5 Questions
What is the biomechanical role of the cervical spine?
Facilitating the transfer of weight and bending moments of the head
Which structure does the cervical spine primarily protect?
Spinal cord
What are the viscoelastic properties exhibited by intervertebral discs?
CREEP, relaxation, and Hysteresis
What is hysteresis in the context of ligamentous/IV disc properties?
Energy lost (as heat) within the tissue between loading and unloading
What is creep in the context of intervertebral discs?
Timedependent deformation of a viscoelastic material under constant stress at a constant temperature
Study Notes
Cervical Spine Biomechanics
- The cervical spine plays a crucial biomechanical role in supporting the head and facilitating movements such as flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral bending.
Protection of Structures
- The primary structure protected by the cervical spine is the spinal cord.
Intervertebral Disc Properties
- Intervertebral discs exhibit viscoelastic properties, which enable them to absorb and distribute mechanical stress.
Hysteresis and Ligamentous/IV Disc Properties
- Hysteresis refers to the phenomenon where the stress-strain response of ligamentous and intervertebral disc tissues varies depending on the loading and unloading cycles.
Creep in Intervertebral Discs
- Creep is a viscoelastic property of intervertebral discs, characterized by a gradual deformation in response to a constant load, resulting in permanent deformation over time.
Test your knowledge of the biomechanical functions and structural roles of the cervical spine, including its support for the skull, shock absorption for the brain, and protection of the spinal cord and neurovascular structures. Explore the biomechanical role in weight transfer and bending moments of the head.
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