Vertebral Column, Stability and Movement Flashcards
Parts of a typical vertebrae
Body Pedicle Lamina Vertebral foramen Articulating process Spinous process Transverse process
What makes up vertebral arch?
Pedicle and lamina
What is spinal canal formed from
Vertebral foramen together
What rests in spinal canal?
Spinal cord
Articulating processes form what kind of joint?
Synovial
Purpose of spinous process
Muscle attachment
Purpose of transverse process
Muscle and ligament attachment
General function of all processes
Movement
What makes C1 unique
No body
anterior and posterior arches
Larger superior articulating processes that articulate iwht occipital condyles
What makes C2 unique?
Dens
C1 and C2 attachment
C2 dens attaches to anterior arch of C1
Cervical features
Transverse foramina
Small, bean shaped, body
Short, spinous process
Thoracic features
Articular facets for ribs
Heart shaped body
Elongated, posterio-inferior sloping spinous process
Lumbar features
Large, bean shaped body
Shortened, squared and posteriorly projecting spinous process
Size increases as you move which direction along spinal cord?
Down
2 notches on thoracic vertebrae
Superior intervertebral notch
Inferior intervertebral notch
Notches of thoracic form
Intervertebral foramen
Intervertebral foramen is…
Where spinal nerves exit spinal canal
Which types of joints does vertebral column have?
Cartilaginous joints at IV discs
Synovial joins between the superior and inferior articulating processes
Synovial joints of the spinal column called
Zygapophyseal joins
Intervertebral disc composed of
Anulus fibrosus - a series of concentric lamellae of connective tissue AND
Nucleus pulposis - fluid filled center
Nucleus pulposus acts as
Shock absorber
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Anterior of vertebral bodies
Checks extensions
Where is anterior longitudinal ligament renamed and to what?
Between C1 and C2 - atlantoaxial ligament
Between C1 and occipital - Anterior atlantaoccipital ligament
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Narrower than Anterior
Checks flexion
Where is posterior longitudinal ligament renamed?
C2 - tectorial ligament
Lateral herniation presses on
Spinal nerve
Central herniation presses on
Spinal cord or nerve fibers below spinal cord
Ligamentum flavum
Connects adjacent laminae and checks flexion of vertebral column
Where is ligamentum flavum renamed?
Between C1 and C2 - posterior atlantoaxial ligament
Between C1 and occipital - Posterior atlantaoccipital ligament
Interspinous ligaments
Connect adjacent spinous processes and check flexion
Supraspinous ligaments
Superficial portion of interspinous ligaments
Checks flexion
Nuchael ligament
Supraspinous ligament as it thickens in the cervical level
Functions of vertebral column
Protect spinal cord and nerves
Support weight
Rigid and flexible axis
Posture and locomotion
How many of each vertebrae?
C - 7
T - 12
L - 5
S - 5
Kyphotic
Primary curvatures
Thoracic and sacral
Concaver forward
Lordosic
Cervial and Lumbar
Concave backward
Movements of vertebral column
Amplified by sum of all small movements
Stable fracture
No spinal deformity or neurologic problems
Unstable fracutre
Difficult for spine to carry or distribute weight…can progress and cause further damage
Function of trapezious, latissimus dorsi, levator scapulae, rhomboid major and minor
Upper limb
Function of serratus posterior superior and serratus posterior inferior
Assists in holding epaxial muscles
Propioception
Respiration
Superficial back muscles (except trapezius) innervated by
Ventral primary rami of spinal nerves
Trapezius innervated by
CN XI
Intrinsic muscles of the back
Extend the vertebral column and cause lateral flexion…can also assist in flexion and rotation of the vertebral column
Epaxial
Intrinsic back muscles innervated by
Dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves
Superficial intrinsic back muscles
Spinotransverse group
Splenius capitis
Splenius cervicis
Helps to rotate and extend head
Intermediate intrinsic back muscles
Erector spinae
Parts and function of erector spinae
Ilicostalis
Longissimus
Spinalis
Vertebral column and head extension…lateral flexion
Deep intrinsic back muscles
Transversospinal group Semispinalis capitis - 6-8 Semispinalis cervicis - 6-8 Multifudus - 3-5 Rotators - 1-2
Where are each type best seen and order in terms of deepness
Multifudus - Lumbar
Rotators - thoracic
Multifudus above rotators
Minor deep back muscles and functions
Interspinales - attach between adjacent spinous processes
Intertransversarii - attach between adjacent transverse processes
Leavotres Costarum - attach from transverse process to ribs
Suboccipital muscles and function
Obliquus capitis inferior Obliquus capitis superior Rectus capitis posterior major Rectus capitis posterior mino Movement of head and proprioception
Which make up suboccipial triangle?
Obliquus capitis inferior
Obliquus capitis superior
Rectus capitis posterior major
What is suboccipital triangle?
Where vertebral artery passes through
What are suboccipital muscles innervated by?
Suboccipital nerve
Greater occipital nerve passes through what and what is function?
Passes through the semispinalis capitis muscle to innervate skin over back of the head
Action of paradox
Epaxial muscles also play role in controlling flexion of the trunk by their controlled gradual relaxation during flexion
Vertebra porminens
C7 - first big bump
Contraction of spinotransverse group
Unilateral - rotation of head to ipsilateral side
Bilateral - extension of head
Muscles of erector spinae starting laterall
Iliocostalis, Longissumus, spinalis
Contraction of erector spinae
Bilateral - extends vertebral column and head
Unilateral - Lateral flexion of vertebral column
Suboccipital purpose
Head movement and propioception
Vertebral artery path
Through transverse foramen of cervical and through foramen magnum of the skull
Occipital neuralgia caused by
compression of greater occipital nerve
Greater occipital nerve passes through
semispinalis capitis
