vertebral columns

• protects spinal cord and nerves
• supports the trunk and its rigidity 
• important for posture and locomotion

• cervical - 7
• thoracic - 12
• lumbar - 5
• sacrum - 5 (fused seg)
• coccygeal - 4 (fused after 30 yrs.)

• flexion & extension (cerv. lum.) - forward and backward bend
• lateral flexion & extension (cerv. lum.) - side press
• rotation (cerv. thor.) - turn of waist and head

• 8 cervical
• 12 thoracic
• 5 lumbar
• 5 sacral
• 1 coccygeal

• cervical enlargement runs rom cervical to thoracic
• lumbar enlargement runs from lumbar down to coccygeal

• dura mater - outermost layer, thick fibrous tiss
• arachnoid mater - filmy layer deep under dura mater
• pia mater - layer covering SP

• extension of pia mater that anchors SP to dura mater
• found at midpoint between 2 spinal nerves

• cranium
• vertebral column
• ribs
• manubrium
• sternum

U- clav, scapulae, humeri, radii, ulnae, carpals, metacar, phalan

L-pelvis, femora, tibiae, fibulae, tarsals, meta, phalan

E - rectus abdominis & pectus major ***

• derived from centrum
• epiphyseal rim (derived from anular epiphysis) **pink area**

• pedicles
• lamina

• spinous process
• transverse process
• vertebral foramen (where spinal cord passes)
• vertebral canal **the foramen together**(vertebral foramina is where spinal cord passes)

the joining (articulation) of inferior articular facet of 1 vertebra with superior articular facet of the next

**damage of these joints because so close will affect adjacent spinal nerve

• cervical vertebrae location C3-7
• large vertebral foramina to accommodate enlargement of the spinal cord

outgrowths on the uncinate process can compress nerve and vertebral artery leading to chronic back pain

• **spinal nerve goes through IV foramina
• **vertebral arteries pass through transverse foramina

****mini stroke, common in old people

groove for vertebral artery right below lateral masses

• compressive loads along the cervical spine results in the occipital condyles being driven into the lateral masses of C1
• is a 4 part fractuce with double fractures through anterior and posterior arches

Pedicles fractured posterior to superior articular facets due to abrupt hyperextension



**common result of falls and hitting chin on wheel in accident

Transverse costal facet

Superior costal facet

Costal tubercle of rib

Head of rib (where it joins vert)

Provide attachment for ribs

Stability of trunk

**smaller vertebrae foramen compared to cerv and lumb

**look like a moose

Place of articular facets allows flexion and extension and lateral flexion

Vertebral foramen large to accommodate lumbar enlargement of spinal cord

Large ventral bodies because it bears most weight

Sacrum has 5 fused segments

Auricular surface (joined with pelvis forming sacroiliac joint

Anterior sacral foramina

Sacral hiatus

Sacral canal (continuation with vertebral canal

Superior articular facet

Coccygeal vertebrae are highly variable and can range from 3-5 (the end of the tail bone)

Strong attachment between vertebrae, forms cartilaginous joint

Weight bearing shock absorption

Composed of annulus fibrosus (concentric rings of fibrocartilage that connect adjacent vertebral bodies)

**no discs between atlanto-occipital, -axial joint, sacral segments, and coccygeal segments

20% of vertebral column length

Occurs when the nucleus pulposus protrudes the annulus fibrosis and compresses the spinal nerves exiting the IV foramen or the vertebral artery exiting the transverse foramen

Occurs posterolaterally where annulus fibrosis is thin and does not receive support from posterior longitudinal ligament

Stress resistant decrease with age

Most common in cervical and lumbar (L4/5 or L5/S1)

Posterior longitudinal – narrow and weaker, runs within the vertebral canal along posterior aspect of vertebral vertebral bodies and IV discs

Prevents hyperflexion

Anterior longitudinal – strong broad fibrous band runs along anterior vertebral bodies

Prevents hyperextension

Intertransverse

Ligamentum flavum – elastic yellow bands of tissue connecting laminae of adjacent vertebrae (look up laminae)limits flexion

Supraspinous – runs along tips of spinous processes from C7 to sacrum

Interspinous ligament – connects adjoining spinous processes

Thick fibroelastic median band running from the external occipital protuberance and posterior border of the foramen magnum to C7 spinous process

Attaches to the spinous processes of cervical vertebrae

Allows for attachment of back muscles where the spinous processes of cervical vertebrae are shorter

Sudden forceful flexion results in fracture of one or more vertebrae

Can also be accompanied by dislocation and fracture of the articular facets between 2 vertebrae with rupture of interspinous ligs.

Flexion injury of spine (lumb)

Anterior compression fracture + fractures across transverse processes

Severe hyperextension, anterior longitudinal lig is severely stretched and may tear

Can be accompanied by hyperflexion injury of vertebral column as head rebounds after hyperextension

Dura mater – outermost layer, thick, fibrous tissue

Arachnoid mater – filmy layer deep to dura mater

Pia mater – layer covering spinal cord

Extension of pia mater, anchors spinal cord to dura mater, found midpoint between 2 spinal nerves

Epidural – space between canal and dura mater

Subdural – space between dura mater and arach

Subarachnoid – space between arach and pia, contains cerebrospinal fluid

Cerv and thora regions, when the IV disc protrudes, the SN coursing through the associated IV foramen will be compressed

For lumb, there is a diff in where a spinal nerve exits and where it compresses ex:L4 SN exits between L4/5 but sneak by against the body of L4 vertebra so the L5 nerve is compressed by the protrusionIn cerv and lum region, the SN with the number of inferior vertebra but by 2 diff mechanisms

Lumbar puncture 1/2 – enter into lumbar cistern through L4 level

Collect CSF for evaluating infections of CNS

Spinal anesthesia 1/2 – anesthetic inserted in same as lumbar, complete anesthesia below wait

Risks leakage of CSF

Epidural anesthia 1/2/3 – inserted in extradural space in same as lumb or sacral hiatus