This document describes the anatomy of the vertebral column and back region. It discusses the primary and secondary curvatures of the spine, common spinal abnormalities like kyphosis and lordosis, and the individual bones that make up the vertebral column. It also details the joints of the vertebral column including the intervertebral discs and ligaments that support the spine. Finally, it outlines the bony landmarks of the back and pectoral/pelvic girdles and provides an overview of the extrinsic back muscles.

1. Test 1

2. curvatures:
two primary (concave anteriorly) &
two secondary (concave posteriorly)
-primary (fetal) curvatures persist as thoracic &
sacral
-secondary curvatures develop as individual
learns to hold head erect (cervical curvature) and
assumes erect posture (lumbar curvature)

3. abnormal curvatures:
• kyphosis: "dowager's hunch", exaggerated
thoracic curvature
• lordosis: "swayback", exaggerated lumbar
curvature
• scoliosis: lateral distortion - rib/vertebrae
angle > 30, then brace

4. 24 individual vertebrae :
• 7 cervical
• 12 thoracic
• 5 lumbar

5. • Body
• pedicles
• vertebral notches
• laminas
• vertebral foramen
• spinous process
• transverse process
• articular processes- superior & inferior

9. Atlas inferior view
Atlas superior view

12. Sacrum (5 fused):
• - sturdy triangular bone wedges between pelvic bones to transmit
weight from vertebral column to lower limbs
• - anterior edge of the body is the sacral promontory
• - lateral surface is auricular surface, for synovial sacroiliac joint
• - auricular surfaces form slightly movable joint with ilia of pelvis
• - fusion has resulted in:
- spinous processes - median sacral crest
- articular processes - intermediate sacral crests
• - transverse processes - two lateral sacral crests
• - intervertebral foramina - 4 pair of sacral foramina
- pelvic (for ventral primary rami)
- dorsal (for dorsal primary rami)
• - vertebral foramina - sacral canal with cauda equina
• - incomplete fusion of lowest laminas - sacral hiatus

15. sacral promontory

17. auricular surface
(Posterior view; highlighted in
green)

18. Joints of Vertebral Column:
• a. Intervertebral Joints: symphysis type between vertebral
bodies
- fibrocartilaginous disk - outer anulus fibrosus and
central gelatinous nucleus pulposus (for shock absorber);
subject to herniation

19. herniation

20. • - intervertebral joints, collectively, are
stabilized by:
- anterior longitudinal ligament (only ligament that
prevents hyperextension) connects anterior side of bodies from the pelvic
surface of the sacrum to the occipital bone

21. - posterior longitudinal ligament (on floor of
vertebral canal), narrow band attached
primarily to the IV discs
- becomes the tectorial membrane
attaching to occipital bone)

22. Joints of Vertebral Column (Cont’):
• b. Zygapophysial Joints: synovial, plane gliding joints between
superior & inferior articular processes of neighboring
vertebrae
- enclosed in capsular ligaments

23. • Ligaments that stabilize vertebral arches:
i. supraspinous ligaments (posterior to spinous processes)
ii. interspinous ligaments (between spinous processes)
- These are thickened to form ligamentum nuchae of neck
iii. ligamenta flava
-yellow elastic fibers between laminae of neighboring
vertebrae

24. Joints of Vertebral Column (Cont’):
• c. Atlanto-occipital and Atlantoaxial Joints:
i. atlanto-occipital joint : synovial hinge joint between
occipital condyles and superior articular processes of atlas,
stabilized by three ligaments:
1. anterior atlanto-occipital membrane
-continuation of anterior longitudinal ligament
2. posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
-from arch of atlas to posterior margin of foramen
magnum
3. tectorial membrane or membrana tectoria - continuation
of posterior longitudinal ligament into internal periosteum
of occipital bone

26.  Anterior view
Posterior view 

29. Joints of Vertebral Column (Cont’):
• ii. atlantoaxial joint : synovial pivoting joint
between dens of axis and interior anterior
surface of atlas, stabilized by:
1. cruciform ligament
- consisting of transverse, superior and inferior
fibrous bands
- attaches atlas to foramen magnum, provides
"socket" for dens
2. apical and alar ligaments provide attachment
from dens to foramen magnum and secure dens
within its "socket"

31. Regional Anatomy of the Back
1. Bony Landmarks:
a. Axial skeleton: skull, vertebral column, thoracic
cage made of the ribs & sternum

32. b. Appendicular skeleton: limbs and attachment girdles
Pectoral girdle includes scapulas and clavicles:
Pectoral girdle 

33. c. Scapula: spine, acromion and vertebral border

35. d. Clavicle

36. How do we differentiate left from
right clavicle?
• the acromial must always be pointed superior
and posterior (up and back) and that
determines right or left

37. • Pelvic girdle includes 2 pelvic bones (os
coxae):
• e. Os coxa: crest of ilium - attachment for
latissimus dorsi m. and some deep back
muscles (mm.)

38. f. Humerus: intertubercular sulcus

40. g. typical vertebra: spinous and transverse
processes

41. h. Occipital region of skull: occipital bone
- superior and inferior nuchal lines & external occipital
protuberance (inion)

42. • i. temporal bone (mastoid process)

44. STOPPED
2. Pattern of the Back Musculature:
Extrinsic Back Muscles: