Spine Anatomy

Aka: Spine Anatomy, Vertebral Column, Vertebra, Vertebral Anatomy, Vertebra Anatomy

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II. Anatomy: General

  1. Cervical Spine (7 Vertebrae, 8 nerve root pairs)
    1. Cervical lordosis (concave posteriorly)
  2. Thoracic Spine (12 Vertebrae and nerve root pairs)
    1. Thoracic kyphosis (concave anteriorly)
  3. Lumbar Spine (5 Vertebrae and nerve root pairs)
    1. Lumbar lordosis (concave posteriorly)
  4. Images
    1. orthoSpineMusclesGrayBB409.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    2. orthoSpineLandmarksGrayBB1212.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)

III. Anatomy: Vertebral Landmarks

  1. General
    1. Vertebral Column is structured into 3 pillars (lateral view)
      1. Vertebral body Line
        1. Anterior line drawn through the Vertebral bodies
      2. Pedicle Line
        1. Middle line connects the posterior aspect of the Vertebral bodies
      3. Laminae Line
        1. Posterior line through thr start of the spinous processes
    2. Unstable spinal Fractures
      1. Injury to 2-3 pillars
  2. Anterior
    1. Anterior longitudinal ligament
    2. Vertebral Body
  3. Middle
    1. Pedicle
    2. Transverse Process
    3. Articular facet
  4. Posterior
    1. Posterior longitudinal ligament
    2. Lamina
    3. Spinous process
  5. Images
    1. orthoSpineVertebraeGrayBB67.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    2. orthoSpineVertebraeGrayBB82.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    3. orthoSpineVertebraeGrayBB83.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    4. OrthoSpineCompleteLateralGrayBB111.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)

IV. Anatomy: Disc

  1. Nucleus pulposus
    1. Inner gelatinous core
    2. High water content
    3. Desiccates with age, losing cushioning over time
  2. Anulus fibrosis
    1. Outer fibrous ring encases nucleus pulposus

V. Anatomy: Ligaments

  1. Anterior Support
    1. Anterior Longitudinal ligament (anterior to body)
    2. Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (posterior to body)
      1. Weak laterally
      2. Allows for lateral disc Herniation
  2. Posterior Support
    1. Ligamentum Flavum (binds laminae)
    2. Nuchal ligament (binds spinous processes): Strong
    3. Interspinous Lig. (binds spinous processes): Strong
  3. Capsular Ligament
    1. Binds articular joint
    2. Weak and lax

VI. Anatomy: Neuroanatomy

  1. See Neuroanatomy of the Spine
  2. Background
    1. Spine is the electrical breaker box panel of the body
  3. Cervical nerves exit ABOVE their respective numbered Vertebrae
    1. Nerve C6 exits above C6 Vertebrae (except C8, which exits below the C7 Vertebra)
  4. Thoracic and Lumbar Spine nerves exit BELOW their respective Vertebrae
    1. Transitioning at C8 (no corresponding numerical Vertebra)
  5. Exit sites
    1. Foramen between pedicles
    2. Apophyseal joint posterolaterally
    3. Joint of Luschka anteromedially
  6. Nerve Root Functions by Level
    1. See Reflex Exam
    2. See Motor Exam
    3. See Dermatome

VII. Anatomy: Vascular

  1. See Vascular Anatomy of the Spine

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