Vertebral Column And Suboccipital Region

Front 1

Functions of the vertebral column?

Back 1

Protects spinal cord and spinal nerves
Supports body weight
Forms rigid but flexible body axis
Provides pivot for head
Maintains posture and allows locomotion

Front 2

Primary (1°) curvatures of the Vertebral Column?

Back 2

Thoracic region
Sacral region

Front 3

Seconday (2°) curvatures of the Vertebral Column?

Back 3

Cervical region
Lumbar region

Front 4

Kyphosis

Back 4

exageratted curvature in the thoracic region

Front 5

Lordosis

Back 5

exageratted curvature in lumbar region

Front 6

Scoliosis

Back 6

lateral bending of vertebral column; looks worse when bent over

Front 7

Features of the Atlas

Back 7

C1 (atlas)
No body – has anterior arch and tubercle
No spinous process – has posterior arch and tubercle
Lateral masses with articular processes.
Transverse foramina for vertebral artery.

Front 8

Features of the Axis

Back 8

C2 (axis)
Small body
Bifid spinous process
Dens (odontoid process)
Transverse foramina

Front 9

Features of C3-C6 Vertebrae

Back 9

Body with uncinate process
Bifid spinous process
Transverse foramina

Front 10

Features of C7 Vertebrae

Back 10

C7 (vertebra prominens)
Spinous process not bifid
Transverse foramina (vertebral arteries do not pass thru these foramina)

Front 11

Features of Thoracic Vertebrae

Back 11

T1-T12
Heart-shaped body with superior and inferior facets for heads of ribs
Long, pointed spinous process
Transverse process with facet for tubercle of rib

Front 12

Features of Lumbar Vertebrae

Back 12

L1-L5
Large, round body
Short, square spinous process
Small, slender transverse processes
Mammillary process on superior articular process

Front 13

Features of the Sacrum

Back 13

(5 fused vertebrae)
Base superior: sacral promontory, alae, sacral canal
Apex inferior: sacral cornua and sacral hiatus
Median and lateral sacral crests
Anterior and posterior sacral foramina

Front 14

Spondylolysis

Back 14

defect in pars interarticularis, which causes posterior instability of the vertebra.

Front 15

Spondylolisthesis

Back 15

anterior slipping or displacement of one vertebra on another

Front 16

Spinal stenosis

Back 16

a narrowing of the spinal (vertebral) canal, which causes pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerve

Front 17

Name the Joints of the Vertebral Column

Back 17

Intervertebral joints

Craniovertebral joints

Costovertebral joints

Sacroiliac joints

Front 18

Uncovertebral Joint Articulation

Back 18

Between bodies of adjacent vertebrae (not between C1 & C2).

Front 19

Uncovertebral Joint Type

Back 19

Symphysis
Secondary cartilaginous joint connected by an intervertebral disc (IVD)

Front 20

Uncovertebral Joint Function

Back 20

Weight Bearing and Strength
Permit movement between adjacent vertebrae from C2-S1; act as shock absorbers and semi-fluid ball bearing during movement.

Front 21

Anulus Fibrosus Features

Back 21

outer concentric lamellae of fibrocartilage in intervertebral discs
thicker anteriorly more than posteriorly

Front 22

Nucleus pulposus

Back 22

gelatinous inner core in intervertebral discs

Front 23

Intervertebral Disc Functions

Back 23

Permit movement between adjacent vertebrae from C2-S1; act as shock absorbers and semi-fluid ball bearing during movement.

Front 24

Bone Spur Formation

Back 24

Osteophytes form due to the increase in a damaged joint's surface area, and they represent an enlargement of the normal bony structure. Osteophytes are a radiographic marker of spinal degeneration (aging)

Front 25

Herniated Disc Norms

Back 25

usually posterolateral bulging of the nucleus pulposis

Front 26

Uncovertebral Joint Features

Back 26

Articulation: Between uncinate processes of C3-C6 vertebral bodies and body of vertebra above.
Type of joint: Synovial
Common site of “spur” formation

Front 27

Anterior Longitudinal Ligament Features

Back 27

Strong, broad band from foramen magnum to sacrum.
Maintains stability of vertebrae and prevents hyperextension.

Front 28

Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Features

Back 28

Weaker, narrow band within vertebral canal from C2 to sacrum.
Prevents hyperflexion and posterior herniation of IVD.

Front 29

Zygapophyseal (Z) Joint Articulation

Back 29

Between superior and inferior articular processes (facets) of adjacent vertebrae.

Front 30

Zygapophyseal (Z) Joint Type

Back 30

Type of joint: Plane synovial joint.
Orientation of facets determines possible movements.

Front 31

Name the Accessory Ligaments

Back 31

Ligamentum Flavum
Nuchal Ligament
Intertransverse Ligament
Supraspinous Ligament
Interspinous Ligament

Front 32

Ligamentum Flavum Features

Back 32

strong, yellow, elastic; between laminae of adjacent vertebrae; forms part of posterior wall of vertebral arch; limits abrupt flexion.

Front 33

Nuchal Ligament Features

Back 33

deep, fibroelastic; from skull to C7 vertebra.

Front 34

Intertransverse Ligament Features

Back 34

weak; between transverse processes; limits lateral flexion.

Front 35

Supraspinous Ligament Features

Back 35

strong, cord-like; between tips of spinous processes from C7 to sacrum; blends with nuchal lig.

Front 36

Interspinous Ligament Features

Back 36

weak; between spinous processes; limits flexion.

Front 37

Atlanto-occipital (AO) Joint Articulation

Back 37

Between superior facets of atlas (C1) and occipital condyles of the skull.

Front 38

Atlanto-occipital (AO) Joint Type

Back 38

Condyloid Synovial

Front 39

Atlanto-occipital (AO) Joint Movement

Back 39

Neck flexion/extension (“yes” movement).

Front 40

Atlantoaxial (AA) Joint Articulation

Back 40

2 lateral between inferior facets of C1 and superior facets of C2; 1 median between dens of C2 and anterior arch of C1.

Front 41

Atlantoaxial (AA) Joint Type

Back 41

Lateral = plane synovial; median = pivot synovial

Front 42

Atlantoaxial (AA) Joint Movement

Back 42

Rotation of head (“no” movement).

Front 43

Vertebral Artery Entrance

Back 43

Vertebral artery enters the transverse foramen of the C6 vertebra

Front 44

Basivertebral vein drains to the...

Back 44

internal venous plexus

Front 45

Movements of the Vertebral Column

Back 45

Flexion/Extension: Cervical and lumbar
Lateral flexion (bending): Cervical and lumbar; slight in thoracic
Rotation of head, neck, and trunk: Cervical and thoracic

Front 46

Triangle of Auscultation Borders

Back 46

Scapula, Trapezius, Latissimus Dorsi

Front 47

Name the Superficial Muscles of the Back

Back 47

Trapezius m.
Latissimus dorsi m.
Levator scapulae m.
Rhomboid minor m.
Rhomboid major m.

Front 48

Intrinsic Back Muscle Function

Back 48

Control movement of vertebral column.

Maintain posture.

Front 49

Intermediate Back Muscle Function

Back 49

Accessory muscles of respiration.

Front 50

Name 3 Layers of Intrinsic Back Muscles

Back 50

Superficial layer: Fibers run obliquely in cervical and upper thoracic region.
Intermediate layer: Fibers run longitudinally from pelvis to skull.
Deep layer: Fibers run obliquely from transverse process to spinous process.

Front 51

Intrinsic Back Muscles Superficial Layer Actions

Back 51

Actions: Unilateral – lateral flexion of head and neck with rotation of face to same side; bilateral – extension of head and neck.

Front 52

Intrinsic Back MusclesIntermediate Layer Actions

Back 52

Actions: Unilateral – lateral flexion of vertebral column; Bilateral – extension of head and vertebral column.

Front 53

Intrinsic Back Muscles Deep Layer Actions

Back 53

Actions: Stabilize vertebrae during movement; Unilateral – lateral bending of head and vertebral column, rotation of head to opposite side; Bilateral – extension of head and vertebral column.

Front 54

Name the Transverospinalis Muscles

Back 54

Semispinalis Muscles, Multifudus Muscles, Rotatores Muscles

Front 55

Interspinales Action

Back 55

Extend vertebral column.

Front 56

Levatores Costarum Action

Back 56

Elevate ribs.

Front 57

Intertransversarii Action

Back 57

Lateral flexion of vertebral column.

Front 58

Describe Innervation of the Intrinsic Back Muscles

Back 58

Dorsal rami of spinal nn. at corresponding levels innervate intrinsic back muscles and a strip of skin down the back from the skull to the sacrum.

Front 59

Suboccipital Region Muscle Action

Back 59

Extend head on atlas; rotate head on axis; maintain posture.

Front 60

Suboccipital Region Muscle Innervation

Back 60

Suboccipital n. (dorsal rami of C1).

Front 61

Name the Suboccipital Region Muscles

Back 61

Muscles between C1, C2, and skull:
Rectus capitis posterior major
Rectus capitis posterior minor
Obliquus capitis superior
Obliquus capitis inferior

Front 62

Boundaries of the Suboccipital Triangle

Back 62

Rectus capitis posterior major
Obliquus capitis superior
Obliquus capitis inferior

Front 63

Contents of the Suboccipital Triangle

Back 63

Vertebral artery
Suboccipital nerve (dorsal rami of C1 spinal nerve)