Arthrology of the Vertebral Column Flashcards
What is the maximum number of common ligaments identified with a vertebral couple?
Eight
What is the reason that nine common ligaments are identified but only eight will be attached at any specific vertebral couple?
The ligamentum nuchae and supraspinous ligaments attach to the spinous tubercles, but only one of these will be identified at a single vertebral couple
What is the number of true intervertebral discs identified in the adult?
Twenty-three
What is the organizational pattern for glycosaminoglycans in the lumbar nucleus pulposus?
They typically lack a binding site for hyaluronic acid and are thus non-aggregated
What cell is associated with the nucleus pulposus until about age eleven?
Notochord cells
Which type of collagen is dominant in the nucleus pulposus?
Collagen type II
What is unusual about the cervical annulus fibrosus?
It lacks any lamellar or layered organization
What is the appearance of the cervical annulus fibrosus?
A horse-shoe with the anterior margin thick and the lateral margins tapering to the uncinate processes; the posterior margin is thin
What compensates for the thinness of the posterior part of the cervical annulus fibrosus?
Posterior longitudinal ligament
What is the organizational patern for glycosaminoglycans in the lumbar annulus fibrosus?
They typically have a binding site for hyaluronic acid and are thus aggregated
What is the consequence of aggregated glycosaminoglycans in the lumbar annulus fibrosus?
The annulus fibrosis will retain water under deformation conditions
Which type of collagen is dominant in the annulus fibrosus?
Collagen type I
What is the organizational pattern for collagen fibers in the annulus fibrosus?
They are parallel with one another in a single lamellus and angled
What is the organization of collagen fibers between lamellae?
Collagen fibers will be angled in the opposite direction such that a spiral-counterspiral organization is observed
What is the average angle of collagen fibers within the annulus fibrosus?
They average 50-60 degrees
What is the origin for the cells of the annulus fibrosus?
Sclerotomites
What cell type is associated with the annulus fibrosus?
Fibroblast and fibrocyte
What is the cartilage end plate derived from?
The epiphyseal plate
What part of the vertebral body will the cartilage end plate cover?
The cancellous bone at the top or bottom of the vertebral body
What is the principal type of collagen fiber within the cartilage end plate?
The type II collagen fiber
What is the direction of collagen fibers within the cartilage end plate?
Collagen fibers are aligned anterior to posterior
What is the earliest indicator of intervertebral disc pathology or degeneration?
Changes in the histology of the cartilage end plate
What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated?
The outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus
What part of the cervical intervertebral disc is highly innervated?
The middle third of the annulus fibrosus
What are the types of receptor endings in the intervertebral disc?
Nociceptors and proprioceptors
What is the relationship between size of the intervertebral disc and receptor endings?
The larger the disc, the greater the variety of receptor endings
What nerve(s) have been shown to give off the sinus vertebral/sinu-vertebral/recurrent meningeal nerve?
The mixed spinal nerve, ventral primary ramus, dorsal primary ramus, gray ramus communicans, and white ramus communicans have all be implicated
The recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve has typically been shown to originate from which source?
The gray ramus communicans
What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated by the recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve?
The outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus at the posterior part of the intervertebral disc
What forms the anterior neural plexus of the vertebral column?
Fibers from the ventral primary ramus
What forms the lateral neural plexus of the vertebral column?
Fibers from the ventral primary ramus, fibers from the white ramus communicans, fibers from the paradiscal ramus communicans, fibers from the gray ramus communicans
What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated by fibers from the ventral primary ramus?
The outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus at the anterior and lateral part of the intervertebral disc
What innervates the annulus fibrosus at the lateral part of the intervertebral disc?
Fibers from the ventral primary ramus, fibers from the white ramus communicans, fibers from the paradiscal ramus communicans, fibers from the gray ramus communicans
What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated by fibers from the white ramus communicans?
The outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus at the lateral part of the intervertebral disc
What is the name given to the white ramus communicans which becomes embedded within the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc?
The paradiscal ramus communicans
How does the intervertebral disc attach to the vertebral body?
Sharpey’s fibers from the outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus are firmly embedded into the epiphyseal rims of the adjacent vertebral bodies
In what regions of the vertebral column is the space formed between vertebral bodies by the intervertebral disc the greatest?
The cervical and lumbar regions
Which curve direction will be associated with the greatest space observed between vertebral bodies?
The lordotic or anterior curves
What is the popular theory of intra-abdominal cavity pressure and intervertebral disc response to weight bearing?
Increasing the intra-abdominal cavity pressure will diminish the amount of resistance the intervertebral disc needs to generate by up to 50%
Based on histology, what is the classification of the intervertebral disc?
A cartilaginous (amphiarthosis) symphysis
Based on function, what is a possible classification for the intervertebral disc?
A synovial (diarthrosis) arthrodia
What part of the somite will form the vertebral column?
The sclerotome
What structure is formed following migration of sclerotomes to surround the notochord?
The perichordal blastema
What is formed within the perichordal blastema between the sclerotomites?
The intrasclerotomal fissure or fissure of von Ebner
What does the intrasclerotomal fissure or fissure of von Ebner become?
The perichordal disc
What structure forms following migration and subsequent mixing of the sclerotomites?
The vertebral blastema
What is the earliest indicator of the position of the adult intervertebral disc?
The intrasclerotomal fissure or fissure of von Ebner
