Additional Vertebral Column Arthrology

Question 1

What amount of flexion-extension is accommodated by the atlanto-occipital joint?

Answer 1

about twenty-five degrees

Question 2

What amount of axial rotation is accommodated by the atlanto-occipital joint?

Answer 2

about three to eight degrees one side axial rotation

Question 3

what amount of lateral bending is accommodated by the atlanto-occipital joint?

Answer 3

about five degrees

Question 4

which motion is best accommodated by the atlanto-occipital joint?

Answer 4

flexion-extension

Question 5

what is the function of the transverse atlantal ligament?

Answer 5

it is the primary stabilizer of the atlanto-axial joint restricting the distance of C2 from the anterior arch of C1.

Question 6

what movements are facilitated at the median atlanto-axial joint?

Answer 6

flextion-extension, totation, and telescoping (superior-inferior gliding)

Question 7

what is the ADI?

Answer 7

the Atlanto-Dental Interspace, a radiographic distance between the surfaces of the anterior bursa of the median atlanto-axial joint.

Question 8

what is the ADI of children compared with that of adults?

Answer 8

about 4.5 mm in children; a range of 2-3 mm or about 2.5 mm in adults.

Question 9

what are the degrees of movement facilitated at the atlanto-axial joint?

Answer 9

about 20 degrees flexion-extension, 40 degrees one side axial rotation, and 5 degrees of lateral bending.

Question 10

the occiput-C1-C2 joint complex accounts for what percent of all cervical axial rotation?

Answer 10

about 60%

Question 11

What is the embryonic derivative of the apical ligament of the dens or the apicodental ligament?

Answer 11

The notochord

Question 12

What is the function of the alar ligament?

Answer 12

Together they function to resist axial rotation

Question 13

What forms the cranial continuation of the posterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 13

The membrana tectoria or tectorial membrane

Question 14

List, in order, the ligaments in a midsagittal plane from the dura mater at the level of the medulla oblongata to the anterior bursa of the median atlanto-axial joint.

Answer 14

The membrana tectoria or tectorial membrane
The cruciate ligament
The capsular ligament of the posterior bursa of the median atlanto-axial joint
The apical ligament of the dens or the apicodental ligament

Question 15

For the cervical spine below C2, what is the range of flexion-extension?

Answer 15

About 90 degrees or about 18 degrees per couple

Question 16

For the cervical spine below C2, what is the range of one side lateral bending?

Answer 16

About 50 degrees or about 10 degrees per couple

Question 17

For the cervical spine below C2, what is the range of one side axial rotation?

Answer 17

About 33 degrees or about 6 degrees per couple

Question 18

What are the locations for costovertebral joints on the vertebra?

Answer 18

The costocentral joint at the vertebral body and the costotransverse joint at the transverse process

Question 19

At what rib will the superior costotransverse ligament be absent?

Answer 19

The first rib

Question 20

What ligaments will attach to the neck of the twelfth rib?

Answer 20

The superior costotransverse ligament from T11 and lumbocostal ligament form L1

Question 21

What are the attachment sites for the inferior costotransverse ligament?

Answer 21

The neck fo the rib and the transverse process of the vertebra at that level

Question 22

At what rib will the inferior costotransverse ligament be absent?

Answer 22

The twelfth rib

Question 23

What is the name of the space between the transverse process and the neck of the rib?

Answer 23

The costotransverse foramen

Question 24

Which ligament “fills” the costoransverse foramen?

Answer 24

The inferior costotransverse ligament

Question 25

What are the attachment sites for the lateral costotransverse ligament?

Answer 25

The non-articular surface of the tubercle of the rib and the transverse tubercle of the transverse process of the vertebra at that level

Question 26

Which vertebra will lack an attachment from the lateral costotransverse ligament?

Answer 26

T12

Question 27

Which vertebral couples of the thoracic spine have the greatest motion?

Answer 27

T11/T12 and T12/L1

Question 28

Which range of motion is greatest for lower thoracic vertebral couples?

Answer 28

flexion-extension

Question 29

Which range of motion is least for lower thoracic vertebral couples?

Answer 29

one side axial rotation

Question 30

Which ligaments replace the intertransverse ligament at the lumbosacral joint?

Answer 30

The iliolumbar ligament and lumbosacral ligament

Question 31

What muscle is intimately attached to the superior iliolumbar ligament?

Answer 31

Quadratus lumborum

Question 32

Which of the current ligaments from the iliolumbar ligament complex represents the iliolumbar ligament of classical descriptions?

Answer 32

The superior iliolumbar ligament

Question 33

Which ligament from the iliolumbar ligament complex will attach to the sacral ala?

Answer 33

The inferior iliolumbar ligament

Question 34

Which ligament from the iliolumbar ligament complex represents the lumbosacral ligament of classical descriptions?

Answer 34

The inferior iliolumbar ligament

Question 35

What are the attachment sites for the accessory iliolumbar ligament?

Answer 35

The transverse process of L4 and the iliac crest

Question 36

Which vertebral couple of the lumbar spine has the greatest range of motion?

Answer 36

L5/S1

Question 37

Which range of motion is greatest for all lumbar vertebral couples?

Answer 37

flexion - extension

Question 38

Which range of motion is least for the L5/S1 vertebral couple?

Answer 38

One side lateral bending

Question 39

List, in order, from cranial to caudal the ligaments forming the anterior boundary of the spinal canal

Answer 39

membrana tectoria, posterior longitudinal ligament, deep posterior sacrococcygeal ligament

Question 40

List, in order, from cranial to caudal the ligaments forming the posterior boundary of the spinal canal

Answer 40

posterior atlanto-occipital ligament, posterior atlantal-axial ligament, liamentun flavum, superficial posterior sacrococccygeal ligament

Question 41

What is the auricular surface of the ilium composed of?

Answer 41

articular cartilage, | interspersed with fibrocartilage

Question 42

What does ankylosis mean?

Answer 42

a condition of fibrous adhesion occurs within the joint

Question 43

What is the age and surface bias associated with degenerative arthrosis of the sacro-iliac joint?

Answer 43

age 40, | the iliac auricular surface

Question 44

What is the age and gfender bias associated with ankylosis of the sacro-iliac joint?

Answer 44

age 50, | males bias - particularly in African Americans

Question 45

What is the relationship between the capsular and interosseous sacroiliac ligaments?

Answer 45

interosseous sacro-iliac ligament replaces the capsular ligament posteriorly

Question 46

What passes between the layers of the interosseous sacro-iliac ligament?

Answer 46

dorsal rami from sacral spinal nerves