Vertebral Column

Osteology and Arthrology

Osteology
7

C, 12 T, 5 L, 5 S (Fused as Sacrum), 4
coccygeal
Primary Curves
Secondary Curves
Anterior/Posterior alignment

Primary Curve

Vertebral Segments

A-P View

Secondary Curves Lateral

Vertebral Column

Osteology

Typical Vertebrae
Body

Superior and inferior surfaces of body (plateaus)

Thickened around the rim, location of epiphyseal plates
Cartilaginous end-plates

Pedicles, Laminae
Transverse Processes
Spinous Process
Facets superior articular and inferior articular

Vertebral Arch

Spinal Foramen
Intervertebral Foramen

Typical Vertebrae

Typical Vertebrae

Typical Lumbar

Typical Thoracic

Typical C

Sacrum and Coccyx

Vertebral Relationships

Arthrology
Intervertebral

Discs
Fibrocartilaginous joints
Increase in size from C to L (3mm to 9
mm)
Ratio remains the same
Make up 20-30% of length of column

Intervertebal Discs

Discs

Discs

Arthrology
Two

Components
Outer rim of fibrocartilage called the
anulus fibrosus (attaches to cartilaginous
end plate)
Connects vertebral bodies in a
fibrocartilaginous joint (no capsule, little
motion)

Arthrology
Anulus

encloses a central mass called the

nucleus pulposus
About 80-90% water, less with increased
age
Contains a mucopolysaccharide matrix
Changes shape, releases and absorbs
water. Thicker in AM than PM
Neither blood vessels or nerves penetrate
nucleus

Arthrology

Structure deforms when pressure is put on

vertebral column as in weight bearing
Acts as a shock absorber
Annulus totally encloses the nucleus and
keeps it under constant pressure
As you get older, the H2O content decreases
and the nucleus becomes more
fibrocartilaginous, therefore less easily
deformable and more easily damaged

Arthrology

Nucleus, when under extreme pressure, can

herniate or extrude from the disc in a posterior
or posterior-lateral direction
Usually occurs in cervical or lumbar region
Nucleus can put pressure on spinal nerve
causing refereed symptoms (motor and
sensory)
Can cause pressure on cord itself if true
posterior

Vertebral Relationships

Facet Joints (C and T)

Arthrology

Facet Joints (Typical)

Superior articular facets of one vertebrae with
inferior facets of vertebrae above
Synovial gliding joints
Surrounded by joint capsule and small capsular
ligaments
The type and amount of motion in any given part
of the spine is dictated by the orientation of the
articular facets as well as the fluidity, elasticity
and thickness of the intervertebral discs

Facets L

Arthrology
Typical

movements in sections of the

spine
Lumbar
Thoracic
Cervical

Major Ligaments of the Spine

Anterior Longitudinal Ligament - ALL

Dense band along anterior and lateral surface
of the vertebral bodies from C2 to sacrum

Superficial - bridge several vertebrae

Deep short, run from V to V, blends with fibers of
anulus fibrosus
Limits extension of V column

From C1 to skull, called Atlanto-Occipital

Membrane

ALL

Atlanto-Occipital Membrane

A and P Longitudinal Ligament

Major Ligaments
Posterior

Longitudinal Ligament

Runs along posterior surface of vertebral

bodies (anterior to spinal canal)

C2 to Sacrum
Short fibers attach ligament to posterior disc,
reinforce disc posteriorly

Superiorly,

continues to occiput, called

Tectorial Membrane
Limits flexion

PLL

Tectorial Membrane

Ligaments
Supraspinous

Spinous process to spinous process tip to tip

C7 to sacrum
Limits

flexion
In cervical region, becomes much thicker
with a greater elastic content
Called Ligamentum Nuchae

Supraspinous

Ligamentum Nuchae

Ligaments
Interspinous
Found

between spinous processes

Most well developed in lumbar region
support

Interspinous

Interspinous

Ligaments
Ligamentum

Flavum
Connects lamina of one to lamina of the
other
Found from axis to sacrum
Limit flexion
Continuation to the skull is called
Posterior Atlanto-Occipital membrane

Ligamentum Flavum

Atlanto-Occipital MembranePosterior

Ligaments
Intertransverse
Only

well-developed in Lumbar Region

Between transverse processes
Limit lateral flexion

Special Joints of Spine

Lumbo-Sacral

L5 and S1 (or sacrum)

Drastic change from lordotic to kyphotic curve
Strong shearing forces
The sacral segment is inclined anteriorly and inferiorly
forms an angel with the horizontal called the lumbo-sacral
angle

Angle can be increased significantly with an

increase in lumbar curve
During flexion/extension the greatest mobility of
the spine occurs between L5 and S1

Lumbo-Sacral Jt.

L5/S1

L5/S1
Spondylolysis

a developmental
anomaly of the lamina wherin a bony
defect separates the sup. and inf.
Articular processes thus separating the
post. Part of the neural arch from the ant.
Arch and the vertebral body
Usually asymptomatic, very common in
males

S and S

L5/S1
Spondylolistheses

an anterior
movement of the L5 vertebral body and
can cause compression of the cauda
equina which rests posteriorly

Sacralization
Where

5th lumbar vertebrae takes on

characteristics of the sacrum and may be
partially or completely fused with sacrum

Lumbarization
Superior

aspect of the sacrum assumes

characteristics of the 5th lumbar
vertebrae

S-I Joint
Review

Hip Bone AKA Innominate AKA

Os Coxae
Ilium, Ischium and Pubis
Fuse at Puberty
Acetabulum
Pelvis = 2 coxal bones the sacrum and
coccyx

Innominate Bone AKA Hip

Sacrum

Pelvis

Female Pelvis

S-I
Auricular

surface of ilium with auricular

surface of sacrum-Little movement
Joint under relatively constant pressure to
rotate anteriorly based on anatomical
design
Upper part of joint is not synovial, is fibrous
held in place by tough Interrosseous S-I
ligaments helps limit anterior motion

S-I Joint

S-I Joint

S-I Joint

S-I Synovial Aspect of Joint

Major Ligaments mostly designed to prevent ant.

motion
Posterior S-I runs down and medially from ilium to
sacrum
Iliolumbar L4 and 5 transverse processes to
posterior iliac crest
Anterior S-I ilium to sacrum
Sacrotuberous iliac tuberosity and post. Surface
of lower sacrum to ischial tuberosity
Sacrospinous lateral borders of lower sacrum and
coccyx to attach to the spine of ischium

S-I Joint

S-I Joint

Pubic Symphysis
Anterior

connection of pelvis
Fibrocartilaginous joint
Limited motion
Motion increase dramatically during
pregnancy, especially at the time of birth
Similar increase in SI joint mobility at this
time
Superior and Inferior Pubic Ligaments

Pubic Symphysis

Atlanto-Axial Joint

Atlas and Axis

Pivot
Two convex superior facets of axis with two
concave inferior facets of the atlas
Atlas also posses a facet on the internal surface
of the anterior arch which articulates with the
dens of the axis
Major ligaments from spine support Ant.
Atlanto-Occipital, Tectorial Membrane, Post.
A-O

C1/C2

C1/C2

C1/C2

A-A Joint
Alar

from dens to occiput

Transverse - around dens
Cruciate

Sup. Longitudinal Band

Inferior Longitudinal Band
Transverse

Atlanto-Occipital Joint
Two

concave superior facets of atlas

articulate with two convex surfaces of
occipital condyles of the skull
Supported by major ligaments
Small saddle joint
Very limited motion nodding type
motions in all directions.

Atlanto-Occipital

Atlanto-Occipital