Spinal Column Terms and Concepts

stress fractures of the vertebrae

most common type of vertebral fracture of the pars interarticularis which is the weakest portion of the neural arch. can be caused by repeatedly lifting heavy objects

Neural arch

hollow ring that makes up the body of a vertebrae, forms a protective passageway for the spinal cord & associated blood vessels called the vertebral canal

Scoliosis

lateral deviation or deviations in spinal curvature. the lateral deformity is coupled with rotational deformity of the involved vertebrae. this condition can range from mild to severe and make appears are either an C- or an S- curve involving the thoracic spine or lumbar spine or both

Facet

limit range of motion in the different spinal regions, and channel the movement of the motion segment, assist in load bearing. have a small, flat articular surface

Movements of the spine in the FRONTAL plane

movement away of the spine away from anatomical position termed lateral flexion and occurs in the cervical region and in the thoracic region but somewhat less in that region

Pedicle

2 cylinder projections of hard bone on each vertebra that create the back of the vertebral body providing protection on the side for the spinal cord and nerves

Bony processes

Indicate places of attachment for muscles, openings or grooves for blood vessels and nerves, and depressions for articulation

Primary and secondary curves of the spine

Primary - curves that are present at birth which are concave anteriorly which are the thoracic and sacral curves Secondary - Curves that develop by age as the body begins to sit up and stand, include the lumbar and cervical curves which are concave posteriorly

Thoracic

The middle and largest portion of the spine, consists of 12 vertebrae

Lumbar

The portion of the spine located above the hips, consists of 5 vertebrae that are larger and thicker to support the weight of the body.

Cervical

The top portion of the spine closest to the skull, consists of 7 vertebrae

Foramen

a bony hollow archway which creates a passageway that all spinal nerve roots run through

spondololysis

a fracture of the pars interarticularis of the vertebral neural arch that can range in severity and can also be congenital, can be caused by mechanical stress

acute fractures of the vertebrae

can occur from extremely forceful contraction of the attached muscles or from the sustenance of a hard blow to the back of the spine. can occur from contact sports such as football and is caused by indirect trauma involving force applied to the head or trunk

low back pain

common problem, up to 80% of people experience in their lives. usually involve the lumbar region. can be caused by sitting for a prolonged amount of time. 15-40% of chronic low back pain is due to facet joints

Coccygeal

consists of 4 small fused vertebrae that in the spinal cord at the Coccyx

Movements of the spine in the SAGITTAL plane

flexion and extension types of movement occur in this plane

disc herniation

consists of the protrusion of part of the nucleus pulposus from the annulus. it can be either traumatic or stress related, but only occur in discs that show signs of previous degeneration. a common cause for this injury is age

Movements of the spine in the TRANSVERSE plane

creates spinal rotation in the transverse plane and occurs in the cervical and thoracic region of the spine and rotational capability progressively decreases down the spine

thinning discs

discs in the spine begin to thin and loose distance between the vertebrae which can cause them to collapse. this can be caused by age or spinal injuries

Sacral

end of spine, directly above the bottom, consists of 5 fused vertebrae

Kyphosis

exaggerated thoracic curvature. can result from a congenital abnormality, a pathology such as osteoporosis, or Scheuermann's disease

Lordosis

exaggeration of the lumbar curve, often associated with weakened abdominal muscles and anterior pelvic tilt. Causes include congenital spinal deformity, poor posture habits, overtraining in sports that require repeated lumbar hyperextension such as gymnastics

Intervertebral discs

fibrocartilage pads that separate and cushion the vertebrae in order to allow movement and in an adult account for one-fourth of the height of the spine

Lamina

flat plates of bone on the vertebral body that form the posterior outer wall of the spinal canal that functions to protect the spinal cord. also called the vertebral arch

Is spinal flexion the same as hip flexion?

no, although all three motions occur during an activity such as touching the toes. Hip flexion consist of anteriorly directed sagittal plane rotation of the femur with respect to the pelvic girdle, and anterior pelvic tilt is anteriorly directed movement of the anterior superior iliac spine with respect to the pubic symphysis.

bulging disc

occurs when the nucleus shift and begins to press against the outer ring which causes the disc to flatten and push into the spinal canal. this can be age-related wear and tear or be caused by a traumatic accident such a car crash or sports accident.

Define intra-abdominal pressure.

pressure inside the abdominal cavity; believed to help stiffen the lumbar spine against buckling

body of vertebrae

serves as primary weight bearing components of the spine

Nucleus pulposus

the inner central gelatinous material that is surrounded by the annulus fibrosus that makes up the intervertebral disc. acts like a ball bearing composed of an incompressible gel

Which muscles are used in spinal flexion?

the muscles involved are the rectus abdominis, external obliques, internal obliques which when functioning bilaterally are the major spinal flexors

Annulus fibrosus

thick outer ring composed of fibrous cartilage that makes up the intervertebral disc. acts as a coiled spring that hold the vertebral bodies together against the resistance