Vertebral ColumnThe body’s main axis

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

A.K.A. backbone or 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)

5 anatomical regions of the spine

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

Points of contact

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

Problems

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

Protection of spinal cord

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

Appreciating ligaments & tendons

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

Diseases & disorders of the skeleton

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

Osteoporosis

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

Sprains

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)

Bursitis & tendonitis

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

Arthritis

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

Rheumatoid arthritis