Low Back, Core & Pelvic Girdle — Anatomy Lab for Acupuncturists

Precise knowledge of clinical anatomy and kinesiology, and orthopedic/myofascial palpation and inspection, and movement analysis skills, are all essential foundations for diagnosis, and for determining where--and where not--to needle.

This unique class prepares students to get the most from the Low Back, Core & Pelvic Girdle module & Review/Practicum Lab.

Clinical anatomy and the jing-jin ("sinew meridians" or myofascial tracts)

• We will improve our abilities to accurately locate key bony landmarks, muscles, tendons, joints, neural and vascular tissues, through palpation on ourselves and each other, and through review of clinical anatomy.
• Through palpation, observation and movement exercises, we will explore functions of key muscles and their jing-jin associations, as well as functional vs. dysfunctional movement patterns.
• We will review safety considerations, including needling angle and depth, to avoid injuring the many critical structures in this body region.

Enhanced orthopedic palpation and inspection skills

• We will enhance our abilities to feel different tissue types and layers: skin, fascia, muscle, nerve, blood vessel, and bone, with both our hands and needle-tip sensation.
• We will practice inspection and palpation for tissue abnormalities including myofascial trigger points, tendinopathies and joint disorders.

Review of anatomical structure and kinesiologic function

• Bony landmarks. Also important to know which muscles attach to them, if applicable.
  • 11th and 12th ribs
  • Spinous processes of T 1 to L 5, lumbosacral junction
  • Sacro-iliac joint line, sacral foramina
  • Ilium, including crest, PSIS and ASIS
  • Greater trochanter

• Myofascial structures that move and stabilize the lumbosacral spine and pelvis. Also know attachments.

• • Erector spinae group
  • Quadratus lumborum
  • Iliacus and psoas
  • External obliques
  • Rectus abdominus
  • Gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus
  • Piriformis

Deep anatomy: know locations relative to surface anatomy and other deep structures

• Lumbosacral Spine

• • • Intervertebral discs: nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosis
    • Posterior longitudinal ligament
    • Neuroforamen
    • Central canal
    • Neural arch: laminae, pedicles

• Lumbosacral neurology

• • Spinal cord
  • Nerve roots L 1 through S 4
  • Sciatic nerve

Functional anatomy and anatomical kinesiology: know attachments and/or functions of the following

• Lumbosacral neurology

• • • Dermatomes
    • Myotomes

• Lumbosacral, gluteal and abdominal anatomical kinesiology

• • Planes of lumbar motion
  • Primary actions of the following muscles, when contracting unilaterally vs. bilaterally
    • Erector spinae group
    • Multifidi
    • Quadratus lumborum
    • Iliopsoas
    • Abdominals: rectus, obliques, transversarius
    • Gluteals: maximus, medius, minimus
    • Piriformis