Arthology of the Vertebral Column

Question 1

What is the reason that nine common ligaments are identified but only eight will be attached at any specific vertebral couple?

Answer 1

the ligamentum nuchae and supraspinous ligaments attach to the spinous tubercles, but only one of these will be identified at a single vertebral couple

Question 2

What is the number of true intervertebral discs identified in the adult?

Answer 2

23

Question 3

In the adult, which vertebral levels will demonstrate a true intervertebral disc?

Answer 3

those between C2 and S1 inclusive

Question 4

What is the percent of intervertebral disc height contribution to the length of each region of the vertebral column?

Answer 4

cervical… 22-25%; thoracic…20%; lumbar…33%

Question 5

What is the maximum number of common ligaments identified with a vertebral couple?

Answer 5

eight

Question 6

What are the names of the central, peripheral, and horizontal zones of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 6

nucleus pulposus… central zone; annulus fibrosus… peripheral zone; cartilaginous end plate… horizontal zone

Question 7

What is the water concentration in the lumbar nucleus pulposus at birth and after thirty?

Answer 7

birth…88%; thirty… 70%

Question 8

What is the consequence of non-aggregated glycosamioglycans in the lumbar nucleus pulposus?

Answer 8

the nucleus pulposus will loose water under deformation conditions

Question 9

What cell is associated with the nucleus pulposus until about age eleven?

Answer 9

notochord cells

Question 10

Which type of collagen is dominant in the nucleus pulposus?

Answer 10

collagen type II

Question 11

What is the organizational pattern for collagen fibers in the nucleus pulposus?

Answer 11

they are irregularly oriented and randomly scattered

Question 12

What is the appearance of the cervical annulus fibrosus?

Answer 12

a horse-shoe with the anterior margin thick and the lateral margins tapering to the uncinate processes; the posterior margin is thin

Question 13

What compensates for the thinness of the posterior part of the cervical annulus fibrosus?

Answer 13

posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 14

What is the organization of the lumbar annulus fibrosus?

Answer 14

it has 12-14 concentric cylindrical lamellae

Question 15

What is the water concentration in the lumbar annulus fibrosus at birth and after thirty?

Answer 15

birth 78%; thirty 70%

Question 16

What is the organizational pattern for glycoaminoglycans in the lumbar annulus fibrosus?

Answer 16

they typically have a binding site for hyaluronic acid and are thus aggregated

Question 17

What type of collagen is dominant in the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 17

collagen type I

Question 18

What is the organizational pattern for collagen fibers in the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 18

they are parallel with one another in a single lamellus and angled

Question 19

What is the organization of collagen fibers between lamellae?

Answer 19

collagen fibers will be angled in the opposite direction such that a spiral - counterspiral organization is observed

Question 20

What is the attachment site for collagen fibers within the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 20

collagen fibers of the outer lamellae will become Sharpey’s fibers and penetrate the epiphyseal rims;
collagen fibers of the inner lamellae will attach to the cartilaginous end plate

Question 21

What is the origin of the cells of the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 21

sclerotomes

Question 22

What is the principal type of collagen fiber within the cartilage end plate?

Answer 22

type II collagen fiber

Question 23

What is the direction of collagen fibers within the cartilage end plate?

Answer 23

collagen fibers are aligned anterior to posterior

Question 24

What is the attachment site for collagen fibers of the inner lamellae of the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 24

the cartilaginous end plate

Question 25

What is the relationship between size of the intervertebral disc and receptor endings?

Answer 25

the larger the disc, the greater the variety of receptor endings

Question 26

What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated by the recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve?

Answer 26

the outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus at the posterior part of the intervertebral disc

Question 27

What forms the anterior neural plexus of the vertebral column?

Answer 27

fibers from the ventral primary ramus

Question 28

What forms the lateral neural plexus of the vertebral column?

Answer 28

fibers from the ventral primary ramus, fibers from the white ramus communicans, fibers from the paradiscal ramus communicans, fibers from the gray ramus communicans

Question 29

What is the name given to the white ramus communicans which becomes embedded within the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 29

the pardiscal ramus communicans

Question 30

What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated by fibers from the paradiscal ramus communicans?

Answer 30

the outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus at the lateral part of the intervertebral disc