Vertebral Column

Chapter 9
Biomechanics of the Human Spine

Curved stack of 33
vertebrate divided into
5 regions

Cerivcal Region 7
Thoracic Region 12
Lumbar Region 5
Sacrum 5 fused
Coccyx 4 fused

Vertebral Joints

Motion Segment
2 adjacent vertebrae
and the associated soft
tissues
Functional unit of the
spine

Anterior
intervertebral symphysis joints

Posterior
Gliding diarthrodial facet joints

Facet Joint Functions

Intervertebral Discs

Channel and limit ROM in the different regions of

the spine
Assist in lad bearing, sustaining up to 30% of the
compressive load on the spine

Fibrocartilaginous discs that cushion the anterior

spinal symphysis joints
Composed of a nucleus pulposus surrounded by
the annulus fibrosus

Especially in hyperextension

Spinal Curves

Spinal Movements
All three planes
circumduction

Lordosis

Exaggerated lumbar curve

Kyphosis

Exaggerated thoracic curve

Scoliosis

Lateral spinal curvature

Abdominal Flexors

Cervical Flexors
Rectus capitus
anterior
Rectus capitis
lateralis

Rectus abdominis
Internal obliques

Longus capitis
Longus colli

External obliques

8 pairs of hyoid
muscles

Thoracic/Lumbar Extensors

Cervical Extension
Splenius capitis
Splenius cervicis

Iliocostalis
Longissimus
Spinalis

Semispinalis
Capitis
Cervicis
Thoracis

Assisted by:
Rectus capitis
posterior major/minor
Obliques capitis
superior/inferior

Erector Spinae

Deep Spinal Muscles

Multifidi
Rotatores
Interspinales
Intertransversarii
Levatores cotarum

Lateral Cervical Flexors

Sternocleidomastoid
Levator scapulae

Lateral Lumbar Flexors

Quadratus Lumborum
Psoas Major

Scalenus
Anterior
Posterior
Medius

Lumbar
Flexors/Extensors
unilaterally

Cervical flexors/extensors
Unilaterally

Forces Acting on the Spine

Anatomical Load

Body Weight
Ligament Tension
Muscle Tension

Body weight acts anterior to

the spine
Causing forward bending
(moment)

External loads

Spinal Loading
Because the spine is curved,
body weight, acting
vertically, has components
of both compression (FC)
and shear (FS) at most
motion segments.

Lifting Loads

Compression
Anterior Shear

Lumbar Hyperextension

Lumbar Hyperextension
Produces compressive
forces on facet joints
Supporting up to 30% of
force

Bending load (moment) in posterior direction

Anterior Tension
Posterior Compression

Spinal Rotation

Generates shear stress in the intervertebral

discs