Lec 12 Flashcards
(12 cards)
What are the five regions of the spine?
Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacrum
Coccyx
How many vertebrae are in each region?
Cervical: 7
Thoracic: 12
Lumbar: 5
Sacrum: 5 fused
Coccyx: 3-5 fused
What are the spine’s curves and their directions?
Thoracic: Anterior (kyphosis)
Cervical & Lumbar: Posterior (lordosis)
What are common spinal deviations?
Lordosis: Increased posterior curve in cervical & lumbar
Kyphosis: Increased anterior curve in thoracic
Lumbar Kyphosis: Reduced lordosis, flat-back appearance
Scoliosis: Lateral spinal curve
What do the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments control?
Anterior: Limits extension
Posterior: Limits flexion
What is a herniated disk?
A herniated disk occurs when the inner core (nucleus pulposus) of a spinal disc pushes through a tear in the outer layer (annulus fibrosus)
What causes a herniated disk?
Substantial weakening of the disc, combined with compression
What joints are found between vertebrae?
Intervertebral: cartilaginous (fibrocartilage discs)
Facet joints: gliding synovial (arthrodial)
Atlantooccipital: hinge-like
Atlantoaxial: pivot
Which spinal region allows the most flexion?
Lumbar (≈80° trunk flexion)
Which spinal region has the least flexion?
Thoracic (moderate flexion)
What does the atlantooccipital joint do?
Nods head (flex/extend), slight lateral flexion
What is the function of the atlantoaxial joint?
Head rotation; pivot joint; most mobile vertebral joint
