Risks of Hyperlordosis: increased vulnerability to injury, disc degeneration and weakness, change to postur and appearance

Main function of Cervical Spine: support weight of head

Main function of Thoracic spine: support rib cage and protect its contents

Main function of Lumbar Spine: bear weight of the body.

Pedicles: posterior to vertebral body

Articular processes: facets on articular surfaces. Zygapophysial joints. Different in each region of spine

Laminae: continuous with the Pedicles. Tallest in thoracic, thickest in lumbar. Where Spinal processes attach to vertebrae

Vertebral foramen: Size and shape varies by spinal region

Vertebral canal: houses spinal cord, meninges, nerve roots, blood vessels. Largest and triangular in cervical, smallest and circular in thoracic,

Intervertebral foramina: between two vertebrae. 6 structures create

Ligaments: Strong fibrous bands, stabilizes spine and protect discs, bundles of collagen. Tensile strength

9 cardinal ligaments: IVD (intervertebral disc), ALL (anterior longitudinal ligament), PLL (posterior longitudinal ligament), Ligamentum Flavum, Capsular ligament (posterolateral), Interspinous, ligamentum nuchae, supraspinous ligament, intertransverse ligament

ALL: occiput to sacrum. Limits extension. Firmly attached to the superior and inferior body endplates of vertebrae. Widens as it descends. Thin and cord-like in the upper cervical region. Provides protection from hyperlordosis

PLL: inferior continuation of tectorial membrane. Limits flexion. Attaches to IVD, reinforces

Tectorial Membrane: extension of PLL

Ligamental Flava: Limits flexion. C1/C2-L5/S1. High elastin. Thickens with age causing stenosis

Interspinous ligament: found between each spinoses. Limits flexion and posterior shearing (translation).

Ligamentum nuchae: limits flexion.

Supraspinous ligament: attaches to tips of SPs from C7-sacrum. Limits flexion

Intertransverse ligaments: limits lateral flexion. Attaches two adjacent TPs

Capsular ligaments: covers posterolateral aspect of Z joints. 3 layers: outer (fibrous), middle (vascular loose areolar tissue), Inner (synovial). Longer and looser in the cervical region. 2nd structure to be damaged during whiplash.

IVD: outer layer (annulus fibrosus) made of fibrocartilage, inner (nucleus pulposus), limits all ranges of motion.

Annuli Fibrosis: multiple lamellar 65* angle to verticals

Nucleus Pulposus: thickest in lumbar

Vertebral end plate: responsible for imbibition (water in and out, Causing swelling).

Planes of movement for vertebrae.