Lecture Notes - Superficial Back

The streaming video of the 2004-5 lab overview is available on the web (password protected). The computer presentation used by Dr. Gest in lecture is available on the web (password protected). You can also download the PowerPoint presentation to print or review.

Anatomical position and nomenclature

• Planes - sagittal, coronal, transverse, or oblique
• Relative positions
  • superficial - deep
  • medial - lateral
  • anterior (ventral) - posterior (dorsal)
  • superior (cranial) - inferior (caudal)
  • proximal - distal (used in limbs only)

General Organization of the Body - Arm as an example

• Skin
  • Structure
    • epidermis
    • dermis - the "leather" portion; mostly connective tissue with hair follicles (with arrector pili muscles), sweat and sebaceous glands, blood and lymph vessels, and nerves; fiber orientation controls cleavage lines in skin and affects stretch marks, wrinkles and scar formation
  • Accessory structures and appendages - teeth (enamel), hair, nails, glands (sweat, sebaceous, mammary)
  • Functions
    • epidermis - serves as water barrier (keratin), protects underlying tissues and organs from physical injury and from solar radiation, maintains body temperature, is major sense organ, excretes, absorbs and synthesizes vitamin D
    • dermis - provides for physical integrity and flexibility of skin
  • Injuries to skin
    • abrasions
    • lacerations
    • contusions (bruises)
    • burns, Ist degree (red), 2nd degree (blister), and 3rd degree (skin destroyed)
• Fascia
  • subcutaneous tissue or superficial fascia (a.k.a. fat or panniculus adiposis) - allows movement of skin on deeper structures
  • investing or deep fascia - encloses regions, muscles, forms compartments - named specializations
• Muscle and muscular fascia
• Loose connective tissue between muscles and organs
  • allows movement of parts
  • contains neurovascular elements
  • can be site of fat storage
• Neurovascular bundles
  • arteries
  • veins
  • lymphatics
  • nerves
• Bone or body cavity - form deepest structures, cavities are lined by internal fascia and lining membrane

Pectoral girdle

• components
  • scapula
  • clavicle
• attachments
  • sternoclavicular joint
  • superficial back and pectoral muscles

Superficial back muscles

• trapezius
• latissimus dorsi
• levator scapulae
• rhomboideus major
• rhomboideus minor
• triangles:
  • ausculation
  • lumbar

Nerves

• spinal accessory n. (Cranial Nerve XI) - motor to trapezius
• C3, C4 (sensory from trapezius) and subtrapezial plexus
• dorsal scapular n (C5)
• thoracodorsal n (C5, 6) (not seen yet)
• cutaneous nn. of back
  • distinction between cutaneous vs sensory nerves, muscular vs motor nerves
  • origin - dorsal primary rami (DPR) of spinal nerves
  • distribution
  • greater occipital n. - from DPR of C2

Vessels

• transverse cervical artery and vein
• dorsal scapular artery and vein
• segmental arteries and veins
• thoracodorsal artery and veins (not seen yet)

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