Vertebral column The vertebral column is the central

Vertebral column

The vertebral column is the central bony pillar of the body. It supports the skull, pectoral girdle, upper limbs, and thoracic cage and, by way of the pelvic girdle, transmits body weight to the lower limbs. Within its cavity lie the spinal cord, the roots of the spinal nerves, and the covering meninges, to which the vertebral column gives great protection.



Intervertebral disc

Intervertebral disc Posterior longitudinal ligament Body of vertebra seen from posterior side

Intervertebral disc

Annulus fibrosus

Movements of the vertebral column • Flexion is a forward movement • Extension is a backward movement (Both are extensive in the cervical and lumbar regions but restricted in the thoracic region. ) • Lateral flexion is the bending of the body to one or the other side. (It is extensive in the cervical and lumbar regions but restricted in the thoracic region. ) • Rotation is a twisting of the vertebral column.

Circumduction is a combination of all these movements.

Curves of vertebral column

C shaped vertebral column

Development of cervical curvature of vertebral column Cervical curvature

Lumbar curvature of vertebral column

Primary curvatures Thoracic curvature of vertebral column Sacral curvature of vertebral column

Secondary curvatures Cervical curvature of vertebral column Lumbar curvature of vertebral column

Joints of neck

Atlanto-occipital junction

joint External craniocervical ligament Anterior view

Joint between C 4 & C 5 Right lateral view

• Ligamentum Nuchae removed External craniocervical ligament Posterior view



Cruciform ligament removed to show deepest ligament Apical ligament of dens Alar ligament Articular facet of dens for transverse ligament of Atlas


Movements 1. Flexion: Longus capitis, Rectus capitis anterior 2. Extension: Rectus capitis posterior major & minor, Semispinalis capitis, Superior oblique, Splenius capitis, Trapezius 3. Lateral flexion: Rectus capitis lateralis, Semispinalis capitis, Splenius capitis, SCM, Trapezius
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