Lecture 20 - Vertebral Column and back

Question 1

what are the key functions of the vertebral column?

Answer 1

a. Support and load bearing
b. Protection of the spinal cord
c. Flexibility and movement
d. Attachment for muscles and ligaments
e. Housing nerves
f. Shock absorption
g. Maintaining body height
h. Blood cell production
i. Age verification

Question 2

what are the different regions of the vertebal column

Answer 2

a. Cervical region – C1-C7
b. Thoracic region – T1-T12
c. Lumbar region – L1-L5
d. Sacrum region – S1-S5
e. Coccyx region – Coc 1

Question 3

what are the major anatomical landmarks of a typical vertebra and their basic functions

Answer 3

a. Vertebral body
i. Weight bearing, matriculate superiorly and inferiorly, epiphyseal ring
b. Vertebral arch
i. Pedicles and lamina, forms vertebral foramen, protects spinal cord
c. Spinous and transverse processes
i. Levers for muscle attachment, levers for ligamentous attachment
d. Articular processes
i. Projections with articular facets
ii. Articulate uperorly and inferiorly

Question 4

typical cervical distinctive features

Answer 4

Cervical vertebrae (C1-C7)
i. Relatively smaller and more delicate have foramen transversarium on each side
ii. Vertebral foramen is relatively large and triangular in shape
iii. Have articular facets on the transverse processes, allowing for articulation with the ribs in the cervical region

Question 5

typical thoracic vertebrae features

Answer 5

i. Have facets on vertebral body and transverse processes for articulation with the ribs
ii. Spinous processes are long and point inferiorly
iii. Have costal facets on vertebral body and transverse processes
iv. The vertebral foramen is circular or heart-shaped in thoracic vertebrae

Question 6

distinct lumbar vertebrae features

Answer 6

i. Largest and strongest spinal vertebrae
ii. Thick, roughly square-shaped
iii. Spinous processes are short, thick and project posteriorly
iv. Transverse processes are slender and do not have facets for rib articulation
v. Particularly important for weight-bearing and the intervertebral discs between lumbar vertebrae are thick, contributing to spines shock-absorbing function

Question 7

intervertebral joints

Answer 7

i. Vertebral body-disc joints
1. Secondary cartilaginous joints
2. Annulus fibrosus
3. Nucleus pulposus

Question 8

zygapophyseal joints

Answer 8

1. Plane synovial joints
2. Movement is dependent on the orientation of the articular surfaces involved
3. Superior and inferior articular processes have articular surfaces or ‘facets’ on them

Question 9

Identify the major vertebral ligaments and the respective landmarks to which they attach

Answer 9

a. Posterior longitudinal ligament and anterior longitudinal ligament – attaches to vertebral body
b. Interspinous ligament, supraspinous ligament, ligamentum flavum

Question 10

Identify, name and describe the key muscle groups of the back - extrinsic

Answer 10

i. Attach to and act on the upper limb
ii. Trapezius
iii. Levator scapulae
iv. Rhomboid minor
v. Rhomboid major
vi. Latissimus dorsi

Question 11

Identify, name and describe the key muscle groups of the back - intrinsic

Answer 11

i. Primarily attach to and act on the back
ii. Erector spinae are the prime movers of the back, particularly in the sagittal plane
iii. Deep to the erector spinae are group of short muscles collectively known as ‘transversospinalis’