Spinal Anatomy Flashcards
(61 cards)
1
Q
What area is considered the upper cervical spine?
A
Base of occiput, C1, C2
2
Q
What area is considered the lower cervical spine?
A
C3-C7
3
Q
What is the primary spinal curve?
A
Kyphotic curve in Tspine
4
Q
What are the secondary curves in the spine?
A
Lordotic curve in Cspine and Lspine
5
Q
What is neutral spine?
A
- presence of natural curves
- optimal position to deal with stress and heavy loads
6
Q
Mobility zones of the body:
A
- Tspine
- hip
- ankle
- wrist
- shoulder
7
Q
Stability zones of the body:
A
- neck
- Lspine
- knee
8
Q
Vertebral foramen formed by:
A
- vertebral body (anterior)
- Pericles (lateral)
- laminae (posterior)
9
Q
Intervertebral foramen formed by:
A
- posterior aspect of the vertebral body
- adjacent pedicle
- anterior aspect of the articular process
10
Q
Which vertebrae have bifid SPs?
A
C3-C6
11
Q
C1 aka…
A
Atlas
12
Q
C2 aka…
A
Axis
13
Q
What is the carotid tubercle?
A
Anterior tubercle of C6 TPs. Anterior tubercles are on all TPs, but carotid ones are larger and are a landmark for palpation. Functions to separate vertebral artery and carotid artery in this area of neck.
14
Q
Where are the uncinate processes located?
A
On supero-lateral margins of vertebral bodies of C3-C6 (sometimes C7)
15
Q
At rest, the hyoid bone sits in front of what vertebral body?
A
C3
16
Q
What is the strongest Cspine vertebra?
A
Axis
17
Q
5 types of facets in Tspine:
A
- costal facets
- Demi facets
- costotubercular facets
- superior articular facets
- inferior articular facets
18
Q
Describe the rule of 3s:
A
T1-3, 12: SP at same level as TPs
T4-6, 11: SP is 1/2 vertebral level below the TPs
T7-10: SP is 1 full vertebral level below the TPs
19
Q
What are supernumerary/subnumerary ribs?
A
- additional or absence of ribs
- cervical rib: most common supernumerary - C7 vertebra (cervical ribs).
- lumbar rib
20
Q
What are supernumerary/subnumerary vertebrae?
A
Additional or absence of vertebrae
21
Q
What is sacralization?
A
L5 vertebra is fused or partially fused to sacrum
22
Q
What is lumbarization?
A
S1 vertebra is not fused or not fully fused to sacrum. Like having extra lumbar vertebra. S1 vertebra becomes lumbar.
23
Q
What is the function of discs?
A
- withstand biomechanical forces
- provide tensile strength to allow movement to otherwise rigid vertebral column
- provide protection of nerves, brain, and vertebra
24
Q
Discs account for approximately ___% of the total length of the vertebral column.
A
25%
25
How are discs named?
By the vertebra above
26
Which levels of the spine do no have a disc between them?
- occiput and C1
- C1 and C2
27
What is the function of ligaments?
Limit movement and provide passive stability
28
Describe the anterior longitudinal ligament:
- runs along anterior aspect of vertebrae and discs
- intersegmental
- continuous ligament
- runs from sacrum to base of occiput by atlanto-occipital membrane
29
Describe the intertransverse ligament:
- intrasegmental
- paired ligaments
- runs between adjacent TPs on each side of the vertebrae
30
Describe the interspinous ligament:
- intrasegmental
- unpaired
- runs between adjacent SPs of C1 and S1
- connects with the fibres of the ligamentum flavum and supraspinous ligaments in the cervical region.
- innervated with nociceptors
31
Describe the supraspinous ligament:
- intersegmental
- functionally continuous
- runs between C7 and mid lumbar spine along tips of SPs
- connects with interspinous ligament
- in Lspine - also blends with thoraco-lumbar fascia
32
Describe the ligamentum flavum:
- paired
- intrasegmental
- runs between adjacent laminae and cover anterior aspects of facet joints
- consists primarily of yellow elastic tissue
- becomes taut and stretched during flex of spine, remains taught during extension
- clinically prone to thickening
33
Describe the posterior longitudinal ligament:
- intersegmental
- functionally continuous
- runs along the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies and their respective discs
- covers anterior aspect of the vertebral canal
- innervated by nociceptors
- area of the Lspine discs that are not covered by this ligament becomes the most common site of herniation
34
Describe facet joint capsules:
- well innervated, potential source of spinal pain
- has proprioceptive capacities
- encapsulates entire facet joint
- in neutral, it provides stability to the joint in that position
35
Which ligaments are only in the Cspine?
- cruciate/cruciform (transverse)
- alar
- apical
- ligamentum nuchae
- tectorial membrane
- atlantoaxial/occipital membranes
36
Describe the cruciate/cruciform ligament:
- cross. Has vertical and transverse bands
- runs between medial aspect of adjacent lateral masses and sits just posterior to the dens
- functions to prevent displacement of the dens
- unpaired
- transverse ligament is the primary stabilizer of the upper Cspine
37
Describe the alar ligament:
- left and right
- runs between dens and occipital condyles
- functions to limit rotation > contralateral side flex
- primary stabilizer of upper Cspine
38
Describe the apical ligament:
- runs from tip of dens to anterior margin of foramen magnum
- not considered a significant stabilizer
- segmental
- unpaired
39
Describe the ligamentum nuchae:
- continuous with superspinous ligament
- runs between occiput and C7
- functions to stabilize and separate muscles in the posterior neck and acts as an attachment site for other muscles
40
Describe the tectorial membrane:
Cephalic continuation of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Attaches to the side of the foramen magnum. Serves as a sling to the spinal cord as it enters vertebral column.
41
Describe the atlantoaxial/occipital membranes:
- anterior atlantoaxial/occipital membrane is an extension of anterior longitudinal ligament
- posterior atlanto/occipital membrane serves to secure the weight of the head on the neck
42
What 3 ligaments are in the thoracic spine only?
- costotransverse
- intra-articular
- radiate
43
What 2 ligaments are only found in the Lspine?
- iliolumbar
- thoracolumbar fascia
44
What is an intervertebral articulation?
- joint between adjacent vertebral bodies and the disc that sits in between them
- often referred to as a segment
- labelled as L3/L4 intervertebral joint
45
What are zygopophyseal joints?
- facet joints or Z joints
- superior and inferior articular processes are covered by hylan cartilage and are termed the facets.
- inferior articular process of vertebrae above with the superior articular process of the inferior vertebrae forms a facet joint
- a typical vertebra will be part of 4 facet joints.
- synovial joints
46
How do you name a facet joint?
- name the side and the vertebrae involved
- ex. right T11/T12 facet joint
47
What is the articular pillar?
Line that goes through the facet joints
48
Describe the orientation of facet joints in the Cspine:
Oriented in an oblique plain (45 degrees from frontal plane)
49
Describe the orientation of the facet joints in the Tspine.
Almost vertical in nature, slightly facing away from the midline
50
Describe the orientation of the facet joints in the Lspine.
Facing somewhat towards the midline
51
Describe the uncovertebral (uncinate) joints:
- C3-7
- formed by the uncinate processes of C3-7
- the superior articular projection articulates with the inferior lateral aspect of the vertebrae above, as well as the disc in between to form the uncovertebral joint
52
Describe the atlanto-occipital joint:
- L and R
- articulation between C0 and C1 (occipital condyles and superior articular processes of the C1 vertebra)
- essentially a facet joint
- synovial
53
Which joint is called the “yes” joint?
Atlanto-occipital joint
54
Which joint is called the “no” joint?
Atlanto-axial joints
55
Describe the atlanto-axial joints.
- 3 of them (median, L and R lateral).
- median: anterior aspect of the dens with the posterior aspect of the anterior arch
- median: synovial pivot joint
- lateral: facet joints between C1/C2
- lateral: synovial, planar joints
56
What are the 6 articulations in the Tspine?
- costovertebral (costotransverse and joints of head of rib)
- costochondral
- chondrosternal
- interchondral
- sternoclavicular
- manubriosternal/xiphisternal
57
Describe the costovertebral joints.
- both are synovial planar joints
- costotransverse: between tubercle of the rib and the TPs
- joints of head of rib: head of rib with vertebral body
58
Describe the costochondral joints.
- between ribs 1-10 on L/R
- between ribs and costal cartilage
- primary cartilaginous joints
59
Describe chondrosternal joints.
- ribs 1-7
- more clinically known as sterno-costal joints
- between costal cartilage of the rib to sternum
- joints in 2-7th ribs are synovial
60
Describe interchondral joints.
Between costal cartilages of ribs 6-10
61
Describe the manubriosternal/xiphisternal joint.
- within sternum
- between distal part of the manubrium and superior part of body of sternum
- xiphisternal: between inferior part of body of sternum and xiphoid process
- both are secondary cartilaginous symphysis joints
