Vertebral Column

1. Vertebral Column The body’s main axis

2. A.K.A. backbone or spine • Supports the head • Protects the spinal cord • Site of attachment for limbs and muscles • Consists of a column of 33 irregular bones called vertebrae • Curved when viewed from the side • Differences in structure and size by region • 5 anatomical regions

3. 5 anatomical regions of the spine • Cervical (neck) – 7 vertebrae • Thoracic (chest) – 12 • Lumbar (lower, “small” of the back) – 5 • Sacral (sacrum/upper pelvic) – 5 fused • Coccogeal (tailbone) – 4 fused (vestigial tail)

4. Points of contact • 2 points of contact called articulations located behind their main body • Articulations with ribs • Spinal cord passes through the hollow cavity between articulations and the main body • Neighboring vertebrae are separated by the intervertebral disc – flat, elastic and compressible shock absorbers • Flat gelatinous center w/tough layer of fibrocartilage • Allows a bit of movement – bend forward, lean back, twist

5. Problems • Strong impact can compress an intervertebral disc forcing the soft center to balloon outward, press on spinal nerves causing severe pain = herniated or slipped disc • Occurs most often in lumbar vertebrae • Can rupture releasing pulpy contents • Surgery can relieve pain/pressure against the nerve – disc must be fused w/ adjacent vertebrae and limits flexibility

6. Protection of spinal cord • Severe injury to vertebral column can damage or sever the cord causing partial or complete paralysis of the body below that point • Don’t move someone that might have a spinal injury because it could make it worse

7. Appreciating ligaments & tendons • Stretch your leg in front of you with your heel resting on the floor • Relax your muscles • Try to move your knee cap (patella) • It should be easy to shift it out of position • Now w/out changing position tighten your thigh muscles • The kneecap should be hard to move with thigh contracted • Contraction puts tension on the tendon and ligament and holds patella in place

8. Diseases & disorders of the skeleton • Repetitive motions – carpel tunnel syndrome • Connective tissue sheath holds the carpel bones of the wrist together • Carpel tunnel delivers blood vessels, nerves and tendons to the carpel bones • Overuse causes swelling and inflammation of the tendons causing them to press against the nerve supplying the hand  numbness of wrist and hand • Mild cases = pain relievers, severe = surgery to relieve pressure

9. Osteoporosis • Imbalance of the activities of osteoclasts and osteoblasts • Caused by inactivity & poor diet • Hunched posture • Post menopausal women at higher risk due to decreased estrogen

11. Sprains • Stretched or torn ligaments • Accompanied by internal bleeding (bruising), swelling and pain • Ankle most common • Take a long time to heal because ligaments have few cells and poor blood supply • Stretches mend with time • Tears may require surgery to remove damaged tissue and stabilize with a piece of tendon or repositioning other ligaments

13. Bursitis & tendonitis • Inflammation of bursae or tendons following injury • Heal slowly due to low blood supply • Caused by blows to joint, tearing injuries, bacterial infection • Treatment – cold first 24 hrs; heat after that, resting, elevating injured area, pain relievers, warming sock treatment • Tennis elbow, knees, shoulder, Achilles tendon (pulls up back of heal)

15. Arthritis • General term for joint inflammation • Most common – osteoarthritis – degenerative wear and tear – 20 million Americans >45 • Bony spurs form as cartilage wears away and bones thicken • Increased friction causes painful inflammation • OTC meds can help, surgical joint replacement in severe cases; injections of hyaluric acid (a component of hyaline cartilage) can reduce knee pain temporarily

17. Rheumatoid arthritis • Also causes joint inflammation but it is caused by the body’s own immune system (autoimmune disorder) which mistakenly attacks the joint tissues