Lecture Notes: Head and Torso

Overview of the Skull Bones

• Frontal Bone: Located at the front of the skull
• Parietal Bone: Located on the sides of the skull
• Occipital Bone: Located at the back of the skull
• Temporal Bone: Located at the sides of the skull

Additional Bone Landmarks

• Mastoid Process: Insertion point for the sternocleidomastoid muscle (responsible for neck movement)
• Foramen Magnum: Opening through which the spinal cord passes
• Occipital Condyles: Points where the skull joins with the first cervical spine

General Structure of the Spine

• Cervical Spine: 7 vertebrae
• Thoracic Spine: 12 vertebrae
• Lumbar Spine: 5 vertebrae
• Sacral Spine: 5 fused vertebrae
• Coccygeal Spine: 4 fused vertebrae

Movements and Curvatures of the Spine

• Triaxial Joint: Allows three planes of movement
• Cervical Spine Curve: Anteriorly convex (lordosis)
• Thoracic Spine Curve: Posteriorly convex (kyphosis)
• Lumbar Spine Curve: Anteriorly convex (develops during childhood)
• Sacral/Coccygeal Spine Curve: Posteriorly convex (kyphosis)

Development of Spinal Curves

• Lumbar curve develops with activities like standing, sitting, and walking in childhood
• Helps maintain the head's center of gravity aligned with the pelvis

Abnormal Spinal Curves

• Flat Lumbar Spine: Can occur due to tight hamstrings, leading to compression
• Cervical Lordosis: Worsened by extensive cell phone or computer use
• Pelvic Tilt and Sway Back: Anterior pelvic tilt known as sway back
• Kyphosis: Increased thoracic curve, often compensated by increased cervical lordosis
• Scoliosis: Lateral spinal curve; rib movement accompanies thoracic scoliosis

Postural Implications

• Poor posture and muscle imbalances around the head and torso can lead to abnormal spinal curves
• Example: Excessive anterior pelvic tilt leading to sway back or increased kyphosis leading to cervical lordosis

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