Introduction to Spinal Anatomy n Spine made up from –7 cervical –12 thoracic –5 lumbar –5 fused sacral –4 fused rudimentary bones that form the coccyx

Curves of the spine n Cervical lordosis but with upper cervical kyphosis (C0/1/2) n Lumbar lordosis n Thoracic kyphosis

Structure of a typical lumbar vertebrae n Spinous and transverse processes n Joints –facet (zygopophyseal) –interbody n Pedicles n Body n Lamina

Structure of a typical lumbar vertebrae n Large discs for weight bearing and shock absorbing n Large Joints that limit movement n Small range of overall movement

Structure of a typical thoracic vertebrae n Longer and more vertical spinous processes n Smaller n Thinner discs n Facets for rib articulations

Structure of a typical cervical vertebrae n Smaller & thinner discs n Smaller processes n Different orientation of joints n Foramen transversarium for vertebral artery n Uncovertebral joints

n Atlas and Axis –(C1 & 2) no disc n Pivot Joint n Mainly rotation about odontoid peg n Integrity of joint maintained by strong ligaments Structure of atypical cervical vertebrae

Sacrum n Fused vertebrae n Sacral foramen for sacral nerve roots n Form part of sacro- iliac joint

Intervertebral foramen n Foramen –formed between the pedicles above and below –the vertebral body and discs in front –the joint behind

Intervertebral foramen n Contains –nerve root and sinuvertebral nerve –blood vessels –lymphatic vessels –fat

Intervertebral foramen n Nerve root occupies 1/3 of the space in the intervertebral foramen n Contains the dorsal root ganglion

Cervical Intervertebral foramen n Nerve roots run in gutters n Close to uncovertebral joint and vertebral artery

Vertebral artery n Blood supply to the brain with the internal carotid arteries