Ch 5 Low Back Pain, Spinal Anatomy, and Core Stability

Vocabulary flashcards detailing spinal anatomy, vertebral mechanics, core musculature, and the causes, prevention, and treatment of acute and chronic low back pain.

Cervical Section

The spinal segment located in the neck, consisting of 7 vertebrae arranged in a concave curve that supports the head.

Thoracic Section

The spinal segment corresponding to the upper back and chest region, composed of 12 vertebrae arranged in a convex curve.

Lumbar Section

The lower back segment consisting of 5 vertebrae arranged in a concave curve, which carries a large portion of body weight and represents the most common site of back pain.

Sacral Section

The spinal segment situated below the lower back in the gluteal area, composed of 5 vertebrae arranged in a convex curve.

Coccyx

The terminal portion of the spinal column consisting of 4 fused vertebrae that appear as a single structure without an anatomical curve.

Body of the Vertebrae

The anterior, weight-bearing structural block of a spinal bone that directly absorbs and manages compressive forces from body weight and physical activity.

Vertebral Arch

The posterior bony ring of a spinal segment that encloses the neural canal, functioning to surround and shield the spinal cord.

Foramen

The hollow opening created by the posterior bony ring through which the spinal cord passes.

Spinous Process

The bony projection that extends posteriorly from the back of the vertebra, serving as an attachment point for muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Transverse Processes

The lateral bony projections extending from the sides of each vertebra that act as attachment sites for muscles and ligaments that move the spine.

Intervertebral Disc

A pad of elastic cartilage situated between adjacent vertebrae that compresses, expands, and recoils to act as a shock absorber.

Slipped Disc

A condition in which a fibrocartilaginous spinal cushion shifts out of alignment and compresses adjacent neural tissue, triggering pain signals that can be perceived in distant areas such as the legs or feet.

Nerve Roots

Axonal bundles branching directly off the spinal cord that transmit sensory signals inward and motor impulses outward.

Oppositional Movement

The biomechanical coordination during walking and running where contralateral limbs swing forward in unison, stabilizing trunk rotation to keep the center of gravity along a straight line.

Rectus Abdominis

A vertical anterior trunk muscle that acts primarily to produce flexion or bending actions.

Transverse Abdominis

The deepest abdominal muscle layer oriented horizontally across the midsection; when engaged, it tightens like a corset, aids rotation, and flattens the lower back toward a surface.

External Oblique

A trunk muscle that contracts to provide rotational force and pull the hip backward.

Internal Oblique

A rotational trunk muscle that contracts to pull the hip forward.

Low Back Pain Prevalence

A musculoskeletal condition reported by approximately 85% of Americans by age 50, recognized as the second most common ailment after headaches.

Type I Muscle Fibers

Slow-twitch, oxygen-burning, fatigue-resistant units prevalent in the core that generate low force, excel at sustained endurance, and make gradual, marginal improvements over time.

Acute Back Pain

Sudden spinal discomfort typically caused by an immediate tissue injury, characterized by involuntary muscle spasms and inflammatory stiffness due to fluid accumulation.

Chronic Back Pain

Spinal discomfort that persists for more than 3 months, requiring escalating management strategies ranging from medication and physical therapy to electrical stimulation and surgery.

TENS Units

Transcutaneous electrical devices that stimulate muscle contractions in patients experiencing too much pain to voluntarily flex and strengthen stabilizing tissues.

McHill Curl Up

A core exercise where an individual lifts only the shoulders off the floor to contract abdominal muscles while avoiding full range of motion flexion.

Isometric Side Bridge

A core endurance exercise, also known as a side plank, that stabilizes the lateral trunk by holding a static position.

Range of Motion

The full attainable degree of movement through which a specific joint can travel without incurring pain or tissue damage.

Joint Capsules

Semi-elastic fibrous tissue envelopes that surround articulating bone junctions, enclosing synovial fluid while providing structural integrity.

Arthritis

A degenerative joint disease marked by inflammation, breakdown of articular cartilage, and localized discomfort that limits movement.

Soft Tissues

Non-bony biological structures, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia, that support, cushion, and connect bodily frameworks.

Collagen

White fibrous structural proteins within connective tissues that confer high tensile strength and resist mechanical stress.

Elastin

Yellow, highly pliable protein fibers within connective structures that allow biological tissues to stretch and recoil.

Elastic Elongation

Temporary, reversible lengthening of connective tissue fibers that returns to resting dimensions once tensile force is removed.

Plastic Elongation

Permanent, long-term lengthening and structural remodeling of connective tissue fibers resulting from consistent, sustained stretching protocols.

Proprioceptor

A specialized sensory receptor within muscles, tendons, and joints that detects positional change, stretch rate, and tension.

Antagonist Muscle

A muscle that relaxes and lengthens in opposition to a contracting prime mover to permit unobstructed joint movement.

Osteoporosis

A skeletal disorder characterized by reduced bone mineral density, microarchitectural deterioration, and increased susceptibility to fractures.

Static Stretching

A flexibility method where a muscle group is slowly lengthened to the endpoint of motion and held motionless for a designated interval.

Ballistic Stretching

A rapid, momentum-based flexibility technique using bouncing or jerking movements to drive limbs beyond their typical range.

Dynamic Stretching

A functional movement preparation drill that transitions joints through active ranges of motion using controlled, continuous momentum without static holds.

Passive Stretching

A flexibility technique where an outside force, partner, gravity, or apparatus provides the tension to lengthen targeted tissues while the subject remains relaxed.

Active Stretching

A flexibility technique achieved entirely by contracting the opposing muscle group to lengthen the target tissue without external assistance.

Vertebrae

The series of individual bony segments stacked together to form the spinal column, guarding the neural axis and anchoring core tissues.

Core Muscles

The comprehensive network of stabilizing trunk and abdominal musculature spanning from the pelvis to the upper torso that maintains posture and transfers mechanical loads.