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Vertebral Column and the Muscles of the Back Flashcards

1
Q

•All vertebrae have a ______ that surrounds and protects the spinal cord

A

vertebral foramen

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2
Q

cervical vertebrae have transverse foramen for the ____ ______

A

vertebral artery

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3
Q

Vertebral column in a adult typically consists of ____ vertebrae arranged in ______ regions

A

33; 5

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4
Q

spinal vertebrae regions and how many vertebrae

A
  1. Cervical (7)
  2. Thoracic (12)
  3. Lumbar (5)
  4. Sacral (5)
  5. Coccygeal (4)
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5
Q

thoracic vertebrae articulate with the ____

A

ribs

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6
Q

lumbar vertebrae are ____

A

large and massive for weight bearing

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7
Q

•Motion only occurs between 24 vertebrae:

A

7 cervical

12 thoracic

5 lumbar

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8
Q

•The 5 sacral vertebrae are fused in adults forming the ___

A

sacrum

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9
Q

•4 coccygeal vertebrae are fused to form the _____

A

coccyx (tailbone)

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10
Q

_____ help align our bodies center of gravity and provide shock absorption throughout the gait cycle

A

Curvatures

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11
Q
A
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12
Q

Primary curvatures are the ______ and ____ curvatures that develop during the _____…. same/opposite direction as the fetal vertebral column

A

thoracic and sacral; fetal period; same

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13
Q

Secondary curvatures are the _____ and _____ curvatures which develop _____…. same/opposite direction as the fetal vertebral column

A

cervical and lumbar; opposite

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14
Q

_______ is accentuated thoracic curvature …often a result of age related osteoporosis. Sometimes referred to as ‘hunchback’ or ‘dowager’s hump’

A

Kyphosis

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15
Q

______ accentuated lumbar curvature…often due to weight gain (i.e. during pregnancy). Sometimes referred to as ‘swayback’ or hollow back

A

Lordosis

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16
Q

_____ abnormal lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebral column- can result from limb length inequalities and/or malformation of vertebrae

A

Scoliosis

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17
Q
A

kyphosis

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18
Q
A

lordosis

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19
Q
A

scoliosis

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20
Q
A

scoliosis

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21
Q

Typical vertebrae consists of three major features:

A
  1. Vertebral body- for weight bearing
  2. Vertebral (neural) arch consisting of pedicles and laminae- protection of the spinal cord
  3. Numerous (7) processes for muscular attachment:

Spinous process (1)

Transverse processes (2)

Articular processes (4) (superior & inferior) which form joints

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22
Q

_____ are synovial joints between the superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae

A

Facet Joints or (zygapophysial joints)

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23
Q

Intervertebral discs

A
  • are cartilaginous joints designed for weight bearing and strength
  • are interposed between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae
  • These discs are tightly adhered to the surface of the vertebral bodies and provide a stable/strong attachment between adjacent vertebrae
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24
Q

Intervertebral discs consist of:

A
  1. Outer anulus fibrosus- composed of concentric layers of fibrocartilage that adheres to the vertebral bodies
  2. Nucleus pulposus- a gelatinous central mass (high water content) that acts like a miniature shock absorber
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25
Q
A
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26
Q
A
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27
Q
A
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28
Q

_____ allow passage and protection for the spinal nerve as it exits the vertebral column

A

Intervertebral foramen

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29
Q

_____ vertebrae have transverse foramina for the vertebral artery

A

Cervical

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30
Q

Majority of motion along the vertebral column occurs in the ____ and ____ …hence, this is where we tend to see herniated or “slipped” disc problems

A

cervical and lumbar regions

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31
Q

•As mentioned….the greatest range of motion is within the______…followed by the _______, both areas have significantly greater motion than the fairly ridged _____

A

cervical spine; lumbar spine; thoracic spine

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32
Q

the _____ is at greatest risk of injury purely from a mechanical prospective (least stable area)

A

cervical spine

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33
Q

•In addition…the change from mobility to rigidity within the spine creates two areas of significant stress concentration; These junctions are common sites of vertebral fractures

A
  • Cervicothoracic junction (~C5-T1)
  • Thoracolumbar junction (~T10-L2)
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34
Q
A
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35
Q
A
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36
Q
A
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37
Q

____ is the 1st cervical vertebra

38
Q

_____ is the 2nd cervical vertebra

39
Q

•Distinguishing feature of C2 is a “tooth-like” process-the ______ that projects superiorly from the body

A

dens (odontoid process)

40
Q

what view and what vertabrea ?

A

superior view of the atlas

41
Q

Craniovertebral Joints:

A
  1. Atlanto-occipital Joint
  2. Atlanto-axial Joint
42
Q

Synovial joint between the superior articular facets of the atlas (C1) and the occipital condyles at the base of the skull

A

Atlanto-Occipital Joint

43
Q
A

Atlanto-Occipital Joint

44
Q

Fractures of Axis (C2) often referred to as _____…others may involve the dens or odontoid process which, if displaced…can injure the spinal cord (quadriplegia)

A

‘Hangman Fracture’

45
Q

Atlanto-Axial Joints

A

Actually three synovial articulations:

  1. One median atlantoaxial joint-between the Dens of C2 and the anterior arch of C1
  2. Two lateral atlantoaxial joints- are synovial joints between opposing articular facets
46
Q
A

Atlanto-Axial Joints

47
Q

Functions of the Vertebral Column

A
  • Supports the head and trunk (torso)
  • Transfers the weight of the body to the lower limbs
  • Provides a flexible…yet rigid axis for our body (postural support)
  • Encloses and protects the spinal cord and spinal nerves
48
Q

nThe spinal cord has ____ pairs of spinal nerves:

A

31 pairs

  • 8 cervical
  • 12 thoracic
  • 5 lumbar
  • 5 sacral
  • 1 coccygeal (relatively minor/insignificant)
50
Q

______ contains axons of somatic motor (efferent) nerves that convey impulses away from the spinal cord

A

Ventral Root-

51
Q

______ contains axons of somatic sensory (afferent) nerves that convey impulses toward the spinal cord

A

Dorsal Root

52
Q

Both ventral and dorsal roots unite to form a _____ which conveys both motor and sensory axons

A

spinal nerve

53
Q

spinal nerves split into ____ and ____

A

dorsal ramus and ventral ramus

54
Q

______ conveys nerve axons to and from the muscles of the back and the overlying skin of the back

A

Dorsal ramus

55
Q

_____ conveys nerve axons to and from the body wall (torso) and/or the upper & lower limbs

A

Ventral ramus

57
Q

______ unites anterior surfaces of the bodies of the vertebrae- prevents hyperextension

A

Anterior Longitudinal Ligament

58
Q

________ unites posterior surface of the bodies of vertebrae- thus located inside the vertebral canal

A

Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

59
Q

______ connects the spinous processes from the sacrum to C7- expands into the Ligamentum Nuchae in cervical region

A

Supraspinous Ligament

60
Q

_______ a broad strong ligament of the neck that provides attachment for cervical muscles

A

Ligamentum nuchae

65
Q

______ adjoin adjacent spinous processes

A

Interspinous Ligament

66
Q

______ elastic fibers adjoin adjacent lamina of vertebrae- help prevent hyperflexion of the vertebral column

A

Ligamentum Flavum- yellow,

68
Q

Superficial back muscle are “extrinsic” muscles- these muscles actually produce and control limb/shoulder movements:

A
  1. Trapezius
  2. Latissimus dorsi
  3. Levator scapulae
  4. Rhomboids
69
Q

Latissimus Dorsi

A
  • Latissimus Dorsi- large superficial muscle positioned in the lower back region…but is actually a muscle of the upper extremity
  • Insertion- intertubercular sulcus (bicipital groove) of the humerus
  • Action- extends, adducts and medially rotates humerus
  • From a daily activity point of view…we use our Latissimus Dorsi for climbing/rowing or pushing yourself up when you get “out of a chair”
  • Innervation- thoracodorsal nerve (ventral rami of C6, C7, C8)
70
Q

Trapezius Muscle

A
  • Trapezius Muscle- large trapezoid-shaped muscle in upper back
  • Insertion- clavicle, the acromion, and the spine of scapula
  • Action- elevates, rotates and retracts the scapula (“shrugs shoulders”)
  • Innervation- trapezius receives its motor innervation via the eleventh Cranial Nerve (CN XI) - the spinal accessory nerve
71
Q

Intermediate Muscles of the Back

A

Intermediate muscles are small muscles aid/assist in respiratory control

  1. Serratus posterior superior (located deep to the rhomboids)
  2. Serratus posterior inferior (located deep to the latissimus)
72
Q

Function of Deep back muscles are often referred to as “true” or “intrinsic” back muscles because

A

these muscles all act specifically on moving and/or stabilizing the vertebral column

73
Q

All deep or intrinsic muscles of the back are innervated by

A

dorsal rami of spinal nerves

74
Q

Deep Muscles of the Back

A

nClinicians often refer to the deep back muscles as “paraspinal” muscles because of their position along-side the spinal column

Deep muscles of the back are further divided into 3 layers:

  1. Superficial intrinsic layer consists of the splenius muscles- located in the cervical region
  2. Intermediate intrinsic layer consists of the erector spinae muscle complex
  3. Deepest intrinsic layer consists of the transversospinalis muscle complex (not shown well here…located deep to the erector spinae)
75
Q

Erector Spinae
Complex

A

Intermediate layer of “intrinsic” or deep back muscles

Divided into 3 muscles masses:

  1. Iliocostalis- lateral column
  2. Longissimus- intermediate column
  3. Spinalis- medial column

Important postural muscles; help extend and stabilize the vertebral column

Innervated by dorsal rami of spinal nerves

76
Q

Transversospinalis
Muscle Complex

A

Deepest layer of “intrinsic” or deep back muscles

These muscles course from transverse process to spinous processes of more superior vertebrae

Divided into 3 muscle segments

  1. Semispinalis- superficial (span 4-6 segments)
  2. Multifidus- intermediate (span 2-4 segments)
  3. Rotatores- deepest (span 1-2 segments)

Important postural, rotational, and proprioceptive muscles

Innervation- dorsal rami of spinal nerves

77
Q

Orientation of the _____ help determine motion within the vertebral column

A

facet joints

78
Q

Remember the close proximity of spinal nerves with facet joints AND the intervertebral disc. _______ can impinge upon the exiting spinal nerve

A

Arthritis or disc degeneration

79
Q

Latissimus Dorsi- it is a muscle of the upper limb despite the fact that is located on the back- hence its innervated by _______

A

ventral rami of spinal nerves (thoracodorsal nerve C6, C7 and C8)

80
Q

Trapezius –innervated by the ______

A

spinal accessory nerve (Cranial Nerve 11 or CN XI)

81
Q

the facet joints in the lumbar spine are oriented in the ______ plane which favors flexion/extension

The facets in the thoracic region are oriented in the ______ plane and favor rotational/torsion movements

Facets joints in the cervical spine are nearly ______ which renders considerable motion/mobility in the cervical region

A

sagittal; frontal or coronal; horizontal

90
Q

_______ of the cervical region, as occurs in whiplash and/or football injuries, can often tear portions of the ______ ligament: These injuries can also result in compression fractures and or dislocations of the cervical vertebrae…putting the spinal cord at risk

A

Hyperextension; anterior longitudinal

MSK (10 decks)

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