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Get to know more about the basic composition of joint and spinal structures including disc, bones, muscles and joints.
The spinal column is a flexible arrangement which typically forms the axis of our body and its architecture- shaped of bones vertebrae. There are 33 vertebrae divided into 4 regions done with different characteristics:
The cervical spine works to support the weight of our head which is heavy enough; a cervical spine is done with seven vertebrae, which helps the skull to move. The initial cervical vertebra is the atlas- a ring-like structure with two huge protrusions on sides to bear the weight of the head. The next cervical vertebra is the axis.
The lumbar spine- the largest one has five lumbar vertebrae which is aligned like a reverse “C” almost like cervical spine, which helps in creating lumbar lordosis. It is the weight-bearing portion of the spine.
The sacrum is a triangular shaped organ- made up naturally merged vertebrae, with sacral foramina into intervertebral foramen through spinal nerves. It is jammed between ilium, which contributes the pelvic girdle. It joins the spine with pelvis and to the lower part of skeleton. Each cluster of vertebrae distinct features and are intended for a precise purpose.
Rectus Abdominus:
Internal and External Obliques:
Transverse Abdominus :
The intrinsic muscles of the back consist of a complex group of muscles extending from the pelvis to the skull. They are:
Splenius capitis. | Multifidus. |
Splenius cervicis. | Rotatores. |
Sacrospinalis. | Interspinales. |
Semispinalis. | Intertransversarii. |
These together form the back extensors and control spine movements at the lumbar, thoracic and cervical levels. These muscles are covered by a deep, membranous covering called the lumbodorsal fascia. In the cervical region this is continues into a similar tissue called as the nuchal fascia. This covering or fascia, is connected or attached to various spinal ligaments including the supraspinal ligament, the iliolumbar ligament and the intertransverse ligament. It is also connected to the sacrospinalis and the transverses abdominis muscles.
The spinal cord is compounded with millions of fibers, which forms like a tube in structure. It composed of millions of nerve fibers, which form a tube-like structure that extends from the brain to the region sandwiched between L1 and L2 vertebrae into the upper lumbar area. The nerve fiber branches off from spinal cord nerve roots, which are typically paired at each level including 32 pairs. The cervical nerve roots helps to connect upper body, hands, arms, nerve roots in thoracic spine. .
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These are known for the active support to the muscle; but there are many passive supports too. There are two spinal ligaments are: the transverse and the longitudinal ligaments which helps the spine movement.
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The intervertebral disc connects 2 vertebral bodies- known as a shock absorber of the spine, which is composed of two parts: The nucleus pulposus: a part which provides pressure regulation qualities to the spine. The annulus fibrosus: subject to attain the force applied by the nucleus in the spine during movements.
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The Sacrospinalis arises from the anterior surface of a broad and thick tendon, which is attached to the medial crest of the sacrum, to the spinous processes of the lumbar and the eleventh and twelfth thoracic vertebrae, and the supraspinal ligament, to the back part of the inner lip of the iliac crests and to the lateral crests of the sacrum, where it blends with the sacrotuberous and posterior sacroiliac ligaments. Some of its fibers are continuous with the fibers of origin of the Gluteus maximus. The muscular fibers form a large fleshy mass which splits, in the upper lumbar region into three columns, viz., a lateral, the Iliocostalis, an intermediate, the Longissimus, and a medial, the Spinalis. Each of these consists from below upward, of three parts, as follows:
Lateral Column. | Intermediate Column. | Medial Column. |
Iliocostalis. | Longissimus. | Spinalis. |
(a) I. lumborum. | (a) L. dorsi. | (a) S. dorsi. |
(b) I. dorsi. | (b) L. cervicis. | (b) S. cervicis. |
(c) I. cervicis. | (c) L. capitis. | (c) S. capitis. |
The Multifidus (Multifidus spinae) consists of a number of fleshy and tendinous fasciculi, which fill up the groove on either side of the spinous processes of the vertebrae, from the sacrum to the axis. In the sacral region, these fasciculi arise from the back of the sacrum, as low as the fourth sacral foramen, from the aponeurosis of origin of the Sacrospinalis, from the medial surface of the posterior superior iliac spine, and from the posterior sacroiliac ligaments; in the lumbar region, from all the mamillary processes; in the thoracic region, from all the transverse processes; and in the cervical region, from the articular processes of the lower four vertebrae. Each fasciculus, passing obliquely upward and medial ward, is inserted into the whole length of the spinous process of one of the vertebrae above. These fasciculi vary in length: the most superficial, the longest, pass from one vertebra to the third or fourth above; those next in order run from one vertebra to the second or third above; while the deepest connect two contiguous vertebrae.
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The sacrospinalis, working through its smaller segmental parts, is responsible for extension movements in the lumbar, cervical and thoracic parts. The segments working on each side also help with the rotation and side flexion movements. The sacrospinalis working as a single unit helps in maintaining an erect back and is essentially a postural muscle.
The Splenius capitis arises from the lower half of the ligamentum nuchae, from the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra, and from the spinous processes of the upper three or four thoracic vertebrae. The fibres of the muscle are directed upward and lateral ward and are inserted, under cover of the Sternocleidomastoideus, into the mastoid process of the temporal bone, and into the rough surface on the occipital bone just below the lateral third of the superior nuchal line. The Splenius cervicis (Splenius colli) arises by a narrow tendinous band from the spinous processes of the third to the sixth thoracic vertebrae; it is inserted, by tendinous fasciculi, into the posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the upper two or three cervical vertebrae. The Splenii of the two sides, acting together, draw the head directly backward, assisting the Trapezius and Semispinalis capitis; acting separately, they draw the head to one side, and slightly rotate it, turning the face to the same side. They also assist in supporting the head in the erect position.
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