3. Back Arthrology

Question 1

What are the three major classifications of joints?

Answer 1

Synovial

Fibrous

Cartilaginous

Question 2

What must every Synovial Joint have to be considered as such?

Answer 2

Joint Capsule

Hyaline Cartilage (on both edges)

Synovial Fluid

Question 3

What is another term for a Ginglymus joint?

Answer 3

Hinge Joint

Eg elbow

Question 4

What is another name for a Trochoid joint?

Answer 4

Pivot joint

Question 5

What is another name for a Sellar joint?

Answer 5

Saddle Joint

Question 6

What is the shape of a Chondyloid joint?

Answer 6

Football in a cup

Question 7

What are the four types of Fibrous joints?

Answer 7

Sutures (Skull)

Gomphosis (Tooth in socket)

Schindylesis (Tongue in groove)

Syndesmosis (Radioulnar Joint - sheet of fibrous connective tissue)

Question 8

What are the two types of Cartilagenous joints and their characteristics?

Answer 8

Synchondrosis: usually transient - while the bone is growing

Symphysis: fibrocartilaginous attachment between bones (eg, the intervertebral disc)

Question 9

What membrane does the Anterior Longitudinal Ligament become superiorly?

Answer 9

The Anterior Atlantooccipital Membrane

Question 10

What does the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament become superiorly?

Answer 10

The Tectorial Membrane

Question 11

What does the Ligamentum Flavum become superiorly?

Answer 11

The Posterior Atlantooccipital Membrane

Question 12

What does the Supraspinous Ligament become superiorly?

Answer 12

The Nuchal Ligament

Question 13

What are the two structures of the intervertebral disk?

Answer 13

Annulus Fibrosis (Fibrous outside)

Nucleus Pulposus (Gooey center)

Question 14

What structures are involved in the joint of Luschka?

Answer 14

The Uncinate process of a vertebra, and the inferor portion of the vertebral body for the vertebra above.

Question 15

What ligament is often damaged in whiplash?

Answer 15

Anterior Longitudinal Ligament

Question 16

Why do we keep patients who have a fracture of the vertebral column in a position of extension?

Answer 16

Because the Anterior Longitudinal Ligament can act as a splint.

Question 17

Where do disc herniations typically occur?

Why do they occur there?

Answer 17

Typically the Nucleus Pulposis ejects into the posteriolateral side of the disc of the lower lumbar vertebrae (L4-L5 especially)

Because the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament is narrow, there is no support on either side of it to the back of the disk (posteriolaterally). Also, since the lumbar discs are large, there is more movement that can incite a herniation.

Question 18

For any given two vertebrae of the cervical or lumbar regions, a prolapse will affect which of the two vertebrae’s spinal nerve?

(Eg, there is a prolapse of C1 and C2, which nerve is affected?)

Answer 18

The second one.

(C2’s spinal nerve will be affected)

Question 19

For the Atlantooccipital Joint

What are the bones involved?

What is the joint type?

What ligaments are involved?

Answer 19

Occipital Bone / Atlas

Condyloid Synovial

Anterior Atlantoocipital Membrane

Posterior Atlantoocipital Membrane

Tectoral Membrane

Question 20

For the Atlantoaxial Joint

What are the bones involved?

What is the joint type?

What ligaments are involved?

Answer 20

Atlas and Axis

Compound Synovial (Trochoid / Zygapophysial)

Cruciate Ligaments

(Transverse, Superior, Inferior)

Alar Ligaments

Apical Ligament of the Dens

Question 21

For a generic Cervical Joint:

What are the bones involved?

What is the joint type?

What ligaments are involved?

Answer 21

Cervical Vertebrae

Compound (Symphasis and Zygapophyseal)

Anterior / Posterior Longatudinal Ligament

Ligamentum Flavum

Intertransverse Ligaments

Interspinus Ligament

Nuccal Ligament

Question 22

For a generic Thoracic or Lumbar Joint:

What are the bones involved?

What is the joint type?

What ligaments are involved?

Answer 22

Thoracic or Lumbar Vertebrae

Compound (Symphasis and Zygapophyseal)

Anterior / Posterior Longitudinal Ligaments

Ligamentum Flavum

Intertransverse / Interspinous Ligaments

Supraspinous Ligament

Question 23

For the Lumbosacral Joint

What ligaments are absent from this joint?

Answer 23

Interspinous Ligaments

Intertransverse Ligaments

Supraspinous Ligament

(Are absent at the lumbosacral joint)