A25 - Craniovertebral Joints and Head Movement

Question 1

what does the vertebrae increase in size superiorly - inferiorlly, they decrease in size?

Answer 1

they become larger as they have to bear more body weight and then decrease insize as they weight is transferred to hips and lower bones

Question 2

what is a primary curvature?

Answer 2

same curve as the fetus and are concave anteriolohy

Question 3

what sections of the spine contain primary curvature ?

Answer 3

thoracic

sacral

Question 4

what is another name for a primary curvature ?

Answer 4

kyphosis

Question 5

what is a secondary curvature?

Answer 5

changed direction in relation to the fetus due to weight bearing, and are convex anteriorly

Question 6

what sections of the spine contain secondary curvature ?

Answer 6

cervical

lumbar

Question 7

what is another name for a secondary curvature ?

Answer 7

lordosis

Question 8

what are the functions of the spine ?

Answer 8

• support the weight of the head and trunk in the upright posture
• protect the spinal cord and spinal nerves
• allow movement in the head o the neck and of the trunk

Question 9

What is the importance of the intervertebral foramen?

Answer 9

• forms between adjacent vertebrae
• only place in the body where a spinal nerve located as after this point they will split into anterior and posterior rami

Question 10

what joint occurs between the articular processes of 2 adjacent vertebrae?

Answer 10

• facet joints (synovial joint)

- affected by arthritis

Question 11

what is the function of the intervertebral discs?

Answer 11

• strong attachment between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae

Question 12

what is the structure of the intervertebral discs?

Answer 12

• 20-25% of spine
• secondary cartilaginous
• between all vertebrae except C1-C2 and the fused sacrum and coccyx
• outer fibrous ring called annulus fibrosus which provides a strong bond
• inner soft pulp called nucleus pulposus for flexibility and protection

Question 13

what is the protrusion of nucleus pulposus through annulus fibrosis?

Answer 13

herniated disc

Question 14

why does a herniated disc occur posterolaterally?

Answer 14

annulus fibrosis is thinner in this direction and sometimes may even be incomplete

Question 15

what symptoms may a patient have with a herniated disc?

Answer 15

• pain or pins and needles in their arm when asked o turn there head during treatment
• mild slipped disc in C6/7

Question 16

what ligament attaches to anterior aspects of all vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs?

Answer 16

anterior longitudinal ligament

Question 17

where does the posterior longitudinal ligament attach?

Answer 17

posterior aspects of all vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs

Question 18

where does the ligamentum flavum attach?

Answer 18

connects adjacent laminae

Question 19

what ligament connects superior and inferior surfaces of adjacent spinous processes?

Answer 19

interspinous ligament

Question 20

what does the supraspinous ligament attach?

Answer 20

connects tips of spinous processes

Question 21

what are the features of the atlanto-occipital joints?

Answer 21

• synovial joints
• between occipital condyles and the superior articular facets of the atlas
• flexion and extension of the neck
• permit some rotatory movement

Question 22

what are the features of the atlanto-axial joints ?

Answer 22

• 3 synovial joints,
• 2 between inferior articular facets of atlas and the superior articular facet of the axis
• 1 between the anterior arch of the atlas and the odontoid process of the axis
• rotation

Question 23

where does the nuchal ligament attach?

Answer 23

extends from supraspinous ligament to the external occipital protuberance

Question 24

describe the transition of the anterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 24

• attaches between the axis and atlas and becomes anterior atlanto-axial membrane
• then continues up the head where it attches between the atlas and occipital bone and becomes anterior atlanto-occipital membrane

Question 25

describe the transition of the posterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 25

• continues up the head and becomes the tectorial membrane

Question 26

what is the attachments of the tectorial membrane?

Answer 26

attaches to the internal aspect of the occipital bone, comes up and spreads out becoming wider

Question 27

what is the function of the transverse ligament of atlas?

Answer 27

holds the dens in place allowing it to rotate in relation to the atlas

Question 28

what ligament is found in-between the atlanto occipital joint?

Answer 28

capsule of atlanto occipital joint

Question 29

what ligaments make up the cruciate ligaments?

Answer 29

• superior longitudinal band
• transverse ligament of atlas
• inferior longitudinal band

Question 30

what may make it difficult for patients to move their neck?

Answer 30

• arthritis of the facet joints
• herniated disc in the cervical region
• rheumatoid arthritis weakening the capsule and ligaments of cranio-vertebral joints