Spine

Question 1

Describe the vertebral column

Answer 1

• 7 cervical
• 12 thoracic
• 5 lumbar
• 5 sacral (fused)
• 4 coccygeal (fused)

Question 2

Functions of the spine

Answer 2

• Support body weight
• Transmit forces through pelvis to lower limb
• Carry and position head
• Brace and help manoeurve upper limbs
• Protects spinal cord

Question 3

What are examples of abdominal curves?

Answer 3

Lordosis
Kyphosis
Scoliosis

Question 4

Describe a typical vertebra

Answer 4

Body: weight-bearing
Arch: Pedicle: attaches arch to body
Lamina: arch from pedicle to midline
Foramen for spinal cord, spinous processes and transverse processes

Question 5

What are the joints between vertebrae

Answer 5

4 synovial joints between articular processes: zygapophyseal
-Cervical (flexion/extension)
-Thoracic (rotation)
-Lumbar (flexion/extension)
2 symphyses between vertebral bodies

Question 6

Describe the spinal cord

Answer 6

• Sensory (dorsal) and motor (ventral)
• Nerves from lumbar and sacral levels
• Butterfly shaped centre if the cord: grey matter
• Surrounding white matter contains nerve fibres

Question 7

Describe the nerve root

Answer 7

• Nerve root divides almost as soon as it leaves the vertebral canal
• It divides into an anterior ramus (or branch) and a posterior ramus (or branch)
• By the time the nerve gets out of the bony vertebral canal it contains both sensory and motor nerve fibres and then, just on the outside of the canal it collects some sympathetic fibres from the sympathetic trunks.

Question 8

Describe the spinal meninges

Answer 8

• 3 protective sheaths around spinal cord and brain
• Innermost: pia mater
• Middle layer: arachnoid mater
• Outer layer: dura mater, durable= tough/hard

Question 9

What is the posterior ramus?

Answer 9

Motor and sensory branch travels anteriorly and posteriorly from spine

Question 10

What are the muscles that act superficially on the back?

Answer 10

Splenius Capitus and Cervicis

-Bilaterally extend and unilaterally rotate back

Question 11

Describe the erector spinae?

Answer 11

Iliocoastalis, Longissimus, Spinalis

-Spinal extension and lateral flexion

Question 12

Describe the thoracolumbar fascia

Answer 12

Lumbar fascia that is in between erector spinae muscles

Question 13

Describe the hypaxial (abdominal) muscles

Answer 13

• Flex and rotate abdominal muscles
• Transverse Abdominus
• Internal Oblique
• External Oblique
• Rectus Abdominus

Question 14

Describe Transverse Abdominus

Answer 14

Compress abdomen, innervated by thoracic spinal nerves T8-T12

Question 15

Describe Internal Oblique

Answer 15

Compress abdomen, flexes & rotates trunk. Innervated by lower intercoastal nerves

Question 16

Describe External Oblique

Answer 16

Compresses abdomen, flexes & rotates trunk. Innervated by lower intercoastal nerves

Question 17

Describe Rectus Abdominus

Answer 17

Trunk flexion, innervated by thoracic spinal nerves.