Structure and Function

of the Vertebral Column

 Spine
• 33 vertebral segments
divided into 5 segments
– Cervical: 7 vertebrae
– Thoracic: 12 vertebrae
– Lumbar: 5 vertebrae
– Sacral: 5 vertebrae,
fused in the adult
– Coccygeal: 4 vertebrae,
also fused in adult
Spinal Column Views
 Normal Curvature of Spine
• Lordosis: set in a curve that has its convexity
anteriorly and concavity posteriorly
• Kyphosis: set in a curve that has its concavity
anteriorly and convexity posteriorly

• Purpose
– To absorb ground reaction forces
– To transmit load of upper body throughout lower
body
Which segments are lordotic and
which are kyphotic?
What does this do to the lordosis in
the lumbar spine?
 How would you describe
this woman’s thoracic spine?
Normal line of gravity – lateral view
 Other methods of assessing posture
• Anterior view
• Posterior view

– For both, looking for symmetry of bony landmarks

from both sides
Postural Assessment
 Ideal Posture

• There is no “normal” posture.

• Ideal posture serves as a reference point.
• Ideal posture…
– Distributes gravitational stress for balanced muscle
function.
– Allows joints to move in their mid range to
minimize stress on ligaments and articular
surfaces.
Effects of Poor Posture on Muscles
• Overstressed muscles tighten.
• Favored muscles weaken.
• This imbalance perpetuates the poor posture.
Common postural dysfunctions
 Parts of a Vertebra
Body
Vertebral Foramen
Pedicle Neural Arch
sp
Lamina
Transverse Process Vertebral
foramen
Articular Facet
Spinous Process
superior body

inferior
 Parts of a vertebrae
• Body
• Vertebral foramen
• Pedicles
• Transverse process
• Lamina
• Spinous process
• Articular facet
– Superior
– Inferior
 Intervertebral Discs

• Function
– Absorbing and
transmitting forces
• Components
– Annulus Fibrosus
• 10-20 concentric
fibrocartilaginous rings
• Encases nucleus
– Nucleus Pulposus
• Gelatinous center
• 70-90% water
• Shock absorber
 Terminology
• Individual vertebrae are
numbered by region
and in a cranial-sacral
direction
Terminology
• Discs are described by
their position between
two vertebrae

• Spinal nerves are

described in the same
way as the vertebrae
Osteology of the Spine
 Cervical Vertebrae
• Smallest and most mobile
• C3-7 are similar in osteology; C1 and C2 are
unique
• C3-C7
– Transverse processes possess holes called
transverse foramen (allows vertebral artery to
travel through it)
– Most spinous processes are bifid (two-pronged)
• Allows for attachment for muscles bilaterally
 C-1 Vertebrae
• Called Atlas
• Has no body, it is ring-
like, and consists of an
anterior and a posterior
arch and two lateral
masses
• Articulates with skull’s
occipital condyles
– Atlanto-occipital joint
 C-2 Vertebrae
• Called Axis
– Allows rotation of C-
spine
• Atlas sits directly on top
of axis
– Articulates with inferior
facet of atlas to form
Cervical Vertebrae C3-C7
 Cervical Vertebrae Recap
• C1 is called atlas
– C1 and skull form atlanto-occipital joint
• C2 is called axis
– Vertical process called dens
– Axis-atlas forms atlanto-axial joint (accounts for
half of all rotation that occurs at neck)
• Unique features of C3-C7
– Transverse foramen
– Bifid spinous processes
 Thoracic Vertebrae
• 12 vertebrae – 12 rib
– Body and transverse
processes have costal
facets
• Unique features
– Inferiorly projected long
spinous processes
– Posterior/lateral
transverse processes
– More round vertebral
foramen
 Lumbar Vertebrae
• Bigger vertebral bodies
than others, why?
• Other aspects of
vertebrae are stouter
and broader than other
areas
• Contain small
mammillary and
accessory processes on
their bodies
Examples of Vertebrae
Intervertebral foramen
 Sacrum and Coccyx
• Sacrum
– 5 vertebrae fused together
into a triangular shaped bone
– Do have foramen for nerves
to exit which will innervate
the lower extremity
• Coccyx
– Tailbone (4 fused vertebrae)

• Together form
sacrococcygeal joint
 Supporting Structures of
Vertebral Column
• Joints
– Atlanto-occipital joint
• Condyloid joint; allows flex/extension and lateral rotation
– Atlanto-axial joint
• Allows rotation only; pivot joint
– Intervertebral joints (C2-S1)
• Three ways
– Facet joints-plane joint (allows flex/ext, lat flex, and rotation)
– Lamina are connected via a ligament (ligamentum flavum)
– Bodies are connected via the disc (not a synovial joint)
» Fibrocartilaginous
Facet Joints, aka apophyseal joints
 Supporting Structures of
Vertebral Column
• Ligaments
– Ligamentum flavum
• runs between lamina of adjacent vertebrae and limits
excessive flexion

– Anterior longitudinal ligament

• Attaches the anterior aspect of the vertebral body

– Posterior longitudinal ligament

• Attaches to the posterior aspect of the vertebral body
Ant and Post Longitudinal Ligament
 Kinematics
• Movement in the spinal column is defined by
the direction of motion of the anterior side of
the vertebrae
– Can be confusing because the spinous process
(posterior) and the anterior side move in opposite
directions.
 Kinematics
• All segments of vertebral column permits:
– Flexion/extension
– Lateral flexion to the Right and Left
– Rotation to the Right and Left

• Motions are graded on the summation of the

entire vertebral segment, not each individual
vertebrae
 Kinematics
• Craniocervical (neck): most mobile of all
segments

• Thoracolumbar
– Thoracic spine allows flex/ext, and the majority of
lat flex and rotation
– Lumbar spine allows for the majority of
flex/extension
 Position of Pelvis affects
Position of Lumbar Spine
• The pelvis can be
rotated anteriorly and
posteriorly
Common Pathologies:
Scoliosis
 Common Pathologies:
Disc
• Disc tear, bulge, herniation, prolapse, and
dessication
• Like a wet sponge, a healthy disc is flexible. A
dry sponge is hard, stiff, and can crack easily.
• Due to the position of spinal nerves exiting
through the transverse foramen, disc
problems can have a negative affect on those
nerves
Myology of the Vertebral Column
 Innervations
• Dorsal Ramus
– Innervates most muscles of posterior neck and
truck
• Ventral Ramus
– Most muscles of ant-lateral trunk and neck
Anterior Neck
Sternocleidomastoid
Origin Sternal head: superior
aspect of the manubrium of
the sternum
Clavicular head: medial 1/3
of the clavicle
Insertion Mastoid process of the
temporal bone
Innervation Spinal accessory n. (cranial
n. XI)
Action Unilateral: Contralateral
rotation of the head and
neck;
Ipsilateral lateral flexion of
the head/neck
Bilateral: flexes the
head/neck
Anterior Neck
Scalenes
Origin Ant. Scalene: transverse processes
of C3-C7
Middle Scalene: transverse
processes of C2-C7
Posterior Scalene: transverse
processes of C5-C7

Insertion Ant. Scalene: 1st rib

Middle Scalene: 1st rib
Posterior Scalene: external
surface of the 2nd rib

Innervation Ventral rami (C3-C7)

Action Bilateral: flexion of the neck,
assist with inspiration by elevating
ribs 1&2
Unilateral: lateral flexion
 COPD
Overuse of respiratory
accessory muscles
Posterior Neck
Splenius Capitis
Origin Mastoid process and
lateral superior nuchal
line
Insertion Ligamentum nuchae
and spinous processes
C7-T3

Innervation Dorsal rami C2-C8

Action Bilateral: extension

Unilateral: Ipsilateral
lateral flexion and
rotation of head and
neck
Posterior Neck
Splenius Cervicis
Origin Transverse process of
C1-C3
Insertion Spinous process of T3-
T6
Innervation Dorsal rami C2-C8
Action Bilateral: extension of
neck

Unilateral: Ipsilateral
lateral flexion and
rotation of head and
neck
 Class one Lever relating
to neck pain
• In good posture,
resistance arm is short
and muscles can act on
it easily
• The further the neck is
forward (bad posture of
cerivcal or thoracic
spine), the resistance
arm is lengthened
Anterior-Lateral Trunk
Rectus Abdominis
Origin Crest of the pubis
Insertion Xiphoid process and
cartilages of ribs 5-7
Innervation Intercostal n. (T7-T12)
Action Flexion of the trunk,
posterior pelvic tilt
 Anterior-Lateral Trunk
External Oblique
Origin Lateral side of ribs
4-12
Insertion Iliac crest and linea
alba
Innervation Intercostal nerves
(T8-T12)
Action Bilateral: Flexion of
the trunk, posterior
pelvic tilt,
Unilateral:
contralateral
Rotation of the
trunk; Ipsilateral
lateral flexion of the
trunk
Anterior-Lateral Trunk
Internal Oblique
Origin Iliac crest, inguinal
ligament & thoracolumbar
fascia
Insertion Ribs 9-12, linea alba
Innervation Intercostal n. (T8-T12)
Action Bilateral: flexion of the
trunk, posterior pelvic tilt,
increases intra-abdominal
and intra-thoracic
pressure
Unilateral: lateral flexion
of the trunk, rotation of
the trunk to the ipsilateral
side
Anterior-Lateral Trunk

Transverse Abdominis
Origin Iliac crest, thoracolumbar
fascia cartlages of ribs 6-
12, & inguinal ligament
Insertion Linea alba
Innervation Intercostal n. (T7-T12)
Action Increases intra-abdominal
pressure, increases
tension in thoracolumbar
fascia
 Increasing Intra-Abdominal pressure
and thoracolumbar fasica
• By increasing tension and pressure, we
stabilize the lumbar spin
– Via thoracolumbar fascia, we have a rigid column
of muscles from anterior-posterior
Without even looking at their back,
who has the stronger back?
 Back Stabilizers
Iliopsoas
Origin Psoas Major:
transverse processes
of T12-L5
Iliacus: Iliac fossa
Insertion Lesser trochanter of
the femur
Innervation Femoral n.
Action Hip flexion, trunk
flexion, anterior pelvic
tilt
Back stabilizers
Quadratus Lumborum
Origin Crest of the ilium
Insertion Transverse processes
of L1-L4 & 12th rib
Innervation Ventral rami (T12-L3)
Action Bilateral: extension of
the lumbar region
Unilateral: lateral
flexion of the trunk
Erector Spinae
Large vertically oriented
muscles on both sides of
the spinous processes
(about one hand’s width
laterally)
• Extend and stabilize the
entire vertebral column and
craniocervical region
 Posterior Trunk
Iliocostalis
Inferior Lumborum: common tendon
Attachment Thoracis: angle of ribs 6-12
Cervicis: angle of ribs 3-7
Superior Lumborum: angle of ribs 6-12
Attachment Thoracis: angle of ribs 1-6
Cervicis: transverse processes of C4-C6
Innervation Dorsal rami of adjacent spinal n.
Action Bilateral: extension
Unilateral: lateral flexion
Posterior Trunk
Longissimus
Inferior Thoracis: common tendon
Attachment Cervicis: transverse processes of T1-
T4
Capitis: Transverse processes of T1-
T5 & near facet joints C3-C7
Superior Thoracis: transverse processes of
Attachment T1-T12
Cervicis: Transverse processes of C2-
C6
Capitis: mastoid process of temporal
bone
Innervation Dorsal rami of adjacent spinal n.
Action Bilateral: extension
Unilateral: lateral flexion
Posterior Trunk
Spinalis
Inferior Thoracis: common tendon
Attachment Cervicis: ligamentum nuchae and
spinous processes C7-T1
Capitis: Blends with semispinalis
capitis
Superior Thoracis: Spinous processes of T1-T6
Attachment Cervicis: Pinous process of C2
Capitis: Blends with semispinalis
capitis
Innervation Dorsal rami of adjacent spinal n.
Action Bilateral: extension