Vertebral Column Joints and Ligaments (midterm) Flashcards
The IVD is a symphysis. Describe what type of joint it is and its movement
-secondary cartilaginous joint (fibrocartilage)
-amphiarthrosis (slightly moveable)
What is the annulus fibrosus of the IVD?
fibrous tissue connection to bone to hold it in place
What is the nucleus pulposus of the IVD? What does it contain?
-jelly like substance/cushion
-contains water and collagen fibers
What are the 2 pathways for bulging disc/disc herniation?
1) posterior route (will affect the spinal cord bilaterally and inferiorly, affects motor more than sensory)
2) posterolateral hernia (affects spinal cord unilaterally, motor and sensory is affected)
What is the most common hernia/bulge disc?
posteriolateral hernia (affects spinal cord unilaterally, motor and sensory)
Which ligament is most likely to herniate? Why?
PLL, because its so narrow
Which ligament rarely herniates? Why?
ALL, because it is THICK, and we don’t extend as far as we can flex (so there is more pressure anteriorly on ALL aka why its thick)
T/F: veins branch much more frequently than the arteries do in the vertebrae
true!
What is an anastomosis?
Arteries that branch/wrap around the vertebrae
An anastomosis begins with the _________ and then branch into L and R sides. This will line up with each vertebral level (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, coccyx). These arteries will go into the vertebrae and IVF and be called _________________. This blood supply in the vertebrae can eventually be called a plexus, because veins are present. In this specific case, it will eventually form the azygous venous system
aorta, nutrient arteries
What is the difference between an
anastomosis and a plexus?
Anastomosis= arteries
Plexus = veins
Where is the posterior internal plexus found?
Interior wall of the vertebrae
Where are basivertebral veins found?
Inside the vertebral bodies (spongy bone)
What is the function of arteries? What is the function of veins?
Arteries transport oxygen and nutrients throughout body
Veins remove wastes from the blood throughout body
Where are the mixed spinal nerves?
Within the IVF
Sensory pathway:
Sensory neuron > DRG > ?
Dorsal horn
The cell body of a motor neuron is in the CNS ___________ horn. The axon of that neuron travels in the ___________ root to the mixed spinal nerve and down the ventral ramus to innervate a muscle
Ventral, ventral
Where does most of the movement of the vertebral column come from?
IVD (zygopophyses joints)
T/F: the movement of the vertebral column is just a series of tiny movements in segments that can move the whole body
True!
The zygopophyses joint is formed by what?
Superior and inferior articulate facets
What type of joint is the zygopophyseal joint?
Synovial planar/gliding (uniaxial/nonaxial) and diarthrotic joint
Which vertebral segment has the most mobility?
Cervical
Which vertebral segment has some mobility?
Lumbar
Which vertebral segment has limited/the least mobility?
Thoracic
What is the abbreviation for zygopophyseal joints?
Z joints
The cervical region runs in which plane?
Frontal/coronal
What movements are possible in the Cervical region?
All movements- flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation
What plane does the thoracic region run in?
Frontal/coronal plane
What movements are possible with the thoracic region?
Lateral flexion and rotation only (limited bc of ribs and sternum)
The lumbar region runs in which plane?
Mid-Sagittal plane
What movements are possible in the lumbar region?
Flexion and extension only
When someone says “upper Cervical”, what are they referring to?
C1 and C2
What 2 joints allow movements for the head and neck at the upper Cervical?
1) atlanto-occipital joints (C1-C0, also called AO joint)
2) atlanto-axial joint (C1-C2)
What type of joint is the atlanto-occipital joint?
Synovial condyloid
What movements are allowed with the atlanto-occipital joint?
-nod head “yes” (flexion, extension, hyper extension)
-tilt head sideways (lateral flexion and extension)
What type of joint is the atlanto-axial joint AT THE DENS? What movement does it allow?
Synovial pivot/rotary joint, allows rotation (turn head “no”)
What type of joint is the atlanto-axis joint AT THE ZYGOPOPHYSES? What movement is allowed here?
Synovial planar/gliding joint (uniaxial/nonaxial), allows for lateral flexion and extension, and assists rotation of the neck
Where is the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) found?
Inside the VF/vertebral canal
What 2 major ligaments are attached to the vertebral bodies?
1) anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL)
2) posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL)
Where is the ALL found?
Anterior to the vertebral body all the way down to the sacrum
The PLL runs on the posterior aspect of the vertebral body and makes the anterior wall of the….
Vertebral canal
What ligament is attached to the vertebral arch?
Ligamentum flavum (begins at C2-C3)
Where can you find the ligamentum flavum?
Begins at C2-C3 and is located between the lamina of the vertebral arch
What does “flavum” mean?
Yellow
Which 4 ligaments are attached to processes?
1) intertransverse ligament
2) interspinous ligament
3) supraspinous ligament
4) facet capsulary ligament
Where can you find the intertransverse ligament?
Between transverse processes
Where can you find the interspinous ligaments?
Between spinous processes (SP root to apex of SP)
The supraspinous ligament goes from the apex of the SP to the apex of the SP and continues downward. When the supraspinous and interspinous ligament meet, they form the…
Ligamentum nuchae C1-C7
Where is the facet capsular ligament found?
Around the zygopophyseal joints (synovial capsule)
Flexion of the anterior side is limited by which ligament?
PLL
Lateral flexion is limited by which ligaments?
Intertransverse ligaments
The anatomical position is _______________
Extension
Extension is limited by which ligament?
ALL
Hyperextension is limited by what?
ALL and spinous processes
Rotation is limited by which ligaments?
-interspinous ligament
-intertransverse ligament
-Ligamentum flavum
ALL goes from the foremen magnum of the occiput > anterior arch of _____ > bodies of _____> L5> S5
C1, C2
Which 2 ligaments are made up of strong band of longitudinal fibers?
ALL and PLL
The ALL is found on the anterior surface of the vertebral bodies from _______. It is attached to the basilar portion of the occiput > anterior tubercles of the _______> body of ________> prominent margins of vertebral bodies> IVDs> anterior surface of sacrum
C0-S5 (occiput-sacrum), atlas, axis
Which ligament is narrow cranially and wide caudally?
ALL (opposite of PLL)
The ALL is composed of how many fibers?
3 (superficial, intermediate, deep)
Which fibers of the ALL are the longest and extend 4-5 vertebrae?
superficial fibers
Which fibers of the ALL extend 2-3 vertebrae?
intermediate fibers
Which fibers of the ALL are the shortest and extend only between adjacent vertebrae?
deep fibers
Where is the ALL specialized?
upper cervical region (C0-C2, superior ligaments)
-anterior atlanto-occipital membrane/ligaments (C1-C0)
-anterior atlanto-axial ligaments (C1-C2)
Which ligament is thicker in the thoracic and lumbar regions, and thicker over the vertebral bodies than IVD?
ALL
Which ligament limits extension?
ALL
The PLL is found on the posterior surface of the vertebral bodies from _______. It is attached to the body of the _______, vertebrae (not firmly), and IVDs, and ends at the superior surface of ______
C2-S1, axis, S1
Which ligament is wide cranially and narrow caudally?
PLL (opposite of ALL)
Which ligament is denticulated in the lower thoracic and lumbar regions (broadest over IVDs, narrowest over bodies)?
PLL
Which ligament is composed of 2 fibers?
PLL (superficial and deep)
Which fibers of the PLL are the longest and extend over 3-4 vertebrae?
superficial fibers
Which fibers of the PLL are the shortest and extend only between adjacent vertebrae?
deep fibers
Where is the PLL specialized?
upper cervical (C0-C2)
-tectorial membrane
Which ligament is thinnest in the thoracic and lumbar regions, while thicker over the vertebral bodies as opposed to IVDs?
PLL
Which ligament limits flexion?
PLL
The ligamentum flavum connects the __________ of adjacent vertebrae from __________
lamina, C2-S1
Where is the ligamentum flavum specialized?
C0-C2
-posterior atlanto-occipital membrane/ligaments (C1-C0)
-posterior atlanto-axis ligaments (C1-C2)
Which ligament is composed of yellow elastic tissue?
ligamentum flavum
note: this permits extensibility and elasticity
Which ligament has yellow elastic tissue that permits extensibility and elasticity?
ligamentum flavum
Which ligament is thin, broad, and long in the cervical region, while thickest in the lumbar region, and intermediate in the thoracic region?
ligamentum flavum
Which ligament just has one pair between adjacent vertebrae?
ligamentum flavum
The ligamentum flavum runs from the anterior inferior surface of the __________________, and posterior superior surface of the ____________________
high probability will be midterm q
superior lamina, inferior lamina
Which ligament functions to prevent separation of the laminae during flexion of the vertebral column?
ligamentum flavum
Which ligament is found between the transverse processes of adjacent vertebrae and limits lateral flexion?
intertransverse ligament
Which ligament has only a few irregular fibers in the cervical region and is largely replaced by intertransverse muscles?
intertransverse ligament
Which ligament is thin and membranous in the lumbar region?
intertransverse ligament
Which ligament is between the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae and extends from the root of one SP to apex of each process, and limits flexion?
interspinous ligament
Which ligament meets the supraspinous ligament dorsally and the ligamenta flava laterally/ventrally?
interspinous ligament
Which ligament is thin and membranous throughout?
interspinous ligament
Which ligament has a strong, fibrous cord that connects the apices of SPs from C7-S5?
supraspinous ligament
Which ligament has 3 fibers besides the ALL?
supraspinous ligament (same fibers as ALL, only difference is the location of ALL and supraspinous)
superficial, intermediate, and deep fibers
-superficial fibers span 3-4 vertebrae
-intermediate fibers span 2-3 vertebrae
-deep fibers run between adjacent vertebrae
Which ligament is thicker and broader in the lumbar and relatively thin in the thoracic?
supraspinous ligament
Which ligaments specialize as ligamentum nuchae from C0-C7?
supraspinous and interspinous ligaments
What is more developed in animals than humans (cows, horse, sheep)?
ligamentum nuchae
Which ligament runs from C0-C7 and is attached to the EOP crest > posterior tubercle of C1 > spinous processes of C2-C7?
ligamentum nuchae ligament
Which ligament replaces the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments?
ligamentum nuchae
Which ligament’s fibers developed homologous with the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments of the lower vertebral levels?
ligamentum nuchae
Which ligament exisits as a pair of dense, bilateral, fibroelastic laminae seperated by a layer of areolar tissue that blends into the free dorsal border?
ligamentum nuchae
Which ligament functions passively to support the head?
ligamentum nuchae
Which ligament is found between adjacent articular processes and within a synovial planar joint capsule?
ligamentum nuchae
