AP07 - The Back, vertebrae, and ligaments

Question 1

What are C1 and C2 called?

Answer 1

C 1 - atlas

C2 - axis

Question 2

What structure is between the spinous process and the superior articular processes of the vertebra?

Answer 2

lamina

Question 3

What structure do the transverse processes rest on?

Answer 3

pedicles

Question 4

What are the characteristics of the spinous processes of cervical vertebrae?

Answer 4

bifid
NOT C1 or C2 - no spinous process
NOT C7 - the spinous process is very long

Question 5

What foramina do only cervical vertebrae have?

what is it for?

Answer 5

transverse foramina

vertebral arteries to travel to the posterior brain (only from C6 up)

Question 6

What shape are the vertebral foramen for cervical vertebrae?

Answer 6

triangular

Question 7

Name 4 characteristics of thoracic vertebrae

Answer 7

heart shaped vertebral body
demi facets on vertebral body
costal facets on transverse processes
long, inferiorly slanting spinous processes

Question 8

What do the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments do?

Answer 8

run along the edges of vertebral boduies also cover intevertebral discs

Question 9

What do ligamentum flavum do?

Answer 9

connect the lamina of adjacent vertebrae

Question 10

What do interspinous ligaments do?

Answer 10

connect the spinous processs of adjacent vertebrae

Question 11

What do supraspinous ligaments do?

Answer 11

connect the tips of adjacent spinous processes

Question 12

What 4 ligaments are specific to the thoracic spine?

Answer 12

radiate ligament of head of rib
costotransverse ligament
lateral costotransvers ligament
superior costotransverse ligamen

Question 13

How might thoracic kyphosis present?

Answer 13

excessive curvature of thoracic spine - appears hunched

Question 14

name 5 characteristics of the lumbar vertebrae

Answer 14

transverse processes long and thin

articular processes vertical facets

spinous processes square

accessory processes at the base of transverse processes

mammillary processes on posterior of each superior articular process

Question 15

Which ligament is unique to the lumbar spine?

Answer 15

iliolumbar ligaments

they’re fan shaped

Question 16

What is lumbar spinal stenosis?

Answer 16

narrow vertebral foramina

this can cause nerve compression

Question 17

What is lumbar lordosis characterised by?

Answer 17

abnormal anterior curvature of the lumbar spine (anterior pelvic tilt)

Question 18

in the neck, which is the first easily palpated spinous process?

Answer 18

C7

Question 19

At which vertebral level do the iliac crests terminate?

Why is this significant?

Answer 19

L4

lumbar puncture

Question 20

What is the nuchal ligament?

where does it attach to the skull?

Answer 20

continuous to the supraspinous ligament

external occipital protuberance

Question 21

How are muscles of the back divided?

Answer 21

extrinsic (superficial and intermmediate)

intrinsic

Question 22

Name 5 superficial extrinsic back muscles

Answer 22

trapezius
levator scapulae
rhomboid minor
rhomboid major
latissimus dorsi

Question 23

Name 2 intermediate extrinsic back muscles

Answer 23

serratus posterior superior

serratus posterior inferior

Question 24

Name 3 (5) intrinsic back muscles

Answer 24

suboccipital
splenus
erector spinae (longissimus, iliocostalis
spinalis)

Question 25

For Lumbar punctures, why do we go between L4 and L5?

Answer 25

past the conus medullaris

easy access through horizontal spinous processes

Question 26

which ligaments are particularly involved with a hangman’s fracture?

Answer 26

transverse ligament of the atlas

apical ligament of dens