Advanced Anatomy - Back

seven

How many cervical vertebrae are there?

twelve

How many thoracic vertebrae are there?

five

How many lumbar vertebrae are there?

five (fused)

How many sacral vertebrae are there?

four (fused to form the coccyx)

How many coccygeal vertebrae are there?

twenty-four

How many different vertebral elements are moveable?

thoracic and sacral

Which regions of the vertebral column are the primary curvatures?

cervical and lumbar

Which regions of the vertebral column are the secondary curvatures?

kyphosis

The name for the primary curvatures of the vertebral column is…

lordosis

The name for the secondary curvatures of the vertebral column is…

trunk flexion

Name the action

sagittal

What plane does this action happen in?

medial-lateral

What axis is this action happening about?

trunk extension

Name the action

sagittal

Which plane does this action happen in?

medial-lateral

Which axis is this action happening about?

lateral trunk flexion

Name the action

coronal

Which plane does this action happen in?

anterior-posterior

Which axis is this action happening about?

trunk rotation

Name the action

transverse

Which plane does this action happen in?

vertical

Which axis is this action happening about?

facet joint

• between articular facets of adjacent vertebra

• orientation of joint and movement of joint unique to each region

• allows for slight amount of gliding motion

• movement that occurs in spine, determined by orientation of facets

zygapophysial joint

A  facet joint is also known as a…

synovial joint

What type of joint is a facet joint structurally?

planar

The facet joint is this type of synovial joint

cartilaginous joint

What type of joint is the intervertebral disc joint structurally?

symphysis

The intervertebral disc joint is this type of cartilaginous joint

atlantooccipital joints

• where the “yes” movement happens

occipital bone and atlas

Which two bones make up the atlantooccipital joints?

synovial joint

What type of joint are the atlantooccipital joints structurally?

condyloid

The atlantooccipital joints are this type of synovial joint

lateral atlantoaxial joints

synovial joint

What type of joint are the lateral atlantoaxial joints structurally?

planar

The lateral atlantoaxial joints are this type of synovial joint

median atlantoaxial joint

synovial joint

What type of joint is the median atlantoaxial joint structurally?

pivot

The median atlantoaxial joint is this type of synovial joint

uniaxial

Is the median atlantoaxial joint uniaxial, biaxial, or multiaxial?

three

The atlantoaxial joints have this many points of articulation

atlas and axis

Which two bones make up the atlantoaxial joints?

C1 and C2

The atlas and axis are also known as…

atlantoaxial joints

Where does the “no” movement happen?

C2, C3

Dermatomes: The neck is innervated by which spinal nerves

C3/C4 - L2/L3

Dermatomes: The back is innervated by which spinal nerves

lesser occipital nerve and greater auricular nerve

Peripheral Nerve Domains: The main cutaneous nerves that innervate the back of the neck are…

cutaneous branches of cervical and thoracic DPR of spinal nerves 

Peripheral Nerve Domains: The main cutaneous nerves that innervate the back are the…

dorsal primary rami

What does DPR stand for?

ventral primary rami

What does VPR stand for?

vertebral body

• the weight-bearing component

• trabecular bone surrounded by a thin layer of cortical or compact bone

vertebral arch

• houses and protects the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the spinal cord

neural arch

What is another name for the vertebral arch?

pedicle

lamina

transverse process

superior articular process

inferior articular process

spinous process

pars interarticularis

vertebral foramen

foramina

plural of foramen

spinal canal

What is another name for the vertebral canal?

vertebral canal

The vertebral foramina collectively form the…

ligamentum flavum

• a short, but thick ligament that connects the laminae of adjacent vertebrae from C2 to S1

• preserves upright posture

• assists the vertebral column in resuming its shape after flexion

• resists excessive separation of the adjacent vertebral laminae

• prevents buckling of the ligament into the spinal canal during extension, preventing canal compression

posterior longitudinal ligament

What does PLL stand for?

vertebral body and intervertebral disc

anterior border of vertebral foramen

pedicles

lateral border of vertebral foramen

laminae

posterior border of vertebral foramen

vertebral body, intervertebral disc, PLL

anterior border of the vertebral canal

pedicles

lateral border of vertebral canal

laminae and ligamentum flavum

posterior border of vertebral canal

spinal cord, nerve roots, meninges, and blood vessels

contents of vertebral canal

vertebral body and intervertebral disc

anterior border of intervertebral foramen

superior and inferior articular processes, facet joint, and associated joint capsule

posterior border of intervertebral foramen

inferior vertebral notch of pedicle of superior vertebrae

superior border of intervertebral foramen

superior vertebral notch of pedicle of inferior vertebrae

inferior border of intervertebral foramen

dorsal root ganglion, spinal nerve roots, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and fat

contents of intervertebral foramen

superior vertebral notch

inferior vertebral notch

TLF

• deep fascial complex that forms the sheath of the erector spinae muscle

• important for stabilization and load transfer

• acts as a “myofascial girdle”

• erector spinae and latissimus dorsi attach here 

• transversus abdominus (TA) and internal oblique (IO)

thoracolumbar fascia

What does TLF stand for?

trapezius

latissimus dorsi

rhomboid major

rhomboid minor

levator scapulae

trapezius, latissimus dorsi, rhomboid major, rhomboid minor, levator scapulae

Name all 5 of the extrinsic back muscles: superficial layer

acromion process

superior angle of scapula

spine of scapula

medial border of scapula

lateral border of scapula

inferior angle of scapula

serratus posterior superior, serratus posterior inferior

Name the 2 extrinsic back muscles: intermediate layer

serratus posterior superior

serratus posterior inferior

two

How many layers of extrinsic back muscles are there?

splenius capitis, splenius cervicis

Name the 2 intrinsic back muscles: superficial layer

splenius capitis

splenius cervicis