BACK REGION AND VERTEBRAL COLUMN

1. BACK REGION AND VERTEBRAL COLUMN
Consist of 33 vertebrae in 5 region (Inferior, superior articular process, vertebral arch, vertebral body,
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transverse process and spinous process)
7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 4 coccygeal
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Provide body with support
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Protect spinal cord from injury
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vertebral body consists of vascular, trabecular
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Vertebral Structures
1) Vertebral Arch;
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Circle of the bone around the canal through which the spinal cord passes
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Pedicles: project Posteriorly from vertebral body
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Laminae; two broad flat plates of bone and unite in the midline
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2) Spinous Process;
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Bony projection off the posterior of each vertebra
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Extend Posteriorly from midline junction of the laminae
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Attachment site for ligaments and muscles
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3) Transverse Process;
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Lateral process of the vertebra
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Extend posterolaterally from junctions of Pedicles and laminae
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Important attachment sites for ligaments and muscles
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4) Vertebral Foramen;
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The opening formed by a neural arch through which the spinal cord passes
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When we stack the foramina, it forms the vertebral spinal canal
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5) Body; anterior, supports the weight
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6) superior and inferior articular processes;
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articulate together (the inferior of one with the superior of the other)
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Superior articular processes; Project superiorly from junctions of the pedicles and laminae
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Inferior articular processes; Project inferiorly from junctions of the pedicles and laminae.
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Zygapophyseal joint
Keep vertebrae properly aligned
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Allow movement of vertebral bodies
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Orientation differs throughout vertebral column
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Cervical vertebrae
Vertebral bodies;
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Smaller than other regions
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Wider from side to side
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Concave superior surface and convex inferior surface
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Lateral edges of the superior surface of vertebral bodies are called the uncus of the body.
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C1, C2 and C7; Atypical
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C3- C6; Typical
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Has Transverse foramen
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Transverse process
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Vertebral artery and veins
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Posterior tubercle and aneterior tubercle
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Lavator scapulae and scalenes muscles
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Servical enlargement
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Facets; Nearly horizontal and allow for the most movement of all vertebral
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So free flexion and extension, lateral flexion, limited rotation
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Spinous process; short and C2-C6 are bifid (two protrusions that project posteriolaterally
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C1 (Atlas); Ring shaped and paired lateral masses(sustain weight of the cranium)
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2. C2 (Axis);
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C7 (vertebra prominens); smaller transverse foramen than other cervical vertebrae and long spinous process
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Thoracic vertebrae
Located in upper and middle back
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Intermediate in size
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Get bigger further down the vertebral column
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T2-T11; typical thoracic vertebrae
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Consist;
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heart shaped vertebral body
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Vertebral foramen; circular and small
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Transverse process; long, strong, and extend posterolaterally
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Superior articular process; nearly vertical, face Posteriorly
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Inferior articular process; nearly vertical, face Anteriorly and slightly medially.
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So main movement of rotation and some lateral flexion
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Spinous process; overlap and inferior vertebra.
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Inferior and superior costal facet;
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Demifacets; half of a facet and two demifacets articulating
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T1; Atypical
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T12; Atypical:
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So upper half thoracic-like; costal facets and articular processes that mainly rotational movements
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Lower half lumbar -like; body and pedicles larger and thicker and shorter, more horizontal spinous process
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Lumbar vertebrae
ın the lower back
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Largest movable vertebrae so helps bearing weight of upper body.
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Massive , thick and strong body
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Consist;
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Superior articular facets; sagital plane and facing medially and Posteriorly
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Inferior articular facets; sagital plane and lateral and Anteriorly
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Mamimmilary process;
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Accessory process
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L5 Atypical; largest of the movable vertebrae
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L5-S1; joint coronal in orientation so flexion, extension, some lateral flexion
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Sacrum
5 fusen sacral vertebrae
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Located between lumbar vertebrae and coccyx and right between hip bones
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Stabilizes pelvis and transverss weight to the pelvic girdle
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Consist; base; weight bearing and apex; doesn’t bear weight
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