dpt 1 anatomy - back

what vertebrae are fused and what are movable?

movable - cervical, thoracic, lumbar
fused - sacrum, coccyx

function of vertebral column?

1. posture
2. support body weight
3. locomotion
4. protect spinal cord and roots

primary curvature of vertebral column

kyphosis - thoracic and sacral

secondary curvature of vertebral column

lordosis - cervical and lumbar

Accentuated primary curve =

increased lordosis

Osteoporosis of thoracic vertebral body + increased thoracic kyphosis will lead to

potential for compression fracture

what does the vertebral foramen contain?

spinal cord and meninges

spinal canal

stack all vertebrae together and the vertebral foramina form the spinal canal

intervertebral foramen is formed by

inferior vertebral notch of superior vertebra and superior vertebral notch of inferior vertebra

what does intervertebral foramen contain

dorsal root ganglion

• nerve root join at external border to form spinal nerves

spina bifida forms when

lamina doesn’t come together and fuse into the spinal process

what vertebra is this?

cervical

what is bifid spinal process and what vertebrae have it

C2-6 —> forked spinal process

what’s your vertebra prominens

C7 —> longest

what does the transverse foramen contain

vertebral artery

what part of the vertebra has heart shape body

thoracic

what part of your vertebrae has circular vertebral foramen?

thoracic

what part of the vertebrae has spinous processes pointing sharp inferiorly

thoracic

what part of the vertebrae has short pedicle

lumbar

what is costal facet and what vertebrae have that

the facets on transverse process of the thoracic vertebra that attach to the ribs

what vertebra has short spinous processes that point directly posteriorly

lumbar

how many foramina does the sacrum have on each side

4

what is sacral hiatus and why do we have it?

• sacral hiatus is the opening that leads to sacral/vertebral canal

• we have it bc there is no lamina or spinous process at S5

coccyx has no

vertebral arch

what kind of joint is the intervertebral joint

secondary cartilaginous joint/symphyses

the intervertebral disc interface with the vertebral bodies. the vertebral body part of the articulation is covered with what? and what does it do?

hyaline cartilage - allows diffusion of nutrients

there is no intervertebral disc between which two vertebrae

C1 and C2

the last disc inferiorly is at

L5/S1

structure of the intervertebral disc?

• annulus fibrosus

• nucleus pulposus

why is disc herniation posterior

bc lamellae are thinner and less numerous posteriorly

why is annular tear super painful

bc only the outer 1/3 of the annulus fibrosis is innervated

what is nucleus pulposus

the semifluid center part of the disc

• more cartilaginous than fibrous

• contains 88% water at birth but we lose water content as we age

• reabsorbs water at night (discs make up ¼ height of vertebra column)

• function as shock absorbers

• avascular → get nutrients by diffusion from blood vessels at periphery of the disc

uncoveretebral joint of Luschka

between uncinate process of C3-C6 and vertebral body above

• covered with cartilage

• has a capsule w fluid

• common to have spurs here contributing to neck pain

uncinate process

C3-C6

Anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) function

• connects anterior aspects of vertebral bodies and discs

• prevent hyperextension of the spine

• strong and broad

where does ALL run

from occiput (posterior aspect of the foramen magnum) down to the sacrum

posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) attaches to?

the intervertebral discs and the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies from C2 to sacrum

• located within the vertebral canal (anterior to the spinal cord)

PLL is

• weaker and narrower than ALL

• no coverage posterolaterally

• prevents hyperflexion and posterior disc protrusion

• innervated → painful posterior bulging disc

types of joints

• cartilaginous

• fibrous

• synovial (plane, pivot, saddle, hinge, condyloid, ball&socket)

what kind of joint is the facet joint and what motion does it allow

• plane joint (a type of synovial joint) - has fibrous capsule with a synovial membrane and covered with hyaline cartilage

• gliding movements that allow for flexion, extension, side bending, and rotation in cervical and lumbar region

the facet joint (zygapophyseal joint) is formed by

the inferior articular process of the more superior vertebra and the superior articular process of the more inferior vertebra

the facet joint has some weightbearing in what region of the spine

cervical and lumbar

facet joint is innervated by

medial branch of dorsal primary rami

accessory ligaments

• ligamentum flavum

• interspinous ligaments

• supraspinous ligaments

• intertransverse ligaments

ligamentum flavum

elastic bands joining adjacent vertebra (looking yellowish bc of elastin fibers)

function of ligamentum flavum

• helps preserve normal spinal curves

• helps us straighten after flexion

• not uncommon to see ligamentum flavum hypertrophy on an MRI report → can impinge nerves and narrow space within vertebral canal

interspinous ligaments

connects root to apex of spinous processes

supraspinous ligament

tips of spinous processes from C7 to sacrum

ligamentum nuchae

an extension of the supraspinous ligament in the neck which provides more surface area for attachment of muscles

intertransverse ligaments

connect adjacent transverse processes

what type of joint is the Atlanto-Occipital (O/A) joint and what motion does it allow

condyloid joint (a type of synovial joint)

• allows flexion & extension and a little side bending and rotation

• allows nodding → the “yes” joint

articulating surface of the O/A joint

superior facet of the lateral masses of C1 with the occipital condyles of the occipital bone

what type of joint is the Atlanto-Axial (A/A) joint & motion allowed?

pivot joint - atlas pivots around dens of axis

• aka the “no” joint

• cranial and C1 rotate on C2 as a unit

articulating surfaces for A/A joints

inferior facets of the lateral masses of C1 and the superior facets of C2 (gliding joint); and the dens of C2 on the posterior aspect of the anterior notch of atlas (pivot joint)

where is the first intervertebral disc?

between C2 and C3

• there is no disc at O/A and A/A joint

anterior and posterior O/A membrane