Joints of the Vertebral column and Ligaments

Z joints are located where?

between adjacent vertebral arches

What type of joints are Z joints?

synovial joints surrounded by capsular ligaments with joint cavity

Hyaline cartilage

Covers articular surface in Z joints

Planes for Z joints

Cervical: transverse

Thoracic: coronal

Lumbar: sagittal

Cervical Plane

transverse for flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation

Thoracic plane

coronal for lateral flexion, rotation, limited flexion and extension

Lumbar Plane

sagittal for flexion and extension, limited rotation

Where are symphyses joints?

Between adjacent vertebral bodies

What do intervertebral discs do?

separate bodies of vertebrae from each other

Anulus fibrosus

outer portion consisted of concentric bundles of collagen fibers and fibrocartilage

Nucleus pulposus

inner portion, gelatinous with high water content

What part of the vertebral column does not have intervertebral discs?

between CV1 and CV2

3 types of ligaments

Longitudinal ligaments, anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL), posterior longitudinal ligaments (PLL)

longitudinal ligaments

length of vertebral column to strengthen vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs

Anterior longitudinal ligaments location

anterior surface of vertebral bodies from occipital bone to sacrum

what does the anterior longitudinal ligament do?

limits excessive extension of vertebral column, reinforces annulus fibrosus anterioly

where is the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL)

posterior side of vertebral bodies from axis CV2 to sacrum

PLL description

within vertebral canal, broadens over intervertebral discs, narrows over vertebral bodies, limits flexion, reinforces annulus fibrosus

ligamentum flauvm

yellow, strong, bit elastic, attaches from lamina to lamina

What does the ligamentum flavum do?

limits flexion, provides postural support of vertebral column

Supraspinous ligament

strong fibrous cord, connects spinous processes from CV7 to sacrum, limits flexion

Capsular ligaments

surround synovial z joints

interspinous ligaments

connect adjacent spinous processes, limits flexion

intertransverse ligaments

connects adjacent transverse processes, limits contralateral flexion

Atlantooccipital joints (CV1 and occiput)

Between superior articular surface/facet of lateral mass of CV1and occipital condyles

What type of joints are atlantooccipital joints?

Synovial joints

Anterior and posterior atlantooccipital membranes

connect margins of foramen magnum of the skull and the anterior and posterior arches of CV1

Atlantoaxial joints (CV1 and CV2)

2 lateral and 1 median joints

2 lateral joints in atlantoaxial joints are where?

between inferior articular surface of lateral masses of CV1 and superior fact for CV2

where are median joints?

between CV2 dens and CV1 anterior arch

Rotation movement

skull and CV1 rotate on CV2 as unit

What type of joint is a pivot joint?

median joint

tectorial membrane

covers posterior surface of odontoid process, apical, alar, cruciate ligaments

cruciform ligament

cross shaped ligament that consists of transverse and vertical part

transverse part in cruciform ligament

transverse ligament of atlas holds CV2 dens against CV1 anterior arch

vertical part in cruciform ligament

posterior surface of body of axis to anterior margin of foramen magnum

apical ligament

connects apex of odontoid process to anterior margin of foramen magnum

alar ligaments

extend from side of dens to occipital condyles, check side to side head movements