Spine

• Functions of the Spine:

  • Stability of thorax
  • Movement in all directions
  • Support head, shoulder and rib cage
  • Protect spinal cord
  • Force transference
  • Shock absorbance
  • Attachment point for muscles and ligaments
• Vertebrae:

  • 7 cervical
  • 12 thoracic
  • 5 lumbar
  • 5 fused sacral
  • 3-5 fused coccygeal
• Spinal curves:

  A) Lordosis

  B) Kyphosis

  
• Vertebrae

  A) Vertebral Body

  B) Vertebral Arch

  C) Spinous Process

  D) Lamina

  E) Transverse Process

  F) Pedicle

  G) Superior Facet

  H) Inferior Facet

  I) Foramen

  
• C1 is known as the Atlas

  • no body
  • no spinous processes
• C2 is known as Axis

  • has dens process that projects superiorly into C1
• Transverse Foramen allow space for blood vessels travelling to the brain
• Intervertebral Discs:

  • allow for compression and rotation
  • 80-90% water
• Movements

  A) Flexion

  B) Extension

  
• Lateral Flexion

  
• Circumduction

  
• Spinal Ligaments

  A) Limits Extension

  B) Limits Flexion

  C) Limits Lateral Flexion

  D) Limits Flexion

  E) Limits Flexion

  F) Limits Flexion

  
• All spinal ligaments limit flexion with the exception of:

  1. Intertransverse Ligament - limits lateral flexion
  2. Anterior Longitudinal Ligament - limits extension
• Bilateral action of spine muscles allows actions of flexion or extension, depending on muscle location
• Unilateral action of spine muscles allows actions of rotation and lateral flexion
• 4 abdominal muscles:

  A) Rectus Abdominis

  B) External Abdominal Oblique

  C) Internal Abdominal Oblique

  D) Transverse Abdominis

  
• Posterior Cervical Muscles

  A) Splenius Capitis

  B) Splenius Cervicis

  
• Erector Spinae Muscles

  A) Spinalis

  B) Longissimus

  C) Iliocostalis

  
• Semispinalis

  
• Cervical Lateral Muscles

  A) Sternocleidomastoid

  B) Middle Scalene

  C) Anterior Scalene

  D) Posterior Scalene

  
• Levator Scapulae

  
• Quadratus Lumborum

  
• Psoas Major