Back and spinal cord: Bones and Ligaments o Vertebral Column o Functions: Support Mobility Protection o Part of the

the Axial skeleton o Approximately 72 to 75 cm long (25% of length because of intervertebral discs) o 33 vertebrae (can vary 3234) 7 cervical 12 thoracic 5 lumbar 5 sacral 4 (35) coccygeal o Curvature (may be primary or secondary) o o o o Cervical anterior convexity (2) Thoracic anterior concavity (1) Lumbar anterior convexity (2) Sacral anterior concavity (1)

o Vertebrae o Typically have: Body: supports the body weight, exterior: compact bone, interior spongy bone. Laminae (2) Pedicles (2): between the body and the arch, 1 upper notch and 1 lower notch (notches : intervertebral foramen) Foramen: Vertebral foramen: o Anterior: Body. o Posterior: Spinous process base and Lamina. o Lateral: Pedicles. Intervertebral foramen. o Anterior: Body o Posterior: Articular processes. o Superior and inferior: Pedicles. Spinous process (1) Transverse processes (2) Articular processes (4): 2 for the upper vertebrae, 2 for the lower vertebrae.

o Fibrocartilaginous intervertebral discs: o Annulus fibrosus: The outer ring or collar of an intervertebral disc composed of dense fibrocartilage with an outer wrapping of dense collagen fibers. o Nucleus pulposus: The inner cushioning mass of an intervertebral disc consisting of gelatinous elastic connective tissue which is derived from the remnants of the embryonic notochord; it helps absorb the compressive forces placed on the vertebral column when standing, walking, or running. o Allow movement between vertebral bodies (in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions)

Vertebrae Cervical

Thoracic

Lumbar

Sacral Coccygeal

Distinctive features Small bodies with semilunar or unciforme process. large vertebral foramina, foramina in transverse processes, anterior and posterior tubercles, bifid spinous processes. Heart-shaped bodies, long spinous processes angled posteroinferiorly; costal facets for rib articulation on bodies and transverse processes. Large kidney-bean-shaped bodies, sturdy laminae, thick and short spinous processes, mammillary processes on the posterior surface of the superior articular processes or facets. Fused as sacrum, four pairs of dorsal and ventral foramina for nerve exit and triangular sacral canal. Fused as small triangular bonethe coccyx.

o Cervical vertebrae
Typical cervical vertebra characteristics: o Body: small, transversally enlogated, with semilunar or unciforme process. o Lamina: flat and rectangular. o Vertebral foramen: triangular. o Spinous process: bifid. o Transverse processes: Anterior and posterior tubercules. Foramen transversarium: Transmits vertebral arteries and veins and sympathetic nerves plexuse o Permit forward/lateral flexion, extension, rotation o C1 (Atlas): No body or spinous process Articulates with occipital condyles via paired lateral masses. Articulates with the axis via the superior articular facets and dens of the axis Groove on superior aspect of the posterior arch for vertebral arteries and dorsal ramus of C1 Large vertebral foramen, dens=anterior.

o C2 (Axis) Dens (odontoid process) Large superior articular facets for C1. o C3C5 Short bifid spinous processes o C6 Long, nonbifid spinous processes. Anterior tubercle of C6 is quite large, is called the carotid tubercle, which the carotid artery can be compressed against to control bleeding. o C7 (Vertebra prominens) Long (nonbifid) spinous process Small transverse foramina that transmit accessory vertebral veins NOT vertebral artery. Sometimes, presents a facet for the first rib.

o Thoracic vertebrae
o Are relatively rigid, mainly allow rotation of the trunk Typical thoracic vertebra characteristics: o Body: Heart-shaped, with costal facets for rib articulation. o Lamina: Square. o Pedicles: Deep vertebral notch. o Vertebral foramen: Oval o Spinous process: Long, angled posteroinferiorly. o Transverse processes: Costal facets for rib articulation

o T1T4: Atypical Have some features of cervical vertebrae T1= only cervical vertebrae with a complete costal facet and a inferior hemifacet.

o T5T8 Typical

o T9T12: Atypical T10= only one costal facet for 10th rib. T11= only one costal facet for 111h rib, no costal facet on transverse process. T12= only one costal facet for 12th rib, no costal facet on transverse process. Have tubercles similar to mamillary and accessory processes of lumbar vertebrae

o Lumbar vertebrae
o Are relatively mobile, permit forward/lateral flexion and extension but little rotation Typical Lumbar vertebra characteristics: o Body: Large kidney-bean-shaped. o Lamina: Sturdy. o Vertebral foramen: Triangular and small o Spinous process: Thick and short, pointing back. o Transverse processes: Large, with costiform processes. Have accessory process found on posterior surface of the base of each transverse process for attachment of medial intertransverse lumborum muscle Have mamillary process for attachment of multifidus and medial intertransverse muscles

o L5: massive body and transverse processes and is thicker anteriorlycontributes to the lumbosacral angle (usually 130 160) and carries the weight of the upper body o L1: has a much smaller costiform process.

o Sacrum (sacral vertebrae)

o Composed of five vertebrae that fuse at about 20 years of age, inferior portion is nonweight bearing. o Articulates with hip bones at sacroiliac joints o Has concave pelvic surface o Is wider in females than males o Sacral promontory: upper part of the sacrum, articulation with L5. o Has a sacral canal (continuation of vertebral canal) that contains cauda equine. o Has the following features: Sacral hiatus (termination of sacral canal) that contains filum terminale. Median crest: fused spinous processes Paired medial crests: fused articular processes Paired lateral crests: fused tips of the transverse processes Sacral cornea (astas) that project inferiorly on either side of sacral hiatus

o Coccyx (coccygeal vertebrae)

o Consist of three to five coccygeal vertebrae, inferior three fuse as coccyx in midlife o Has coccygeal corneae that articulate with sacral corneae o Provides site of attachment for gluteus maximus, coccygeus muscles, and anococcygeal ligament o Is joined to the sacrum by the sacrococcygeal symphysis

Notes:

o Vertebral Joints
o Intervertebral (IV) discs Connect articulating surfaces of adjacent vertebral bodies. Are integral parts of secondary cartilaginous (symphysis) joints between vertebral bodies (except C1/2). Are composed of a tough annulus fibrosus surrounding an avascular, gelatinous nucleus pulposus. Act as shock absorbers and semifluid ball bearings to provide small movements between individual vertebrae. Aided by the Longitudinal posterior ligament, and the longitudinal anterior ligament

o Zygapophysial (or facet) joints Are synovial joints between the superior and inferior articular processes Are surrounded by thin, loose articular capsule. Permit gliding movements between vertebrae.

o Atlanto-occipital joints Are synovial joint between the lateral masses of atlas and occipital condyles. Aided by the atlanto-occipital membrane, both anteriorly and posteriorly. Permit flexion/extension and some lateral bending and rotation. (say YES)

o Atlantoaxial joints Are three synovial joints (arthrodias) between the inferior lateral masses of C1 and the superior facets of C2 and between the anterior arch of C1 and the dens of C2. Permit rotation of C1 (and the head), which is limited by the alar ligaments.

o Costovertebral joints Synovial, between the vertebrae and ribs

o Sacroiliac (SI) joints Synovial joints

Sacrococcygeal Symphysis. Between the coccyx base and the sacrum apex. Lumbosacral Sacrum promontory Iliolumbar ligaments Zygapophysial (or facet) joints