Vertebral Column, Stability, and Movement Flashcards
Determine the main anatomical features of the vertebrae (superior view)
- Body
- Pedicle
- Lamina
- Vertebral foramen
- Articulating process
- Spinous process
- Transverse process
Determine the main anatomical features of typical vertebrae (lateral view)
- Body
- Pedicle
- Lamina
- Vertebral foramen
- Articulating process
- Spinous process
- Transverse process
Describe “atlas”
Atlas is C1. This vertebrae has NO BODY but rather anterior and posterior arches
Describe “axis”
Axis is C2 and has prominent feature density or odontoid process AND has NO BODY
Describe the characteristics of a typical cervical vertebra
Transverse foramen present for vertebral artery, small/bean-like body, and short/bifid spinous process
What kind of vertebra is this?
Cervical
List the main characteristics of a typical thoracic vertebrae
Particular or costal facets for ribs, heart shaped body, and elongated/postero-inferior sloping spinous process
What type of vertebra is this?
Thoracic
What type of vertebra is this?
Thoracic
What type of vertebra is this?
Cervical
List the defining characteristics of the lumbar vertebrae
Large and bean-shaped body; shortened, squared, and posteriorly projecting spinous process
What vertebra is this?
Lumbar
What kind of vertebra is this?
Lumbar
What is the purpose of the transverse foramen?
The vertebral artery travels through from the root of the neck, through the transverse foramen, and then passes the foramen magnum to supply the brain with blood
ONLY IN CERVICAL SPINE
What is the purpose of the larger body in the lumbar spine?
The lumbar spine is larger because it carries more weight
Describe the anatomy of the intervertebral discs.
Annulus fibrosis: a series of concentric lamellae of connective tissue (like rings in a tree trunk)
Nucleus pulposus: gelatinous core
Give examples of common disc lesions.
In a central hernia: nucleus pulposus pushes on SPINAL CORD
In lateral hernia: nucleus pulposus pushes on NERVE ROOT
Which joint is between the superior and inferior articulating processes of the vertebrae? What’s the purpose?
The zygapophyseal joint; it checks rotation
How many vertebrae are in the cervical spine?
7
C1- atlas
C2- axis
How many vertebrae are in the thoracic spine?
Up to 12 (connected to ribs)
How many vertebrae are in the lumbar spine?
5
How many vertebrae are in the sacral spine?
5 fused together (synarthrosis joint)
What kind of joints exist in the spine and where?
Cartilaginous; between the vertebral bodies and and the intervertebral discs
Describe the anterior longitudinal ligament and its function. What does it turn into?
The anterior longitudinal ligament runs along the anterior side and checks the extension of the vertebral column. It turns into the atlantoaxial ligament between C2-C1 and then the atlantooccipital ligament between C1 and the occipital bone.
Describe the posterior longitudinal ligament. What does it do and what does it turn into?
The posterior longitudinal ligament checks flexion and runs along the posterior side. Beginning at and above C2 vertebral levels it is replaced by the tectorial ligament
Describe the ligamentum flavin.
This is one of three ligaments that guides a joint and is not located at the joint that it stabilizes. It connects the adjacent laminae and checks flexion of the vertebral column. Turns into posterior atlantoaxial ligament between C1 and C2 and then the atlantooccipital ligament between C1 and occipital nerve
Describe the interspinous ligaments.
This is one of three ligaments that guides a joint and is not located at the joint that it stabilizes. It connects adjacent spinous processes and check flexion of the vertebral column.
Describe the interspinous ligaments.
This is one of three ligaments that guides a joint and is not located at the joint that it stabilizes. It connects adjacent spinous processes and check flexion of the vertebral column.
Describe the supraspinous ligament.
This is one of three ligaments that guides a joint and is not located at the joint that it stabilizes. It is on the superficial portion of the interspinous ligaments, checks flexion of the vertebral column, and thickens to become the nuchal ligament at cervical level.
Describe the nuchal ligament.
The nuchal ligament is very dense and thick and begins at C7, moving up the cervical spine. This
Describe the uncinate process (uncus) and unconvertebral “joint”
This is a frequent site of bone spur formation in later years along C3-C7 and may cause neck pain.
What are the functions of the vertebral column?
Protect spinal cord, support weight of body, partially rigid and flexible axis for the body, posture and locomotion
Describe the movement of the vertebral column.
Small amounts of movement at each intervertebral disc is amplified by summation across the entire vertebral column
What are all three layers of superficial back muscles innervated by?
All are innervated by primary rami of spinal nerves except for the trapezius which is innervated by cranial nerve XI (11)
What is the top level of superficial back muscles?
Trapezius and latissimus dorsi
What muscles are in the second layer of the superficial back muscles?
Levator scapulae, rhomboid major, and rhomboid minor
What are the first two layers of the superficial muscles of the back associated with?
The trapezius, latissimus dorsi, levator scapulae, rhomboid major, and rhomboid minor are associated with the upper limb
What is the third layer of the superficial back muscles? What are their functions?
Serratus posterior superior and serratus posterior inferior
What are the 4 groups that divide the back muscles?
- Superficial intrinsic back muscles
- Intermediate intrinsic back muscles
- Deep intrinsic back muscles
- minor deep back muscles
- Suboccipital muscles
Describe the function & innervation of intrinsic back muscles
Intrinsic back muscles extend the vertebral column (bilateral contraction) or cause lateral flexion (unilateral contraction). They also assist in flexion & rotation of the vertebral column.
They are the only muscles innervated by dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves.
What are the superficial intrinsic back muscles (spinotransverse group)
Splenius capitis and splenius cervicis. Together (bilateral contraction) they help us look up and singularly (unilateral contraction) help us turn head.
The splenius muscles begin in upper thoracic vertebral levels and extend superiorily to the temporal lobe (splenius capitus) or transverse processes of cervical vertebra (splenius cervicis)
What is the muscle group of the intermediate intrinsic back muscle group called?
Erector spinae
Erect = to stand up
Large muscle mass attaching inferiorly to lumbar and thoracic spines, sacrum, and iliac crest. It splits into three longitudinal columns at upper lumbar regions (ILS - I like spaghetti)
Iliocostalis
Longissimus
Spinalis
(Lateral to medial)
Describe the illiocostalis
Most lateral of the three erector spinae. The superior attachment is onto the angels of the ribs and cervical transverse processes.
Describe the longissimus
Intermediate in erector spinae. The superior attachment is onto the transverse processes and the mastoid process of the temporal bone
Describe the spinalis.
The most medial of the erector spinae. It runs along the spinous processes.
Describe where the deep intrinsic back muscles lie
They lie deep to splenius muscles and erector spinae
Describe where the deep intrinsic back muscles (transversospinal group) arise from and where they attach
They arise from transverse processes and attach more cranially to the occipital bone or cervical spinous processes
Where are the semispinalis muscles and what group are they in?
They belong in the deep intrinsic back muscles and are in the cervical and upper thoracic regions.
Semispinalis capitis
Semispinalis cervicis
They cross 6-8 vertebrae before attaching.
The semispinalis cervicis lies deep to the semispinalis capitis and its most superior fibers attach to spine of second cervical vertebrae which is used to locate the suboccipital triangle
What does the semispinalis cervicis help locate?
The suboccipital triangle
What muscles make up the occipital triangle?
Led to by the semispinalis cervicis and made up of obliquus capitis superior, rectus capitis posterior major, and obliquus capitis inferior. To the left of the triangle is rectus capitis posterior minor (not actually a part of triangle)
What passes through the suboccipital triangle?
Vertebral artery runs up through the transverse foramen, turns medically to pass through the triangle, and then up to the brain (suboccipital nerve goes through; greater occipital nerve is below inferior oblique and travels north)
Describe the deep intrinsic back muscles (transversospinal group) including multifundus and rotators
Multifidus runs the length of the vertebral column. They cross 3-5 vertebra before attaching. Lie deep to semispinalis muscles in superior regions, but are most prominent in lumbar regions.
Rotators cross 1-2 segments before attaching and they are the deepest muscles; best developed in thoracic regions
Describe the deep intrinsic back muscles - minor deep back muscles: interspinales, intertransversarii, and levatores costarum
interspinales attach between adjacent spinous processes and are best seen in cervical levels on bifid spinous processes
intertransversarii attach between adjacent transverse processes
levatores costarum attach from transverse process to ribs (elevate posterior rib)
Describe where the greater occipital nerve goes
The greater occipital nerve (dorsal ramus of C2) courses over the inferior oblique and passes through the semispinalis capitis muscle on its way to innervate the skin on the back of the head.
Damage to this nerve (can be caused by entrapment in the semispinalis muscle or in their fascia) can lead to occipital neuralgia
Describe where the greater occipital nerve goes
The greater occipital nerve (dorsal ramus of C2) courses over the inferior oblique and passes through the semispinalis capitis muscle on its way to innervate the skin on the back of the head.
Damage to this nerve (can be caused by entrapment in the semispinalis muscle or in their fascia) can lead to occipital neuralgia
