Back 1

Front 1

Kyphotic curve

Back 1

accentuated thoracic curve; hunched

Front 2

Lordosis curve

Back 2

accentuated lumbar curve; sway back = hollow back; arched back

Front 3

Scoliotic curve

Back 3

lateral twist of column due to muscle tightness, unequal bone development, or different leg length

Front 4

Facet joint

Back 4

AKA zygapophysial joints: between superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae; plane-type synovial joints; small amount movement individually; large amount movement collectively

Front 5

Nucleus pulposus

Back 5

gelatinous central mass of intervertebral disc; shock absorber; herniates in herniated discs

Front 6

Anulus fibrosus

Back 6

concentric layers of fibrocartilage in intervertebral disc

Front 7

Cervical movement

Back 7

transverse plane orientation -> multiaxial movement

Front 8

Thoracic movement

Back 8

frontal plane orientation-> torsional rotation

Front 9

Lumbar movement

Back 9

sagittal plane orientation -> flexion and extension

Front 10

Anterior longitudinal ligament

Back 10

unites anterior surface of vertebral bodies; prevents hyperextension

Front 11

Posterior longitudinal ligament

Back 11

unites posterior surface of vertebral bodies; located inside vertebral column; spreads laterally; areas of weakness are often site of slipped discs

Front 12

Supraspinous ligament

Back 12

connects spinous processes from sacrum to C7; expands into ligamentum nuchae in cervical region

Front 13

Ligamentum nuchae

Back 13

broad, strong ligament of the neck that provides attachment for cervical muscles

Front 14

Interspinous ligament

Back 14

joins adjacent spinous processes

Front 15

Intertransverse ligament

Back 15

joins adjacent transverse processes

Front 16

Ligamentum flava

Back 16

yellow ligament that joins lamina; help prevent hyperflexion of vertebral column

Front 17

Latissimus dorsi

Back 17

Origin is thoracolumbar fascia; action is to extend, adduct, medially rotate the humerus; innervated by ventral rami of C6/7/8

Front 18

Thoracolumbar fascia

Back 18

aponeurosis in lower thoracic/lumbar region of the back; surrounds intrinsic (true) back muscles; attachment site for latissimus dorsi and others

Front 19

Trapezius

Back 19

elevates and rotates the scapula; shrugs shoulders; motor innervation by cranial nerve (spinal accessory nerve) and sensory innervation by ventral rami C4/5

Front 20

Extrinsic back muscles

Back 20

superficial – latissimus dorsi, trapezius, rhomboids, levator scapulae; intermediate- respiratory muscles- serratus posterior superior and serratus posterior inferior

Front 21

Serratus posterior inferior

Back 21

respiratory muscle; extrinsic; deep to latissimus dorsi

Front 22

Serratus posterior superior

Back 22

respiratory muscle; extrinsic; deep to rhomboids

Front 23

Deep/intrinsic back muscles

Back 23

splenius, erector spinae, transversospinalis group; all are innervated by dorsal rami

Front 24

Splenius

Back 24

intrinsic back muscle innervated by dorsal rami; covers underlying suboccipital triangle; extends neck or rotates head ipsilaterally; “bandage”

Front 25

Erector spinae

Back 25

intrinsic back muscle group innervated by dorsal rami; flexion and extension of spine and lateral bending; composed of iliocostalis, longissimus, and spinalis muscles

Front 26

Transversospinalis group

Back 26

deepest intrinsic back muscles; span transverse processes to spinous processes of more superior vertebrae; comprised of semispinalis, multifidus, and rotatores muscles

Front 27

Semispinalis

Back 27

spans 4-6 vertebral segments; transversospinalis group

Front 28

Multifidus

Back 28

transversospinalis group; spans 2-4 segments

Front 29

Rotatores

Back 29

transversospinalis group; spans 1-2 segments