SPINAL COLUMN (= SPINE)

Function: - protects spinal chord

- support

(“stabile“, springy, flexible

support)

- attachment for dorsal

muscles

SPINAL COLUMN (= SPINE)

- cervical section / cervical spine (7vert.)

- thoracic s. (12 vert.)

- lumbar s. (5 vert.)

- sacum (5 fused vert.)

- Coccyc (4-5 fused vert.)

Spinal Column

Morphology of a Vertebra

body of the vertebra

arch

vertebral foramen

1 spinous process

2 transverse processes

4 articular facets (ribs)

Intervertebral joints

spinous

process

transverse

process

articular facets

body (of the

vertebra)vertebral

foramen

arch

Morphology of a Vertebra

Spinal Column

cervical spineatlas (1st cervical vertebra)

axis (2nd cervical vertebra)

vertebra prominens (7th cervical vertebra)

Spinal Column

thoracic spine

specialties: - articular surface for ribs

- long spinous processes

lying above each other

like roof shingles

Spinal Column

lumbar spine

- mighty bodies of vert.

- horizontal spinous processes (LP)

- long, flat articular facets

- transverse processs quite

receded

Spinal Column

sacrum

- 5 sacral vertebra fused with each other

- articular surface for ilium (sacro-illiac joint)

Spinal Column

coccyx

- 4-5 fused vertebrae

The term coccyx comes originally

from the Greek language and means

"cuckoo," referring to the shape of a

cuckook‘s beak.

Spinal Column

23 intervetebral discs

- from 2nd cervical v. to sacrum, between

sacrum and coccyc

- ring of fibrous cartilage

- jelly-like nucleus (nucleus pulposus), much

water, plastic/shapable

- surfaces of vertebral body (hyline cartilage)

give attachment to collagenous fibres

- nutrition via diffusion

- main characteristics: elasticity and plasticity

anterior longitudinal l.

posterior longitudinal l.

supraspinous ligament

Long Ligaments Bänder:

influence shape and state of tension of

complete spine

- anterior and posterior longitudinal

ligament

- supraspinous ligament (7th cervical

vertebra to sacrum)

- nuchal ligament (cervical curve to skull)

short ligaments

Short Ligaments

limit range of motion

- ligaments between arches,

transverse processes and articular

facets

Ligaments of the Spinal Column

Muscles of the Spinal Column

Abdominal Muscles: Anterior Abdominal Wall

- external oblique muscle (m.

obliquus externus)- rectus abdominis m.

Abdominal Muscles: Anterior Abdominal Wall

- transversus abdominis m.- internal oblique musle

(m. obliquus internus)

Abdominal Muscles :

Posterior Abdominal Wall

- quadratus lumborum

Abdominal Muscles

Functions

impact on position of pelvis and spine

- flexion of trunk

- lateral flexionof trunk

- riotate torso

- increase intra-abdominal pressure (abdominal press: glottis closed,

tensing of diaphragm, tensing abdominal muscles)

- protection for intra-abdominal organs (defensive tension)

Superficial Layer:muscles of extremities and ribs

Muscles of Shoulder Girdle ( = pectoral

girdle):

- trapecius muscle

- latissimus dorsi m.

- rhomboid minor and rh. major

- levator scapulae)

Muscles of Torso/Ribs

- serratus posterior inferior

and seratus posterior superior)

Dorsal Muscles

Deep Layer:

“geniue“ (= “autochtonous“) dorsal muscles:

> Erector Spinae

inner cord & outer cord

Function: extension of torso

maintains upright posture

Dorsal Muscles:

Erector SpinaeInner Cord:

several systems of muscles, “small

short“ muscles, e.g. between 2 spinous processses,

between spinous pr. and transverse processes,

between transverse processes

important for statics and fine coordination ofspine

Outer cord:

- longissimus

- iliocostalis

Dorsal Muscles:

transverse processes: crosslines

muscles: connecting lines

pelvis: deck of ship

forward: convex cervical lordosis

backward: convex thoracic kyphosis

forward: convex lumbar lordosis

Biomechanics of the Spine

Postures:

Biomechanics of the Spine

A hollow back (B) shows an excessive thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis (the pelvisseems to be tilted forward, round belly, flat thorax).A round back/hunch back (C) shows an exessive kyphotic thorax where the thoraciccurve can extend deep down to the lumbar curve.The flat back or strait back (D) zshows an extreme flattening of of the kyphotic andlordodic curves.

Possible Movements:

•flexion (= inclination = ventral flexion)•extension (= reclination = dorsal extension)•rotation•lateral flexion

Biomechanics of the Spine

Biomechanics of the Spine

symmetric & non-symmetric load foran intervertebral disc when an objectis lifted (de Mareis)

Bio-mechanics of the Spine

Load of the 5th lumbar vertebra depending on the angle of the flexed trunk and the weight of themoved object (de Mareis)

Back Problems

Back pain is not a specific diagnosis of ist own, bust should be considered as a

complex of symptoms and individual factors:

· biological

· degenerative changes

· high age

· trauma/injury

· deficites and imbalance of those muscles that stabilise the trunk

· social

· jobs with heavy labour or/and one-sided body posture

· low vocational qualification or dissatisfaction with job

· way of living (smoking, over-weight, lack of movement, poor living/working condition and lack

of compensating activieties)

· psycological

· anxiety, depression

· over-load

· stress, conflics

· somatic problems

· problams caused by trauma/injury

Fissure, protrusion and disc herniation

Definition:Disc fissure consists of the tearing of the fibrous ring around the disc. The most usual type is radial fissure, in which the tear is perpendicular to the direction of the fibers.Disc protrusion consists of the deformity of the fibrous ring by the impact against it of the gelatinous material from the nucleus pulposus. If the ring breaks and part of the nucleus pulposusbecomes extruded, disc herniation is diagnosed.

fissure protrusion disc herniation

Fissure, protrusion and disc herniation

How it takes placeFissure, protrusion, or slipped disc occurs when the pressure inside the disc exceeds the strength of the fibrous ring.Since the anterior wall of the fibrous envelope is a third thicker than the posterior wall, most fissures, protrusions and slipped discs occur in the latter.The typical mechanism consists of the following sequence of movements:Forward flexion of the spinal column: More load is placed on the anterior part of the disc. Because of its gelatinous consistency, the pulpy nucleus is pressed against the posterior wall of the fibrous ring. Lifting heavy weights: This tends to press one vertebra against another, increasing the pressure inside the disc. Stretching the spine with the heavy weight: The increased pressure on the disc caused by bearing the weight "squeezes" the pulpy nucleus back more strongly. If there is enough pressure against the posterior wall of the fibrous ring, this tears (disc fissure), swells (disc protrusion), or breaks (disc rupture). A similar effect can be produced by repeated flexion-stretching movements with a lighter load or even with no load. Every such movement generates small impacts on the posterior wall of the fibrous envelope.These processes occur much more readily when the muscles of the back are weak. If they are sufficiently developed, these muscles protect the disc by various means.