Vertebral Column

Primary Curves of Vertebral Column

Thoracic

Sacral

When are the primary Curves Present

Before or just after birth

What are the secondary curves of the Vertebral Column

Cervical

Lumbar

How do the cervical curves become present

forms when holding up head

How does the Lumbar Curve form

forms with walking

Scoliosis

Lateral S-Shape

Congenital- one misformed vertebrae

Kyphosis

usually caused by osteoporosis

Lordosis

Caused by weakened abdominal muscles

Cervical Typical Vertebrae

7

C3-C7

Thoracic Typical Vertebrae

12

T2-T9

Lumbar Typical vertebrae

5

L1-L5

Typical Vertebrae

Spinous Process

Superior Articular Facet

Transverse Process

Body

Pedicle

Lamina

Vertebral Foramen

Typical Cervical Vertebrae (C3-C7) have what

Bifid Spinous Process

Transverse Foramen (vertebral a.a. run through)

Typical Thoracic Vertebrae (T2-T9) have what

Spinous Process projects downward

Superior articular facets face posteriorly

Superior and Inferior Costal Facets (for rib attachment)

Transverse costal facet

Typical Lumbar Vertebrae (L1-L5) have what

Horizontal Spinous Process

Superior articular facets face medially (resits twisting)

Large Body

What are the typical but Fused vertebrae

Sacral and Coccyx

When does the scarum fuse?

between 16-26

Typical Sacral (S1-S5) have what

Sacral Canal

Superior BAse

Sacral promontory

Sacral Hiatus, canal and Cornua (Horns)

Sacral Canal

Sacral nerves, coccygeal nerves, filum terminale

Sacral Hiatus

5th sacral nerve exits

Dorsal and Sacral Foramina

Spinal nerve exit

Coccyx is used for

Muscle Attachment

What are the Atypical Vertebrae

C1 (atlas)

C2 (axis)

T1, 10,11,12

C1 (atlas) Are the ______

Widest

C1 (atlas) do not have ______

Spinous process or body

C2 (axis) is the _______

Strongest

C2 (axis) have a ____

Dens (odontoid Process)

What holds the dens in place

Transverse ligament

The C2 (axis) have ______ like typical cervical vertebrae

Bifid Spinous Process

T1 Atypical vertebrae have

Complete superior costal facet

Demifacet for inferior costal facet

T10 atypical vertebrae have what

Demifacet for superior costal facet

T11-12 atypical vertebrae have what

Complete costal facet for same # rib

No transverse costal facets (because of floating ribs)

Cartilaginous Joints: Synchrondroses

Hyaline Cartilage (most common)

Synarthrotic- very little movement

Where are synchrondroses joints found

Rib 1 costal cartilage

Epiphyseal plate

Cartilaginous Joints- Symphysis

Fibro-cartilage (strongest)

Amphiarthrotic- some what moveable

Examples of symphysis

intervertebral discs

Pubic Symphysis

Synovial Joints- Diarthrotic (freely movable)

Articular cartilages

Synovial Fluid

Synovial membrane

Intervertebral joints are where

between the bodies C2-S1

There is no intervertebral joint where?

C1 and S1-S5

The anterior portion

Intervertebral joints are _________

Symphyses-Fibrocartilage

Vertebral bodies are united by _____

Longitudinal Ligaments

What are the two longitudinal ligaments

anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL)

posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL)

Intervertebral discs have a lot of _____ __To act as__

Collagen Fibers

Shock Absorbers

The most superior intervertebral disc is between

C2 and C3

the most intervertebral disc is between

L5 and S1

Intervertebral discs are thin in the thoracic because

of the ribs

The disc is composed of two regions

Anulus fibrosus

nucleus pulposus

the anulus fibrosus is what

concentric rings of fibrocartilge that insert on surface of vertebrae

Nucleus pulposus is what

elastic, fluid like, shock abosrbing

Clinically Intervertebral discs are

ruptured disc

most common in lumbar region

Ruptured disc=

cracked or broken cartilage and the nucleus pulposus herniates (leaks out) bulges out of the disc into the vertebral canal putting pressure on the spinal cord/spinal nerves

The Anterior Longitudinal ligament (ALL) extends from

Anterior surface of C1 to the surface of the sacrum

The fibers of the ALL are fixed to what

discs and periosteum

The functtion of the ALL is

Preventing hyperextension

the only ligament to limit extension

The PLL extends from

C2 to sacrum

THe PLL is well innervated with what

Pain fibers

The function of the PLL is

preventing hyperflexion

The PLL is continuous with

the tectorial membrane

Zygapophyseal facet joint is what

The facets between the superior and inferior articular facets

The Zygapophyseal joints are

Synovial joints - Plane sliding

permitting gliding movement

Accessory ligaments of Intervertebral joints

Ligamenta Flava

Interspinous ligaments

Supraspinous ligament

Intertransverse ligament

Ligamenta flava are broad elastic bands that are

thick in the lumbar region

Ligamenta flava extend from the

lamina above to lamina below

The function of the ligamenta flava is to

preserve normal curvatures, prevent abrupt flexion

Interspinous ligaments are the ______

Weakest

will rupture with hard flexion

Interspinous ligaments join what

adjacent spinous processes

Supraspinous ligament are the ______

Strongest

join adjacent spinous process

Supraspinous ligaments run

C7-Sacrum

(above C7 merges with nuchal ligament)

Intertransverse ligaments connect

Adjacent transverse processes

Which ligaments are part of the ALL to limit flexion

Ligamenta flava

interspinous ligaments

supraspinous ligament

Anterior to posterior - Accessory ligaments

ALL→ Body of vertebrae → PLL → Vertebral canal → Ligamenta flava → interspinous → (eithertherside) intertransverse ligaments → supraspinous

The craniovertebral joints are known as

Suboccipital joints

Atlanto-occipital

C0-C1

Atlanto-axial

C1-C2

The suboccipital (craniovertebral joints) differ how

Synovial only

no intervertebral discs

Location of Atlanto-occipital joint

occipital condyles articulate with superior articular facets of C1

Movement of Atlanto-accipital joint

flexion/extension of head

nodding head yes

Atlanto-occipital joint is what type

synovial- condyloid

Anterior/posterior Atlanto-occipital membranes span what

C1-Foramen magnum

Anterior/posterior Atlanto-occipital membranes have a weak

posterior

**Anterior/posterior Atlanto-occipital membranes function**

prevent excessive movement of joint

The posterior Atlanto-occipital membrane will become

Ligamenta flava

the Anterior Atlanto-occipital membranes become

ALL

Atlanto-axial joint articulates between

C1-C2

Central alantoaxial joint (c1 & dens C2) are what type

Pivot joint

rotation of no

Lateral alantoaxial joints (zygopophyseal joints between C1 and C2) are what type

Plane

gliding

Excessive rotation is prevented by the

Alar ligament

Transverse ligament of atlas

strong band that extends between lateral masses of C1

hold dens of C2 against anterior tubercle of C1

Cruciform ligament is what

superior and inferior longitudinal bands that run from alar ligaments, tectorial membrane and transverse ligament to form a cross

Alar ligaments extend from

side of dens to lateral margins of foramen magnum

Alar ligament function

check rotation

Tectorial membrane extends from

occipital bone to C1

Tectorial membrane is a continuation of

PLL

C0-C1

Anterior atlanto occipital membrane → alar→ cruciform→ tectorial membrane→ posterior atlanto occipital membrane

C1-C2

Anterior atlanto axial membrane → alar/cruciform→ tectorial membrane → posterior atlanto axial membrane

C3

All→ pll→ ligamenta flava

Neck vasculature

vertebral a.a.

Thorax vasculature

intercostal a.a.

abdomen vasculature

lumbar a.a.

pelvis vasculature

iliolumbar/sacral a.a.