WEEK 4 VERTEBRAL COLUMN & DEEP BACK Flashcards
T3=
Spine of scapula
T7=
Inferior angle of scapula
L4=
Right above hip
S2=
Sacral dimples
Nuchal groove is where
Back of neck, marks nuchal ligament
Most prominent bump on back of neck is?
Vertebra prominens; C7 spinous process
Posterior median furrow
Furrow between the two halves of trapezius, marks the site of where ligaments cover spine
Why is the curve in the spine important?
Important for the distribution of weight
Increase in size of vertebra indicates?
An increase in weight that they support
What are the 5 categories of vertebra?
Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, coccyx
Main function of sacrum?
To transfer weight from spine to legs/hips
What are the other names for C1 and C2?
C1= atlas, C2=axis
Functions of vertebral column?
1) supports weight of body
2) allows for movement
3) house and protects spinal cord and nerves
Why is the vertebral column being a bunch of bones important?
It is what allows for movement?
The MOST rotation of vertebral column is where?
Cervical vertebrae
What is flexion of vertebra?
Bend over (touch your toes)
What are primary curvatures?
Created while a fetus
What is the curve of a fetus’s vertebra?
Concave
What are secondary curvatures?
Created while growing
What is the curvature of secondary curves?
Convex
What are the two primary curves?
Sacrum and thoracic
What are the two secondary curves of back?
Lumbar and cervical
When does the cervical curve become secondary (convex)?
When an infant starts to hold up neck/head
Why do curves become convex?
Because we develop and need to produce movement AND we get heavier
What is the second secondary curve to form?
Lumbar curve, formed when you start to walk
What is another name of primary curvature?
kyphosis
What is another name of secondary curvature?
Lordosis
What are normal exaggerations of curves?
Lumbar curve when you are pregnant or fat; big breasts
What are abnormal exaggerations of curves?
Excessive kyphosis, excessive lordosis, scoliosis
Excessive kyphosis is do to?
Excess curve in thoracic region, due to osteoporosis
excessive lordosis is where?
In lumbar vertebrae (due to weak trunk, correct with good core strength)
Scoliosis
Abnormal lateral curve (typically in teen girls)
What forms vertebral cannel?
Vertebral foramen
What separates vertebrae?
Intervertebral discs
Where do spinal nerves enter and exit?
Intervertebral foramen between two vertebra
What contacts what in column?
Articular processes: inferior articular process contacts the superior articular process of the vertebra inferior to it
What is the facet joint?
The articular processes connecting to each other forms a facet joint
What distinguishes cervical vertebra?
1) small vertebral body
2) LARGE vertebral foramen (due to lots of nerve to brain)
3) some have bifid spinous process (only found in white men)
4) articular processes are horizontal
5) transverse processes have a hole in them
Why are the cerebral articular processes are horizontal?
Allows for rotation and gliding
Why does the transverse processes of C6-C1 have a hole in them?
Carries vertebral artery up to the brain (NOTE: not in C7)
The atlas is in contact with?
The cranium aka the skull
The atlas does not have?
A vertebral body or spinous process
The atlas has large what to contact the skull with?
Has large lateral masses to contact the condyles on the base of the skull
The axis has what special structure?
DENS
The dens does what?
Serves as a axis for the atlas and head to turn on
What holds the DENS in place?
Transverse ligament of atlas (spans one lateral notch to the other)
Transverse ligament of the atlas does what?
Holds C1, DENS, and head in place
What is an axis fracture?
The hangmans fracture, due to abrupt hyperextension of only the head
Is the axis fracture the same as hyperextension?
NO. hyperextension moves both head and neck
Characteristics of thoracic vertebra?
1) larger body than cervical
2) smaller foramen
3) **have costal facets, slants inferiorly
4) vertical articular facets are more lateral, MORE LATERAL flexion
5) **longest processes of all vertebra
What are costal facets?
A contact point for the ribs on thoracic vertebra
Where are costal facets found on thoracic vertebra?
2 on each side of body, 1 on each transverse process
Costal facets explain why the ribs are?
Slanted inferiorly
Characteristics of lumar verticbra
1) biggest body
2) smallest foramen
3) hardly any lateral flexion
Lamar vertebra have articular process that are medial and laterally oriented, why?
Allow for flexion and extension, but very little lateral movement
When does the sacrum start and finish fusing?
Age 15, completely fuses at 26
Sacrum and coccyx originate at?
Separate vertebra
The sacrum starts out as (before fused)?
S1-S4
What is the point of sacral foramina?
Passage of nerves
The spinal cord itself ends at?
L1 or L2
What is the point of sacral canal if spinal cord already ended?
To allow for horsetail emerging nerves
Name the articulation of zygapophysial facet joints?
Inferior articular, articular capsule of facet, superior articular
What is the articulation between atlas and occipital?
Atlanto-occipital
What is the major movement of Atlanto-occipital joint?
Rocking (yes movement)
What is the articulation between atlas and axis?
Atlanto-axial joint
What is the major movement of Atlanto-axial joint?
Pivoting (no movement)
Is the Atlanto-axial joint or Atlanto-occipital more superior?
Atlanto-occipital (between c2 and occipital on skull)
What is the sacroiliac joint?
Allows for the transfer of weight from vertebral column to hip bones
When a woman is prego she releases relaxine hormone why and when?
Relax ligaments at the end of pregnancy to open pelvic girdle
What does the anterior longitudinal ligament do?
Prevent hyperextension of (ONLY ONE TO DO THIS)
**figure out and label:
Supraspinour ligament- over spinous processes
Interspinous ligament- between processes
Ligamentum flavum- yellow because of elastic fibers
Posterior longitudinal ligament (THIN)
Anterior longitudinal ligament (THICK)
Intertransverse ligaments
What are the two components of intervertebral dics?
1) anulus fibrosus-outer part
2) nucleus pulposus- inner part (hyaline cartilage)
Why are we taller at the beginning of day?
We released some of the water in intervertebral disc
Disc herniation
Typically occurs posterior-laterally because the posterior ligament is very thin and the anterior is much thicker, happens around L4 a lot, gives local and deferred pain
Main point of all ligaments in vertebral column?
Prevent hyperflexion
All deep muscles innervated by?
Posterior rami for motor and sensory
What is proprial seption of vertebral column?
Give awareness of how the vertebral column is situated
Where does suboccipital nerve come from?
Dorsal rami of C1, innervates deep muscle of neck
Deep muscle triangle of neck marks?
The place where the vertebral artery (carried up through transverse foramen), loops around posterior part of C1 to enter skull (foramen magnum)
*this is important bc vertebral artery can be compressed between atlas and skull and of aprosklerosis
