1. The Spinal Column and Thorax
ESAT 3600
Fundamentals of Athletic Training

2. Main Functions Skull Thorax Vertebral column Protect brain
Absorb forces of impact
Muscle attachment
Vertebral column
Provides framework and foundation for most movements of body and extremities
Protects spinal cord

3. Vertebral Column 7 cervical 12 thoracic 5 lumbar 5 sacral
4-5 coccygeal
Sacral and coccygeal are fused

4. Shapes of Normal Spine Cervical lordosis Thoracic kyphosis
Contributes to mobility of head
Thoracic kyphosis
Lumbar lordosis
Contributes to “springiness” of spine
Sacral kyphosis
Helps to transmit forces of body weight through trunk

5. Bony Anatomy Review Vertebral body Vertebral arch Transverse processes
Spinous process
Articulating surfaces
facets

6. Vertebral Column Structure
All vertebrae are similar in general structure
2 factors change when view from cervical to lumbar
Structures become progressively larger
Direction of articulating surfaces change

7. Facets Different orientations allow for:
varied degrees of movement between 2 adjacent vertebrae
Change amounts of tension, compression, and shear forces

8. Vertebral Column Structure
Body of vertebra are load bearing portion of vertebra
Lumbar region bears more load than cervical region
Lumbar region has larger vertebrae

9. Cervical Vertebrae Body is more rectangular shaped
Facets are flat and tilted anteriorly
Axis and atlas do not follow basic rules

10. Thoracic Vertebrae Body has triangular shape
Facets are set oblique, and angle toward each other slightly

11. Lumbar Vertebrae Body is rounder
Bean shaped
Facets are almost vertical and face each other

12. Intervertebral Disks
Consists of annulus fibrosis and nucleus pulposus

13. Annulus fibrosis Outermost layer is regular fibrous tissue
Inner portion is fibrocartilage
Concentric layers

14. Nucleus Pulposus
Distributes stresses between vertebrae during flexion and extension
Lateral movements also
Forward bending = backward movement
Backward bending = forward movement

15. Disk Damage
Compression and shear of vertebral discs is associated with LBP
3 factors that increase shear and compression
Amount of weight lifted
Distance held from the vertebral column
Amount of trunk flexion used when lifting

16. Ligaments of Vertebral Column
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Posterior longitudinal ligament

17. Ligaments of Vertebral Column
Supraspinous ligament
Interspinous ligament

18. Ligaments of Vertebral Column
Ligamentum flavum
Intertransverse ligament

19. Ligaments of Vertebral Column
Ligamentum nuchae
Atlantoaxial ligament
Transverse ligament
Hangman’s ligament
Transverse process to transverse process of atlas

20. Movement in the Spine Movement between individual vertebrae
Movement of entire region
Movement of entire spine

21. Movements of the Spine

22. Vertebral Column Stability
Weak bony stability
Most stability from ligaments and muscles
Muscle stabilizers
Abdominals
Prevent hyperextension
Erector spinae
Compresses column

23. Thorax 12 Thoracic vertebrae 12 pairs of ribs
1st 7 have direct cartilaginous connection to sternum
Lower 5 connected to sternum by cartilaginous connection to the 7th costal cartilage or not at all

24. Trunk and Movement Trunk helps to contribute force to movement
Movement of intervertebral joints position trunk so that the upper extremity is in optimal position
Throwing tasks

25. Spinal Muscles Spinal muscle group Transversospinal muscle group
O & I on spinous process
Transversospinal muscle group
O on transverse process; I on spinous process
Spinotransversal muscle group
O on spinous process; I on transverse process

26. Role of Muscles in Trunk Alignment
Rectus abdominis
Prevents lumbar hyperextension & anterior pelvic tilt
Erector spinae group
Prevent lumbar flexion
Iliopsoas and rectus femoris
Prevent hip extension
Hamstrings and gluteals
Prevent hip flexion

27. Splenius capitis
O: spinous processes of C7-T3, inferior half of ligamentum nuchae
I: mastoid process and lateral 1/3 of superior nuchal line
A: bilaterally extends head and neck; unilaterally flexes and rotates head and neck to same side

28. Splenius cervicis O: spinous process of 3rd-6th thoracic vertebrae
I: posterior transverse processes of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd cervical vertebrae, sometimes 4th cervical vertebrae
A: bilaterally extends head and neck; unilaterally laterally flexes and rotates neck to same side

29. Erector Spinae - Iliocostal Branch (Iliocostalis lumborum)
O: anterior surface of tendon arising from sacrum, spinous processes of lumbar and 11th & 12th thoracic vertebrae, medial lip of the iliac crest
I: inferior borders of angles of the lower 6 or 7 ribs
A: bilaterally extends spine; unilaterally lateral flexion of spine

30. Erector Spinae - Iliocostal Branch (Iliocostalis thoracis)
O: superior borders of the angles of the lower 6 ribs
I: into the angles of the upper 6 or 7 ribs and into the transverse process of the C7
A: bilaterally extends spine; unilaterally lateral flexion of spine

31. Erector Spinae - Iliocostal Branch (Iliocostalis cervicis)
O: superior borders of the angles of the 3rd-6th ribs
I: posterior tubercles of transverse processes of the 4th, 5th, & 6th cervical vertebrae
A: bilaterally extends spine; unilaterally lateral flexion of spine

32. Erector spinae - Longissimus Branch (Longissimus thoracis)
O: common tendon w/ iliocostalis lumborum, fibers from transverse and accessory processes of lumbar vertebrae and thoracolumbar fascia
I: tips of transverse process of all thoracic vertebrae and the lower 9 or 10 ribs between the tubercles and angles
A: bilaterally extends vertebral column; draws ribs down; unilaterally laterally flexes vertebral column

33. Erector spinae - Longissimus Branch (Longissimus cervicis)
O: transverse processes of T 1-5
I: transverse processes of C 2-6, sometimes transverse process of atlas
A: bilaterally extends neck; unilaterally laterally flexes neck

34. Erector spinae - Longissimus Branch (Longissimus capitis)
O: transverse processes of T 1-5, articular processes of C 4-7
I: posterior margin of mastoid process
A: bilaterally extends head; unilaterally laterally flexes and rotates head to same side

35. Erector spinae - Spinalis Branch (Spinalis thoracis)
O: spinous processes of L 1-2, T11-12
I: spinous processes of upper thoracic vertebrae
A: bilaterally extends spine; unilaterally laterally flexes spine

36. Erector spinae - Spinalis Branch (Spinalis cervicis)
O: lower portion of ligamentum nuchae, spinous processes of C7 and sometimes T1-2
I: spinous processes of axis and sometimes spinous processes of C3-4
A: bilaterally extends spine; unilaterally laterally flexes spine

37. Quadratus lumborum
O: iliolumbar ligament, posterior part of iliac crest
I: inferior border of 12th rib and transverse processes of upper 4 lumbar vertebrae
A: lateral flexion of lumbar spine, assist with inspiration

38. Multifidus
A series of pairs of small muscles extending the full length of the spine just superficial to the rotatores and each spanning 2 or 3 intervertebral spaces
O: posterior surface of sacrum, dorsal end of iliac crest, mamillary and transverse processes of L & T vertebrae, articular processes of C4-7
I: spinous processes of all vertebrae except atlas
A: unilaterally laterally flexes and rotates spine to opposite side; bilaterally extends spine

39. Rotator brevis O: transverse processes of vertebrae
Series of pairs of small muscles extending from sacrum to axis
O: transverse processes of vertebrae
I: bases of spinous processes of 1st vertebrae above
A: unilaterally rotation of spine to opposite side; bilaterally extends spine

40. Rotator longus O: transverse processes of vertebrae
Series of pairs of small muscles extending from sacrum to axis
O: transverse processes of vertebrae
I: bases of the spinous processes of 2nd vertebrae above
A: unilaterally rotation of spine to opposite side; bilaterally extends spine

41. Scalenus anterior
O: scalene tubercle and ridge on superior surface of 1st rib
I: anterior tubercles of transverse of C3-6
A: bilaterally flexes neck and raises 1st rib; unilaterally laterally flexes and rotates C spine to opposite side

42. Scalenus medius
O: superior surface of 1st rib behind subclavial groove
I: posterior tubercles of transverse processes of C2-7
A: bilaterally flexes neck and raises 1st rib; unilaterally laterally flexes and rotates C spine to opposite side

43. Scalenus posterior
O: outer surface of 2nd rib behind attachment of serratus anterior
I: posterior tubercles of transverse processes of C4-6
A: bilaterally flexes neck and raises 2nd rib; unilaterally laterally flexes and rotates C spine to opposite side

44. Sternocleidomastoid
O:Sternal head – anterior surface of manubrium; Clavicular head – superior surface of medial 1/3 of clavicle
I: lateral surface of mastoid process, lateral ½ of the superior nuchal line
A: bilaterally flexes head; unilaterally draws head to ipsilateral shoulder, rotates head to opposite side

45. External Oblique
O: external surfaces and inferior borders of ribs 5-12
I: linea alba, inquinal ligament and anterior half of iliac crest along outer lip
A: unilaterally rotates trunk to opposite side, laterally flexes to same side; bilaterally flexes trunk anteriorly, anterior support to organs and lumbar spine, prevents anterior tilt of pelvis

46. Internal Oblique
O: lateral 2/3 of inquinal ligament and anterior 1/3 of middle line of iliac crest; middle 1/3 of iliac crest and thoraco lumbar fascia
I:crest of pubis and linea alba; inferior border of ribs 10-12
A: unilaterally rotates and laterally flexes trunk to same side; bilaterally flexes spine

47. Rectus Abdominis O: pubic crest and symphysis pubis
I: costal cartilage of ribs 5-7 and side of xiphoid process
A: flexion and lateral flexion of trunk, anterior support to organs and lumbar spine, prevents anterior tilt of pelvis

48. Transverse abdominis
O: lateral 1/3 of the inquinal ligament, anterior 2/3 of inner lip of iliac crest, thoracolumbar fascia, inner edges of lower 6 costal cartilages
I: linea alba
A: constricts abdominal contents, assists in forced expiration