Vertebral Column

Dr.Poonam Kalavadiya
MPT (Cardio Pulmonary)
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introduction
 It is a complex structure.
 Provides protection for spinal
Cord.
 Also provide mobility and
stability of the trunk and
the extremities.
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structure
 Vertebral column composed
of 33 vertebrae and 23
intervertebral disks.
 And divided in to five regions.
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During fetal life
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 The two curves (thoracic and sacral) that retain the
original posterior convexity throughout life are
called primary curves or kyphotic curves.
 And the two curves (cervical and lumbar) that show
a reversal of the original posterior convexity are
called secondary or lordotic curves.
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 The secondary or lordotic curves develop as a result of the
accommodation of the skeleton to the upright posture.
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ADVANTAGE OF CURVES
 A curved vertebral column provides significant
advantage over a straight rod in that it is able to
resist much higher compressive loads.
 According to kapandji, a spinal column with the
normal lumbar, thoracic, and cervical curves has a
10-fold ability to resist axial compression in
comparison with a straight rod.
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The mobile segment
 A smallest functional unit in a spine.
 One mobile segment=two adjacent vertebrae, the
intervening intervertebral disk and all the soft tissue
around.
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A typical vertebra
 There are two major parts
1)anterior - vertebral body
2)posterior - neural arch
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1)Vertebral body
 Is designed to be the weight-bearing structure of
the spinal column.
 It is not a solid block of bone but a shell of a cortical
bone surrounding by a cancellous cavity.
 The cortical shell is reinforced by trabeculae in the
cancellous bone, which provide resistance to
compressive forces.
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Structure of the Typical Vertebra
 Vertebral body – ant
 Vertebral arch – pos – shape
of horse shoe - articular
processes divide the arch in
to two parts
Ant – the pedicels, pos –
laminae.
 Spinous process – attached
to the midline post
 Vertebral arch – attached to
the vertebral through
pedicels
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Pedicel
 Connections between the
post. elements & vertebral
bodies
 Transmit tension &
bending forces from the
post. elements to the
vertebral bodies
 Size is bigger in lumbar
vertebrae
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 Laminae – serve as a roof
– protect the spinal cord
 Transmit forces from the
vertically placed laminae
to the horizontal oriented
pedicel, then to vertebral
body by means of PARS
INTERARTIULARIS –
between sup. & inf.
Articular process
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INTERVERTEBRAL DISC
Two principle functions
1.To separate two vertebral
bodies
2.To transmit load from one
vertebral to the next
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INTERVERTEBRAL DISC
 Disc thickness varies with disc position in the
vertebral column
 Lumbar region – 9mm
 Thoracic region – 5mm
 Cervical region – 3mm
 The greater the ratio – greater the mobility
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INTERVERTEBRAL DISC
 The ratio of disc thickness to the height of the
vertebral body
 Cervical column – 2/5
 Lumbar column – 1/3
 Thoracic column – 1/5
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INTERVERTEBRAL DISC
 Consists of 3 Parts
1. Nucleus Pulposus
2. Annulus fibrosus
3. Vertebral end plate
 All 3 structures are
composed of water,
collagen and PGs.
however the relative
propotion of each vary.
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Nucleus Pulposus
 Has more water 70% - 90% and PGs & remainder 15% consists
of collagen, elastin, proteolytic enzymes
 PG are macro-molecules
 Attract and retain water
 Hydrophilic gel–like matter
 Resists compression
 Amount of water
 Activity related
 Varies throughout the day
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Theory of weight bearing
 Nucleus pulpous imbibes
water
 Develops internal pressure
 Pressure exerted in all
directions
 Lateral forces
 Against annulus
 Superiorly and inferiorly
directed forces
 Against end plates
 Increases stiffness
 Of end plate and
annulus fibrosus
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Anulus Fibrosus
 Strong radial tire–like
structure
 Series of lamellae
 Concentric sheets of
collagen fibers
 Connected to end plates
 Orientated at various
angles
 Under compression
 Become horizontal
 Encloses nucleus pulposus
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Vertebral End Plates
 Layers of cartilage 0.6 –
1mm thick cover the
vertebral bodies
 It cover the entire nucleus
pulposus but not the anulus
fibrosus
 It consists of both hyaline &
fibrocartilage
 The vertebral end plate is
strongly attached to the
vertebral body, which is why
it is considered to be a
component of the disk rather
than the vertebral body.
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Disk innervation
 Disks are innervated in the outer one third to one
half of the fibers of the anulus fibrosus.
 Cervical and lumbar – vertebral and sinuvertebral
nerves.
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Disc Nutrition
 Avascular structure of the human body
 Nutrients for the disc found within the tiny capillary
beds of the metaphyseal arteries that are in the
subchondral bone, just above the vertebral plates
 It supply the outer surface of the anulus fibrosus
 Remaining of the disc receives its nutrition through
diffusion process
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Articulations
 Two types
1. Cartilaginous – between the vertebral bodies –
also called as INTERBODY JOINTS
2. Diarthrodial joints or synovial – between the
zygapophyseal facets located on the superior
articular process of one vertebra & zygapophyseal
facets located on the inferior articular process of
an adjacent vertebra
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Movements at the Interbody joints
 Gliding – Frontal Plane
 Distraction & Compression – Vertically
 Anterior – Posterior translation – Sagittal plane
 Rotation – Side to side rotation - Frontal plane
 Rotation – transverse plane
 Anterior – posterior tilting – sagittal plane
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Zygapophyseal articulations
 They are diartrodial joints and have regional
variations in structure.
 These accessory structures appear to be of several
types, but most are classified as either adipose
tissue pads or fibro adipose meniscoids.
 The structures are most likely involved in protecting
articular surfaces that are exposed during flexion
and extension of vertebral column.
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Vertebral Column

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