the notochord
What happens to the IV discs as you flex the vertebral column (opposite for extension)
Anterior aspect of the IV disc will narrow, and the posterior aspect will expand
What proportion of the length of the vertebral column is made up of the IV discs
Roughly 1/4
What do the superficial extrinsic muscles of the back connect to
The appendicular skeleton
What do the intermediate extrinsic muscles of the back acts as
Superficial respiratory muscles
Name the 5 superficial extrinsic muscles of the back
- Trapezius
- Latissimus dorsi
- Rhomboid major
- Rhomboid minor
- Levator scapulae
What does the nuchal ligament attach to
Joins all the cervical spinous processes to the base of the skull
Where does the trapezius muscle attach and converge to
Attaches to the nuchal line and the spinous processes of C7-T12; converges to the clavicle, acromion process and spine of scapula
What nerve innervates the trapezius muscle
The accessory nerve (CN XI)
Where does the latissimus dorsi muscle attach to posteriorly
- Spinous processes of T7-T12 vertebra
- Thoracolumbar fascia
- Iliac crest
- Lower 3/4 ribs
Where does the latissimus dorsi muscle converge to
The edge of the bicipital groove of the humerus
What nerve innervates the latissimus dorsi muscle; and what is its root value
The thoracodorsal nerce; C6-C8
Where does the rhomboid major muscle attach and pass to
The spinous processes of T2-T5 -> medial border of the scapula
Where does the rhomboid minor muscle attach and pass to
The nuchal ligament and spinous processes of C7-T1 -> medial end of the scapular spine
What nerve innervates the rhomboid muscles, and what is its innervation
Dorsal scapular nerve; C4, C5
Where does the levator scapulae muscle attach, and pass to
Posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of C1-C4 -> medial border of the scapula (above the spine)
What nerves innervate the levator scapulae, and what are there innervation
Cervical nerves (C3, C4) and the dorsal scapular nerve (C4, C5)
Name the 2 intermediate extrinsic muscles
- Serratus posterior superior
2. Serratus posterior inferior
Where does the serratus posterior superior muscle attach, and pass to
Nuchal ligament and the spinous processes of C7-T3 -> superior borders of ribs 2-4
What nerves innervate the serratus posterior superior
Intercostal nerves 2-5
Where does the serratus posterior inferior muscle attach, and pass to
Spinous processes of T11-L2 -> inferior borders of ribs 8-12
What nerves innervate the serratus posterior inferior muscle
Anterior rami of T9-T12
What do the deep muscles of the back act upon
- Maintain posture
2. Control movements of the vertebral column
What are all of the deep muscles of the back supplied by (nerves)
Posterior rami of the spinal nerves
What are the 3 layers of intrinsic muscles of the back (and name the muscles found in the groups)
- Superficial (splenius muscles)
- Intermediate (erector spinae group)
- Deep (many small muscles)
Name the two splenius muscles
- Splenius capitis
2. Splenius cervicis
Where do the splenius muscles travel from
Nuchal ligament and the spinous processes of C7-T3/4
Where does the splenius capitis travel to
Mastoid process and lateral 1/3 of the superior nuchal line
Where does the splenius cervicis travel to
Tubercles of transverse processes of C1-T3/4
Name the 3 columns of intermediate intrinsic muscles (lateral to medial)
- Iliocostalis
- Longissimus
- Spinalis
What is the proximal attachment of all 3 intermediate intrinsic muscles
- Posterior iliac crest
- Posterior sacrum and sacroiliac ligaments
- Spinous processes of sacral and lower lumbar vertebrae
- Supraspinous ligament
What are the 3 parts of the iliocostalis muscle
- Lumborum
- Thoracis
- Cervicis
What are the 3 parts of the longissimus muscle
- Thoracis
- Cervicis
- Capitis
What are the 3 parts of the spinalis muscle
- Thoracis
- Cervicis
- Capitis
What is the attachment site of the ilicostalis muscle
Angles of lower ribs and the cervical transverse processes
What is the attachment site of the longissimus muscle
Ribs (between angles and tubercles), thoracic and cervical transverse processes, and mastoid process
What is the attachment site of the spinalis muscle
Upper thoracic spinous process and the cranium
Name the 6 deep intrinsic muscles
- Semispinalis
- Multifidis
- Rotatores
- Levator costarum
- Interspinale
- Intertransversari
What are the 3 parts of the semispinalis muscle
- Thoracis
- Cervicis (most obvious)
- Capitis
Where does the semispinalis muscle travel from, and to
Transverse processes of C4-T12 -> occipital bone and thoracic and cervical spinous processes
Where do muscle fibres of the multifidis muscle pass to; where is it thickest
Superomedially to spinous processes of vertebrae 2-4 spaces above; lumbar region
Where do muscle fibres of the rotatores muscle pass to; where is it thickest
Superomedially to the junction of lamina and transverse processes 1/2 vertebrae above; thoracic region
Where does the levator costarum pass from, and to
Transverse process of thoracic vertebrae -> inferiorly onto the upper borders of the ribs
Where does the interspinale muscle pass between; where is it most developed
Between adjacent spinous processes; cervical and lumbar regions
Where does the intertransversarii muscle pass between; where is it most developed
Between adjacent transverse processes; cervical and lumbar regions
