Joints & Movements of the Vertebral Column #1

Question 1

List the 4 types of vert column motility

Answer 1

1. Flexion
2. Rotation
3. Lat. flexion
4. Extension

Question 2

Which vert column region has less flexion + extension?

Answer 2

flexion

Question 3

List the degrees of lat. flexion of each vert column region

Answer 3

• lumbar: 20
• thoracic: 20
• cervical: 35

Question 4

How does the structure lumbar region of vert column affect its movement?

Answer 4

• synovial joints limit rotation due to curved AF

Question 5

How does the structure of thoracic region of vert column affect its movement?

Answer 5

get more rotation due to vert + flat art

Question 6

How does the structure of cervical region of vert column affect its movement?

Answer 6

pivot joint between C1 + C2 - get more rotation

Question 7

What is forward flexion?

Answer 7

bending forwards flexes lumbar spine

Question 8

What is forward flexion + axial rotation?

Answer 8

bending forwards + upper body rotated at same time

Question 9

What is lat. flexion?

Answer 9

lat. bending prod asymm bending common in manual handling

Question 10

Which pos of spine is the most unstable and why?

Answer 10

• lat. flexion

- ass with disc prolapse + back pain

Question 11

What determines mobility of vert column?

Answer 11

• movements poss between art. joints on laminae

- shape + orientation of joints dictates direction + range of movements poss between adj vert

Question 12

What type of joint is the facet joint?

Answer 12

• synovial

- has 2 art surfaces covered with hyaline cartilage enclosed by synovial mem + joint capsule

Question 13

What extra art do thoracic vert have?

Answer 13

for ribs

Question 14

What does intervert disc allow?

Answer 14

synovial joints to move

Question 15

What is the problem if vert were to just rest on top of each other?

Answer 15

give adequate joint for weight bearing + allow gliding but flatness of vert would not allow rocking movements ass with flexion + extension

Question 16

What is the solution to the issue of having vert resting on top of each other?

Answer 16

• interpose bodies with layer of strong but deformable tissue with 3 major requirements:
  1. strong enough to sustain weight i.e. transfer load from 1 vert to next without collapsing
  2. deformable to accomm rocking movements of vert without compromising strength
  3. strong enough not to be injured during movement

Question 17

Why can’t the surface of vert be flat?

Answer 17

no movement

Question 18

Why can’t surface of vert be curved?

Answer 18

forces would only be going through 1 point due to limited contact

Question 19

What are the 3 components of intevert disc?

Answer 19

1. Nucleus Pulposis
2. Annulus Fibrosis
3. Vert End Plate

Question 20

What does the structure of intervert disc allow?

Answer 20

• all forces transmitted from 1 vert to other in neutral pos
• can deform + large SA means can transmit forces

Question 21

What is function of vert end plate?

Answer 21

• sep bone from rest of disc + covers area where nucleus is
• form perm barrier between nucleus + bone through which water + nutrients may pass
• prevent nucleus bulging into vert body

Question 22

Why is there movement of fluid from disc to bone?

Answer 22

provide nutrients for disc + movement of materials between the 2

Question 23

What type of joints are intervert joints?

Answer 23

secondary cartilaginous

Question 24

What are the collagen fibres in the annulus like + why?

Answer 24

• have degrees/angles of rotation
• rings not always complete
• allows slow deformation so invert discs act as shock absorber when forces transmitted between vert so don’t feel it during movement

Question 25

What happens when forced put on disc?

Answer 25

- nucleus start to deform + flatten slowly - bulging of annulus - vert end plate stops it pushing up into bone

Question 26

What is the env of the disc like at rest?

Answer 26

equ between amount of fluid in the system + forces acting on it

Question 27

What happens to synovial joints during extension?

Answer 27

closer together and so more stable

Question 28

What happens to synovial joints during flexion

Answer 28

further apart + least stable pos as not so packed together

Question 29

Describe what a grade 2 intervert disc is like

Answer 29

- nucleus appears fibrous + contains some brown pigment | - not degen

Question 30

Describe what a grade 3 intervert disc is like

Answer 30

- mod degen changes - annulus bulging into nucleus - end plate damage

Question 31

Describe what a grade 4 intervert disc is like

Answer 31

- severe degen - disruption to both end plates - disc red in height - pigmented - bits of intervert disc beginning to bulge into vert body

Question 32

What is consequence of loss of height of intevert disc?

Answer 32

- loss of height in vert foramen puts pressure on peripheral nerves as they're leaving - leads to sciatica, + degen in neck + lumbar region

Question 33

What is the consistency of the nucleus pulposis + why?

Answer 33

- toothpaste | - 70% water in adult

Question 34

What is the histology of nucleus pulposis?

Answer 34

few cartilage cells + type 1 collagen fibres

Question 35

What does the fluid nature of the pulp allow?

Answer 35

- can be deformed but vol can't be compressed | - when weight applied, red in height + exerts P on annulus

Question 36

What is structure of annulus fibrosis?

Answer 36

- highly ordered lamellae (10-20) of collagen type I | - thicker ant. + more tightly packed post.

Question 37

Why is structure of annulus important?

Answer 37

lattice construction gives disc its strength + ability to resist deformation from nuclear P + load from vert body

Question 38

What is structure of the end plates and where are they found?

Answer 38

- hyaline cartilage | - surround nucleus pulposis