Vertebral column and musculature Flashcards
How many vertebrae does the back have?
C7 T12 L5 S5 C3-4 32-33 total
What is an analogy used to describe the back?
Yacht mast and rigging.
Describe the yacht mast analogy;
- A Mast (Vetebral column) - Spars (Ribs and transverse processes) - Rigging/stays (muscles and ligaments) - Hull (Pelvis)
Describe the development of curves in the spine;
The spine is curved from birth. As the baby lifts its head it develops the cervical curve. As the toddler walks the lumbar curve develops. These are known as secondary curves. Thoracic and sacral curves remain as primary curves.
Describe the various clinical curves of the spine;
Scoliosis Kyphosis (thoracic curvature) Lordosis (Pronounced lumber curve)
What can the vertebral disc be divided into?
Anulus fibrosis Nucleus pulposus
What is unique about the anulus fibrosis?
Its fibres are layered in an orthoganal arrangement with 90 degrees phase difference.
What is special about the nucleus pulposis?
80% water and resists compression.
Describe what happens in a herniated disc;
The nucleus pulposis distorts through the anulus fibrosis and can compress spinal nerves. The anulus fibrosis does not slip because it is cemented in the bone.
What are the ligaments of the spine?
1) Ant. longitudinal lig. 2) Post. longitudinal lig. 3) Ligamentum flavum 4) Interspinous lig. 5) Supraspinous lig.
Which ligaments run the entire length of the spine?
Ant. long lig. Post. long lig Supraspinous lig.
What are the superficial muscles of the spine?
Lat. dorsi Trap. Rhom Major and minor Lev. scapulae
What are the intermediate muscles of the spine?
Serratus posterior superior (inhalation) Serratus posterior inferior (Exhalation) These are found on the post. layer of thoracolumbar fascia.
What are the deep muscles of the spine?
Iliocostalis Longissimus Spinalis Multifidus
1) Anterior longitudinal ligament
2) Posterior longtudinal ligament
3) Ligamentum flavum
4) Intraspinous ligament
5) Supraspinous ligament
What nerves supply the intrinsic back muscles?
Posterior rami
Describe the two types of nerves that come off the spine?
Segmental and non segmental
What are the segmental nerves also known as?
Meningeal branches of the spinal nerve.
Do segmental nerves overlap?
There are up to three levels of overlap
What are the non-segmental nerves also known as?
Sympathetic chain. (Sensory pathways from lower to upper discs)
What do segmental and non-segmental nerves potentially account for?
May account for difficulty of localisation of back pain. i.e lower back might be diffused or referred like visceral pain.
