Anatomy 4 Vertebral Column
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Status: s1lectnotes
Time: 2025-04-03
Tags: lecturenotes msk anatomy
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tasks:
Content:
Summary/things to note:
Objectives:
- discuss the regions of the vertebral columns
- understand the movements of the vertebral columns
- describe primary and secondary curvatures of the back
- describe the features of atypical and typical vertebra of cervical thoracic and lumbar regions
- Discuss the arrangement and functions of the vertebral connections joints and ligements
- Describe the anatomy and function of the intervertebral disc and its properties
- Discuss the muscles of the back and their function
Objective based questioning:
Rambles:
24 mobile and 9 fused vertebrae
In 5 regions
- 7 cervical
- 12 thoracic
- 5 lumbar
- 5 sacral (fused)
- 3-4 coccygeal (fused)
curvatures of the spine
Primary curvature
Thoracic and sacral
too much is called kyphosis of the region affected
secondary curvature
Cervical
Lumbar
too much is called lordosis of the region affected
scoliosis is a condition characterised by curvature on the coronal plane
movements of the the vertebral column
extension
flexion
trunk rotation
lateral flexion
Features of a typical vertebrae
the large weight bearing bit is called the ventral body. the bone bridging to the processes is called the pedicle. there are 3 processes. 2 transverse and 1 sagittal called the spinous process
Cervical vertebrae
small with 3 holes, the vertebral canal. and 2 foramen transversarium for vertebral artery
bifid at the spinous process
minimal presence of the transverse processes
for injuries to the cervical spine immobilisation is key as you can further sever
Thoracic vertebrae
lesser vertebral body
Prominent spinous and transverse processes
articulation for the ribs present
Lumbar vertebrae
Large vertebral bodies
triangular smaller foramina
large thing processes and also superior articuar processes
clinical
Space in between the lumbar vertebrae best foraccessing vertebral canal
Vertebral connections and relations:
Intervertebral joints
Zygapophyseal joint
plane synovial
cervical allows all planes of movements
thoracic allows rotation and lateral flexion as well as extension but not much else as the ribs need to be stable
lumber allows mostly flexion and extension
Intervertebral foramina
allow the blood vessels and nerves to ecit the spinal canal
Intervertebral discs
outside is called the anulus fibrosus and is a ring of collagen for connective and containing purposes
central is called the nucleus pulposus
function of the intervertebral disk is to
- resist compression
- bind vertebrae
- shock absorption
- resiste motion and provide stability and mobility
Issues resulting from injured discs
degeneration
bulging (mild)
squinches spinal nerve or cord
Herniated disc (major)
squashes the spinal cord
thinning disk
degenerated disk with osteophyte formation
herniated disk is the same as a slipped disc
lumbar disc prolapse
bs cauda equina l4/l5 disk will affect l5
Ligaments
between vertebral bodies
- anterior longitudinal ligament
- posterior longitudinal ligament
between vertebral laminae - ligamentum flavum
between spinous processes - interspinous ligament
- supraspinous ligament
ligamentum nuchae
extension of the supraspinous ligament from the C7 to the base of the skull
Muscles of the vertebral column
Superficial
- trapezius muscle
- latissimus dorsi
- levator scapulae
- rhomboid minor
- rhomboid major
Deep
- splenius
- erector spinae
- spinalis
- longissimus
- illocostalis
Deeper
- semispinalis
- rotators
- multifidus