🥇 COLUMNA VERTEBRAL 1/5 - Generalidades, Curvaturas. Fácil y Sencillo

General Overview of the Vertebral Column

In this section, Juan José Sánchez introduces the topic of the vertebral column, highlighting its importance in supporting the body and protecting vital structures like the spinal cord.

Introduction to the Vertebral Column

• The vertebral column is crucial for standing and supporting body weight while maintaining flexibility. It houses and protects the spinal cord within the medullary canal.

• Comprised of vertebrae, with 24 presacral vertebrae divided into cervical, thoracic, lumbar regions before transitioning to sacral and coccygeal bones.

• Cervical vertebrae (C1-C7) support the neck region, followed by thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12) for chest area support, and lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5) for lower back support.

• The sacrum bone results from fusion of five vertebrae, forming a single large structure. Similarly, coccygeal bone is formed from four fused vertebrae.

Structural Characteristics and Functions

This section delves into the structural features of different types of vertebrae within the vertebral column and their roles in supporting body weight.

Vertebrae Structure and Function

• Vertebrae are articulated with each other through intervertebral discs that provide flexibility and support. The spine's arch shape aids in weight distribution.

• The conical shape of the vertebral column from cervical to lumbar regions reflects increasing width to bear more weight as it descends towards lower limbs.

Curvature and Functionality

Exploring how curvature enhances functionality in the vertebral column by providing resilience akin to a spring mechanism.

Curvature Impact on Functionality

• Lateral view reveals curvatures essential for function resembling a bow's wooden part that offers damping properties similar to a spring mechanism.

Primary and Secondary Curvatures

The discussion delves into primary and secondary curvatures of the spine, explaining their formation and characteristics.

Primary Curvatures

• Primary curvatures include the dorsal column and sacral column, always concave forward.

• These primary curvatures follow the embryonic curvature axis, maintaining a concave shape in adulthood.

Secondary Curvatures

• Secondary curvatures consist of cervical and lumbar curves, interspersed with primary curvatures to provide balance.

• Unlike primary curvatures, secondary ones are concave posteriorly but convex anteriorly, acting as a spring mechanism.

Formation of Curvature Shapes

This segment explores how spinal curvature shapes are formed based on anatomical structures.

Primary Curvatures Formation

• The vertebral bodies' conical shape causes the forward concavity in primary curvatures like the dorsal column.

• In primary curvatures, the vertebral body's structure leads to the formation of these forward concavities.

Secondary Curvatures Formation

• Secondary curvature formation is influenced by intervertebral discs rather than vertebral bodies.

Physiological Lumbar Lordosis and Scoliosis

In this section, the speaker discusses physiological lumbar lordosis and scoliosis, explaining their characteristics and common occurrences.

Physiological Lumbar Lordosis

• Physiological lumbar lordosis is normal in individuals with more weight to support.

• People with achondroplasia (dwarfism) often exhibit lumbar lordosis due to the accentuation of a secondary curve.

Scoliosis

• Scoliosis refers to a lateral deviation of the spine, not anteroposterior like kyphosis or lordosis.