Back Flashcards
Location of the end of spinal cord
at birth
at adulthood
At birth = L3
Adult = Grow and somes up to L1/L2
Ligaments passed through on LP
Supraspinous ligament first = Connects tips of spinous processes
LIgamentum flavum = First ‘give’
Dura mater = ‘second give’
Describe the ligaments present throughout the vertebrae
1) Anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments: Long ligaments that run the length of the vertebral column, covering the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs.
2) Ligamentum flavum: Connects the laminae of adjacent vertebrae.
3) Interspinous ligament: Connects the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae.
4) Supraspinous ligament: Connects the tips of adjacent spinous processes.
Label the parts of the vertebrae
Vertebral body = Obvious enough
Spinous processes – each vertebra has a single spinous process, centred posteriorly at the point of the arch.
Transverse processes – each vertebra has two transverse processes, which extend laterally and posteriorly from the vertebral body. In the thoracic vertebrae, the transverse processes articulate with the ribs.
Pedicles – connect the vertebral body to the transverse processes.
Lamina – connect the transverse and spinous processes.
Articular processes – form joints between one vertebra and its superior and inferior counterparts. The articular processes are located at the intersection of the laminae and pedicles.
What is unique about cervical vertebrae
Bifid spinous process – the spinous process bifurcates at its distal end.
Exceptions to this are C1 (no spinous process) and C7 (spinous process is longer than that of C2-C6 and may not bifurcate).
Transverse foramina – an opening in each transverse process, through which the vertebral arteries travel to the brain.
Triangular vertebral foramen
What is unique thoreacic vertebrae
Each thoracic vertebra has two ‘demi facets,’ superiorly and inferiorly placed on either side of its vertebral body. The demi facets articulate with the heads of two different ribs.
On the transverse processes of the thoracic vertebrae, there is a costal facet for articulation with the shaft of a single rib. For example, the head of Rib 2 articulates with the inferior demi facet of thoracic vertebra 1 (T1) and the superior demi facet of T2, while the shaft of Rib 2 articulates with the costal facets of T2.
The spinous processes of thoracic vertebrae are oriented obliquely inferiorly and posteriorly. In contrast to the cervical vertebrae, the vertebral foramen of thoracic vertebrae is circular
What is unique lumbar vertebrae
Lumbar vertebrae have very large vertebral bodies, which are kidney shaped. They lack the characteristic features of other vertebrae, with no transverse foramina, costal facets, or bifid spinous processes.
However, like the cervical vertebrae, they have a triangular-shaped vertebral foramen. Their spinous processes are shorter than those of thoracic vertebrae and do not extend inferiorly below the level of the vertebral body.
Whats unique sacral vertebrae
The sacrum is a collection of five fused vertebrae. It is described as an inverted triangle, with the apex pointing inferiorly. On the lateral walls of the sacrum are facets for articulation with the pelvis at the sacroiliac joints.
Whats unique coccygeal
The coccyx is a small bone which articulates with the apex of the sacrum. It is recognised by its lack of vertebral arches. Due to the lack of vertebral arches, there is no vertebral canal.
What passes through the greater sciatic foramen
Greater sciatic foramen is divided into supra and infra piriform foramen above and below the piriformis muscle
Suprapiriform foramen: Superior gluteal artery and vein, superior gluteal nerve
Infrapiriform foramen: Sciatic nerve, Pudendal nerve, inferior gluteal artery and vein, inferior gluteal nerve, posterior femoral cutaneous nerve, nerve to obturator itnernus and quadratus femorus
Where does the dural sac, and spinal cord end in adults
Dural sac = Dura layer of meninges ends at S2
Spinal cord ends at L1
What holds the spinal cord in the dural sheath?
Denticulate ligaments
These ligaments are continuations of the pia mater
This has intermittent projections out to the dura mater to keep the spinal cord in place
Quardatus lumborum muscle
Muscle of posterior abdominal wall or ‘back’
From inferior border of 12th rib to iliac crest
Functions = Lateral flexion of back, and depression of rib cage
Innervation = 12th intercostal nerve and lumbar nerves
Describe anatomy of the axis
This is C2
Quite obvious as it has the odontoid process (dens) = Which extends up and articulates with the anterior arch of the atlas
Descirbe anatomy of the atlas
This is C1
Remember it has the anterior arch which articulates with the odontoid/dens from the axis below
It has no vertebral body, and no spinous process
Instead it has lateral masses = These are connected by the anterior and posterior arches = And they each contain a superior facet for articulating with occipital condyles on skull, and alos inferior articular facets for articulating with axis below
Ligamentum nuchae
This is triangular sheet of fascia that runs from skull to spinous process of C 7
So its like suprapinous ligament, but in the cervical vertebrae
It runs in the sagittal plane
