Gross Anatomy > Back: Vertebral Column > Flashcards

Back: Vertebral Column Flashcards

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1
Q

Vertebral Column

A
  • Vertebrae + disc
  • Semi-rigid
  • Provides stability, support, and permits motion
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2
Q

Vertebrae

A
  • 7 Cervical
  • 12 Thoracic
  • 5 Lumbar
  • 5 Sacral (fused)
  • 4 coccygeal (fused)
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3
Q

Vertebral Discs

A
  • All vertebrae have a disc except

- Occ/C1 and C1/2

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4
Q

Primary Curve

A
  • Develop during fetal life
  • Concave anteriorly
  • Thoracic and sacral curves
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5
Q

Secondary Curve

A
  • Develop in infancy and childhood
  • Concave posteriorly
  • Cervical and lumbar curves
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6
Q

Curves in Vertebral Column

A
  • Result of AP height differences of the bodies/disc

- Contribute to the flexibility and shock absorbing capacity

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7
Q

Vertebral Arch

A
  • Pedicle + lamina
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8
Q

Vertebral Body

A
  • Provides strength and supports weight
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9
Q

7 Processes that Arise from the Arch

A
  • 2 Superior articular processes
  • 2 Inferior articular processes
  • 1 Spinous process
  • 2 Transverse processes
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10
Q

Function of Processes

A
  • Serve as sites for muscle/ligament attachment and joint formation
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11
Q

Vertebral Foramen

A
  • Arch + Body
  • Anterior boundary: disc, body, PLL
  • Posterior: laminas
  • Lateral: pedicle
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12
Q

Intervertebral Notch

A
  • Forms intervertebral foramen

- Allows the passage of the spinal nerves, spinal arteries, intervertebral veins

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13
Q

Joints Between Vertebral Bodies

A
  • Intervertebral discs
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14
Q

Joints Between Vertebral Arches

A
  • Facet joints (zygapophyseal joints)
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15
Q

Craniovertebral

A
  • Upper cervical joints of the vertebral column
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16
Q

Cosotvertebral

A
  • Joints between ribs and thoracic vertebrae
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17
Q

Sacroiliac

A
  • Joints that connect axial to pelvic girdle
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18
Q

Vertebral Bodies + Disc

A
  • Symphysis joint (fibrocartilage)

- No disc between Occ/C1 and C1/C2

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19
Q

Vertebral Body Functionality

A
  • Cervical and lumbar have greatest relative thickness
  • Influences range of motion
  • Lowest functional disc is L5
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20
Q

Vertebral Column Ligaments

A
  • ALL: sacrum to occiput

- PLL: sacrum to body of C2

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21
Q

Intervertebral Discs

A
  • 25% length of vertebral column
  • Fibrocartilage
  • Permit movement, flexible
  • Absorbs shock
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22
Q

Two Parts of Intervertebral Discs

A
  • Annulus Fibrosis

- Nucleus Pulposus (gelatinous)

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23
Q

Annulus Fibrosis

A
  • Lamellae of collagen fibers
  • Successive layers runs at different angles
  • Outer portion has innervation and blood supply
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24
Q

Nucleus Pulposus

A
  • High water content (80%, declines with age)
  • Remnant of notochord
  • Avascular, aneural
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25
Uncovertebral Joints (Joints of Luschka)
- Cervical spine, C3-7 - Between uncinate process and vertebral body above - Not considered a joint by some
26
Osteophytes (Bone Spurs)
- Presence on the uncovertebral joints can compress spinal nerves
27
Facet (Zygapophyseal Joints)
- Synovial, planar joints - Between hyaline cartilage covered articular facets - Allow gliding movements - Shape and orientation dictate movement - Limit extension - Innervated by dorsal primary rami of multiple levels
28
Cervical Motion of Facet Joints
- All motions
29
Thoracic Motion of Facet Joints
- Rotation, lateral flexion
30
Lumbar Motion of Facet Joints
- Flexion/extension
31
Craniovertebral Joints
- Designed to allow greater range of motion | - No discs
32
Atlanto-Occipital Joints (Between Occiput and C1)
- Synovial, condyloid joints | - Primarily allows flexion/extension (nodding your head yes)
33
Atlanto-Axial Joints (Between C1 and C2)
- Lateral atlanto-axial: synovial, planar joint - Median atlanto-axial: synovial, pivot - Head rotation, (shaking your head no)
34
Ligaments of the Vertebral Column
- Anterior longitudinal ligament - Posterior longitudinal ligament - Ligamentum flavum - Supraspinous ligament - Interspinous ligament - Intertransverse ligament
35
Anterior Longitudinal Ligament
- Extends from base of skull to sacrum along anterior aspect of vertebral bodies - Resists extension
36
Posterior Longitudinal Ligament
- Extends from sacrum to C2 along posterior aspect of vertebral bodies - Resists flexion *located within the vertebral canal*
37
Ligamentum Flavum
- Between lamina - Resists flexion - Large amounts of elastic fibers, assist with straightening the spine *located within the vertebral canal*
38
Mechanoreceptors
- All ligaments in the vertebral column contain these
39
Supraspinous Ligament
- Tips of spinous processes from C7 to sacrum
40
Interspinous Ligament
- Between spinous process, C2 to L5
41
Intertransverse Ligament
- Between transverse process
42
Ligamentum Nuchae (Nuchal Ligament)
- Extends from EOP to C7, attaches to all SPs | - Site of muscle attachment
43
Tectorial Membrane
- From C2 to occiput (anterior rim of foramen magnum | - Continuous with PLL
44
Cruciform Ligament of Atlas
- Superior and inferior longitudinal bands - Transverse ligament of atlas - Disruption can cause cord compression
45
Apical Ligament of the Dens
- Dens to anterior foramen magnum
46
Alar Ligaments
- Dens to medial aspect of occipital condyle
47
Costovertebral Joints
- Between rib head and costal facets on vertebral bodies | - All are synovial
48
Costotransverse Joints
- Between rib tubercle and costal facets on the transverse processes of thoracic vertebrae except T11 and T12 - All are synovial
49
Thoracic Spine/Rib Joints
- Costovertebral joints | - Costotransverse joints
50
Cervical Ligaments
- Ligamentum nuchae (nuchal ligament) - Cruciform ligament of atlas - Apical ligament of the dens - Alar ligaments
51
Movement of Vertebral Column
- Multisegmental - Summation of segmental movement between vertebrae - Produced by back, abdominal muscles, gravity
52
Determines Direction and Degree of Movement in Vertebral Column
- IVD : Vertebral body ratio (cervical and lumbar) - Zygapophyseal joint orientation - Joint capsule tension - Surrounding soft tissue (ligaments, etc.) - Rib cage
53
Vertebral Column Movement
- More free in cervical - Rotation is limited in the lumbar - Flexion/extension and lateral flexion are limited in thoracic
54
Excessive Thoracic Kyphosis
- Osteoporosis - Leads to loss of vertebral body height - Compression fractures - Postural
55
Lumbar Kyphosis
- Reversal of lumbar curve
56
Excessive Lumbar Lordosis (Swayback)
- Anterior tilting of pelvis | - Weakened abdominal muscles, obesity, pregnancy
57
Primary Curves
- Normally kyphotic
58
Secondary Curves
- Normally lorditic
59
Scoliosis
- Any side to side curve in the back - Can have lateral and rotational components - Can be C-shaped or S-shaped
60
Structural Scoliosis
- Due to a structural abnormality | - Fixed: does not correct with motion
61
Functional Scoliosis
- Not due structural abnormality - Leg length inequality, muscle dominance/spasm - Typically corrects with motion (not fixed but flexible)
62
C7 (Vertebral Prominens)
- Longest cervical spinous process | - Visible
63
T3 Vertebra
- Corresponds with base of the scapular spine
64
T7 Vertebra
- Corresponds with the inferior angle of the scapula
65
L4 Vertebra
- Corresponds with the supracristal plane | - Passes through L4 SP and L4/5 disc
66
L5 Vertebra
- Corresponds with the tubercle of the iliac crest
67
S2 Vertebra
- Corresponds with posterior superior iliac spines
68
C2 Vertebra
- Palpable because it has a large, bifid spinous process
69
C6 Vertebra
- Can be palpable
70
Thoracic and Lumbar Spinous Processes
- Palpable depending on body composition
71
Sacral Spinous Processes
- Also palpable (Median * Crest)
Gross Anatomy
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