Anatomia coloanei vertebrale

The presentation discusses the functional anatomy of the vertebral column.

The lecture plan includes the vertebral column as a whole, articulations, biomechanics, the morphofunctional unit of the axial organ, and cinematic (muscular) chains.

The vertebral column is made up of 33-34 vertebrae.

The vertebrae are arranged metamerically.

The vertebral column is divided into five topographical and functional regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal.

The cervical region has 7 vertebrae.

The Thoracic region has 12 vertebrae.

The lumbar region has 5 vertebrae.

The Sacral region has 5 vertebrae.

The coccygeal region has 4-5 vertebrae.

Of the 33-34 vertebral segments, 24 are true vertebrae, while the other 9-10 are false vertebrae.

True vertebrae include cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae, which retain independence and mobility.

False vertebrae are the sacral and coccygeal vertebrae, which are fused and form the sacrum and coccyx.

A true vertebra consists of two main parts: an anterior part representing the vertebral body and a posterior part representing the vertebral arch.

The vertebral arch is made up of two bony laminae where the articular and muscular processes are located.

The two parts of vertebrae are connected by the pedicles of the vertebral arch.

The vertebral foramen is enclosed between the vertebral arch and body.

Superimposition of the vertebral foramen forms the vertebral canal.

The vertebral canal houses the spinal cord, covered by meninges.

The vertebral canal continues upwards with the neurocranium cavity and downwards opening with the sacral hiatus.

The diameters of the vertebral canal vary, being larger in the cervical and lumbar regions, and smaller in the thoracic region.

The larger diameters are due to the greater mobility in the cervical and lumbar regions.

The superimposition of vertebrae creates intervertebral foramina that allows communication between the vertebral canal and peripheral regions.

The intervertebral foramina are bounded anteriorly by intervertebral discs and vertebral bodies, superiorly and inferiorly by pedicles, and posteriorly by yellow ligaments and zygapophyseal joints.

The spinal nerve and blood vessels pass through each intervertebral foramen.

The vertebral column is a long median column identified as the spine.

The spine has an average length of 70cm, being longer in males by 5-10cm.

The vertebral column represents 2/5 of an individual's height.

1/4 of the spine length is given by the intervertebral discs.

The vertebral column provides protection for the spinal cord and viscera.

It forms the anterior of the vertebral bodies and the posterior of the super imposed vertebral arches.

The vertebral column constitutes of walls of thoracic, abdominal and pelvic cavities which provides protection against internal organ trauma.

In orthostatism, the vertebral column acts as a static, antigravitational axis supporting the head, trunk, and upper limbs, transferring weight to the pelvis and lower limbs.

The vertebral column provides dynamic functions as it enables a wide range of body movements.

Due to the vertical position of the body the vertebral column forms curvatures in the sagittal and frontal planes.

These curvatures give flexibility favors the maintenance of balance, and attenuates vertical shock.

Sagittal plane curvatures are lordoses (convexity forward) and kyphoses (convexity backward).

There are four curvatures in the vertebral column; cervical and lumbar lordoses and thoracic and sacral kyphoses.

Frontal plane curvatures, oriented to the left or right, are called scolioses and they are less pronounced than curvature in the sagittal place.

Commonly observed curves include a cervical curvature to the left, a thoracic curvature to the right, and a lumbar curvature to the left.

The thoracic curvature is primary because it’s due to stronger muscles, while remaining curves are compensatory to maintain equilibrium. In left handed persons, the frontal curvatures are reversed.

In intrauterine life and at birth the vertebral column has a singular curve with convexity backwards.

Sagittal curves are obtained postnatally: cervical lordosis by 2 months with head raising, and lumbar lordosis by 9-12 months with vertical station and locomotion.

The occurrence of new lordosis curves determines the development of two kyphosis curves to reestablish body equilibrium.

In old age, CV shortens through accentuated curves as height is reduced in vertebral discs. A large curvature may appear within the thoracic region

In females, thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis are pronounced because of adaptation to gestations (pregancy).

Pathological kyphosis and lordosis are defined by extreme curvature from what is anatomically considered normal.

Scoliosis can appear spontaneously in 80% of females around puberty. Experts in pediatric orthopedics do not consider the incorrect posture of children responsible for scoliosis.

Scoliosis is associated with lateral deviation of the vertebral column, asymmetry of the shoulders and shoulder blades, asymmetry of the hips.

Deviation also causes an appearance of gibbosity in the forward tilting of the torso.

Scoliosis treatment includes wearing a torso corset, or surgical spinal fusions.

Vertebral column articulations can be either proper, otherwise known as intrinsec articulations. Otherwise they can be between the spine or neighbor ossifications otherwise called extrinsec articulations.

The vertebral column contains all types of conjunctions: syndesmosis, synelastosis, synchondrosis, synostosis, simfisis and diarthrosis. These occur in a segmented, metameric formation in vertebral column development.

The vertebral column is an elastic and flexible construction due to rigid structures (vertebrae) combined with elastic structures (intervertebral discs).

Vertebrae are connected with 23 intervertebral discs, and anterior and posterior vertebrae ligaments.

The first disc occurs between the axis and 3rd cervical vertebrae, while the last occurs between the 5th vertebra and base of vertebrae.

Disc height varies between a vertebrae segments and reflects the level of mobility: cervical: 5-6 mm, thoracic: 2-3 mm and lumbar: 10-12mm.

Intervertebral discs are constituted with a central portion named nucleus pulposus, which takes approximately one half of the disc. The peripheral portion is the fibrous ring of concentric sheets that contain 15-20 sheets that are deployed in front of the pulposus nucleus and seven or ten behind. Therefore, the back semicircumference is less developed than the front. Two cartilaginous terminal sheets are located on the vertebra from disc edges and constitutes epyphiseal cartilage that allows for the lengthening of the vertebra.

By 13 years the tissue of vertebrae discs develops and expands in height and width. After this processes slows by maturity.

As adults the vertebrae discs do not contain blood vessels because the adult version is missing the blood vessels that are typical of children.

Fetal pulposus nucleus is a semiligamentous structure with 80% water. It reduces to 69% in elders.

With age, the discs become dehydrated and decrease, reducing the height of the vertical column by 7-8cm.

In newborns, intervertebral discs in totality constitutes 50% of the vertical column versus 25% in adults.

Hernia de disc is defined by the the enforced ejection of the nucleous cavity that creates compression for nervous and neurovascular masses inside of the intervertebral foramen or the spinal and medular nerves. Spinal cord inflammation and symptoms may also occur.

Hernaited discs can be internal, when traversing of cartilaginous and spongy section of the body. Or external, when traversing of fibrosus sections from the ring.

Vertebrae column movements are performed concomitent within the vertebral bodies and articulation of joints. The pulposus nucleus, working as an articulation ball, carries all types of movements.

Intervertebral movements are small direct and restricted. By adding up all vertebral movements , the movements are extended due to intervertebral discs.

Vertebrae Column Movements: Flexion, lateral inclinations, rotation, circumduction.

Vertebral column movements depends on the height of the intervertebral discs. It changes with vertebral column height relation and the orientation of the apofizies on the articulars and the transversal spines.

The Cervical region has the most mobile vertebrae because of the intervertebral discs, and face placement for horizontal apofizies which allows for sliding movements within the vertebae column articulations.

The Thoracic column has rigid vertebrae due to thickness within, it has a small vertebrae compared thickness and location in oblique portions. Also has spines in the posterior portion. This limits movement of the extensions. Thus with a thoracic area, mobility is limited by costal areas.

Lumbar segments have lower vertebrae than the cervical segment, but still taller than the thoracic column. It measures a 1/3 ratio for vertebral discs and articulation placements in the Sagittel column.

The segment de miscare / motosegmental is a functional unit of axial organisms. The osseous components in the vertebrae are alternate with elastic components like ligaments and sinourial junctions.

Motosegment composition includes intervertebral discs, longitude anterior and posterior ligaments, gall ligaments, zigafeze articulations, and intravertebral muscles.

Some authors include segment de miscare and elements of segments of spinal nerves and the passages of nerves.

An important role in maintaining the vertical position of the bodies is that of the muscles located in front of and posterior to the vertebrae column. Muscle bundles enable the vertebrae column on the other hand to support the loading of the entire boby and on the other hand to perform a suite of movements within the body.

From a kinematic view, the muscular groups are located on the dorsal part of the of the trunk performing flexion of the frontal portions, when the dorsal portion on the trunk forms the body of the portion performes by the lateral extension.

The movement of spine extension is achieved through 4 muscular strings.

The first cinematic string is shaped with some of of the superficial muscles like the great back that connects the fascia from the greater glutteus.

The second string occurs of the capitis splenius combined with facsia of external obliquus.

The 3rd line consists of splineus capitis and dentate with top external intercostals.

Flexion by anterior prevertrebral musculature including rectus, lateralis, anterior cervices, longitudinal cervicals, costal diaphragms, iliacs, scales in relation to internal coastals and lumbate portions, and also transverse musculature combined with pubic portions.

Luând în vedere complexitatea structurală a coloanei vertebrale (osoasă, fibroasă, cartilaginoasă şi musculară), multiplele ei funcţii (de protecţie, de susţinere, de mişcare), precum şi numeroasele interacţiuni cu toate părţile corpului, ne alăturăm celor ce denumesc astăzi această parte a aparatului locomotor organul axial al corpului.

Taking into account the structural complexity of the spine (bony, fibrous, cartilaginous and muscular), its many functions (protection, support, movement), as well as numerous interactions with all parts of the body, we join those who call this part of the locomotor system axial body organ.