Spine

What functions does the spine serve?

• Protect the spinal cord

• Serve as flexible, strong leverage for muscles to provide movement

• Help stabilize the thoracic area and protect the internal organs

The spine has 3 major components:

1.spinal column (i.e., bones and discs) 2.2.neural elements (i.e., the spinal cord neural elements (i.e., the spinal cord

and nerve roots)and nerve roots)

3. supporting structures (e.g., muscles and ligaments)

spinal column bones and discs

C1 and C2

1st two cervical vertebrae

Atlas = C1

Axis = C2

Cervical Vertebra (typical)

Thoracic Vertebrae

Lumbar Vertebra

Sacrum

Pelvic Girdle

Pelvic Girdle

Review

Compare vertebra1. Look at an articulated skeleton and compare &

contrast the cervicle, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae – make a table of these comparisons

2. Look at the angle of the facet joints between vertebrae – hypothesize what movements are possible with the different angles of the Cervicle, Thoracic and Lumbar facet joints

3. Look at the articulation of the ribs on the spine. How/where do they articulate with the Thoracic vertebrae?

IntervertebralIntervertebral Discs

Discs function to absorb and distribute shock from movement (e.g. walking) and prevent the vertebrae from grinding against one another.

IntervertebralIntervertebral Discs

IntervertebralIntervertebral Discs

Discs function to absorb and distribute shock from movement (e.g. walking) and prevent the vertebrae from grinding against one another.

IntervertebralIntervertebral Discs

Like a ball between two plates, allows fluid movement in 3 planes

IntervertebralIntervertebral Discs

Extension Flexion

IntervertebralIntervertebral DiscsHealthy Versus Diseased

These joints allow flexion (bend forward), extension (bend backward), and twisting motion.

Facet joints are synovial joints.

One pair faces upward (superior articular facet) and one downward (inferior articular facet).

= Zygapophyseal Joints

Joints and Movements of spine

Movement of Spine

Lateral Flexion

With Lateral Flexion get rotation of vertebrae

Movement of Spine

supporting structures muscles and ligaments

The ligaments of the spine are important for maintaining spinal stability and help to protect against excessive movement

Primary Spinal Ligaments Include:

Ligamentum Nuchae Cervical Flexion

Anterior Longitudinal Axis – Sacrum Extension & reinforces front of annulus fibrosis

Posterior Longitudinal Axis – Sacrum Flexion & reinforces back of annulus fibrosis

Ligamentum Flavum Axis – Sacrum Flexion

Movement prevented

Ligament Review

Anterior view

Ligament Review

Side view

Ligament ReviewMore inferiorly on the spine, the ligamentum nuchae becomes contiguous with what ligament

In otherwords, the nuchal ligament is really just a thickened portion of what ligament?

Supraspinous Ligament

Ligament Review

Anterior view: vertebral body cut away

We are looking at the ligaments between the laminae

Ligament Review

Posterior view: vertebral arch and spinous process cut off

We are looking at the ligaments between the vertebral bodies

Muscles of the Spine

Paraspinals

1. Transversospinalis Group (Deep to superficial)

a. Rotatores

b. Multifidi

c. Semispinalis capitis

2. Erector Spinae Group (Medial to lateral)

a. Spinalis

b. Longissimus

c. Iliocostalis

Quadratus Lumborum

Paraspinals: the muscles of the spine that help us stand up straight, rotate and bend to the side.

Transversospinalis

• Rotatores

• Multifidi

• Semispinalis capitis

Multifidi & Rotatores Pg. 206 Trail Guide

O:Sacrum (multifidi)

TVPs lumbar through cervical vertebrae

I: SPs & TVPs of lumbar through 2nd cervical vertebrae

A: (Vertebral column)

Extension

Rotation to opposite side

(Multifidi span 2-4 vertebrae)

(Rotatores span 1-2 vertebrae)

Multifidi & Rotatores Pg. 206 Trail Guide

O:Sacrum (multifidi)

TVPs lumbar through cervical vertebrae

I: SPs & TVPs of lumbar through 2nd cervical vertebrae

A: (Vertebral column)

Extension

Rotation to opposite side

(Multifidi span 2-4 vertebrae)

(Rotatores span 1-2 vertebrae)

Multifidi & Rotatores Pg. 206 Trail Guide

Semispinalis capitis Pg. 207 Trail Guide

O:Transverse processes of

Thoracic vertebrae,

Articular processes of lower cervicals

I: SPs of upper thoracic and cervicals

(except C-1), and superior nuchal line of occiput

A: Extension of

Vertebral column & head

Erector Spinae Group Pg. 171 Trail Guide

Spinalis (medial)Longissimus (middle)Iliocostalis (lateral)O: Common Tendon (TLA –

thoracolumbar aponeurosis, posterior sacrum, iliac crest, last 2 ribs, SPs lumbar & last 2 thoracic vertebrae)

I: Posterior ribsSPs & TVPs of thoracic & cervical vertebraemastoid process of temporal bone

A: Bilaterally Extension vertebral columnUnilaterally Lateral flexion to same side

Erector Spinae Group Pg. 202 Trail Guide

Spinalis (medial)Longissimus (middle)Iliocostalis (lateral)O: Common Tendon (TLA –

thoracolumbar aponeurosis, posterior sacrum, iliac crest, last 2 ribs, SPs lumbar & last 2 thoracic vertebrae)

I: Posterior ribsSPs & TVPs of thoracic & cervical vertebraemastoid process of temporal bone

A: Bilaterally Extension vertebral columnUnilaterally Lateral flexion to same side

Quadratus Lumborum Pg. 213 Trail Guide

O: Posterior Iliac crest

I: Last rib (rib 12)

TVPs L1-4

A: Unilaterally

Elevates hip

Lateral flexion vertebral column

Assists in extension vertebral column

Bilaterally

Fixes rib 12 during respiration

“The Hip Hiker”

neural elementsneural elements

the spinal cord and the spinal cord and nerve rootsnerve roots

plus a look at the protective, plus a look at the protective, supportive connective tissuesupportive connective tissue