Arthrology of the Vertebral Column

Question 1

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

Answer 1

Eight

Question 2

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

Answer 2

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 3

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

Answer 3

Twenty-three

Question 4

What is the organizational pattern for glycosaminoglycans in the lumbar nucleus pulposus?

Answer 4

They typically lack a binding site for hyaluronic acid and are thus non-aggregated

Question 5

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

Answer 5

Notochord cells

Question 6

Which type of collagen is dominant in the nucleus pulposus?

Answer 6

Collagen type II

Question 7

What is unusual about the cervical annulus fibrosus?

Answer 7

It lacks any lamellar or layered organization

Question 8

What is the appearance of the cervical annulus fibrosus?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 10

What is the organizational patern for glycosaminoglycans in the lumbar annulus fibrosus?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What is the consequence of aggregated glycosaminoglycans in the lumbar annulus fibrosus?

Answer 11

The annulus fibrosis will retain water under deformation conditions

Question 12

Which type of collagen is dominant in the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 12

Collagen type I

Question 13

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

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What is the organization of collagen fibers between lamellae?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What is the average angle of collagen fibers within the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 15

They average 50-60 degrees

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Sclerotomites

Question 17

What cell type is associated with the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 17

Fibroblast and fibrocyte

Question 18

What is the cartilage end plate derived from?

Answer 18

The epiphyseal plate

Question 19

What part of the vertebral body will the cartilage end plate cover?

Answer 19

The cancellous bone at the top or bottom of the vertebral body

Question 20

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

Answer 20

The type II collagen fiber

Question 21

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

Answer 21

Collagen fibers are aligned anterior to posterior

Question 22

What is the earliest indicator of intervertebral disc pathology or degeneration?

Answer 22

Changes in the histology of the cartilage end plate

Question 23

What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated?

Answer 23

The outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus

Question 24

What part of the cervical intervertebral disc is highly innervated?

Answer 24

The middle third of the annulus fibrosus

Question 25

What are the types of receptor endings in the intervertebral disc?

Answer 25

Nociceptors and proprioceptors

Question 26

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

Answer 26

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

Question 27

What nerve(s) have been shown to give off the sinus vertebral/sinu-vertebral/recurrent meningeal nerve?

Answer 27

The mixed spinal nerve, ventral primary ramus, dorsal primary ramus, gray ramus communicans, and white ramus communicans have all be implicated

Question 28

The recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve has typically been shown to originate from which source?

Answer 28

The gray ramus communicans

Question 29

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

Answer 29

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

Question 30

What forms the anterior neural plexus of the vertebral column?

Answer 30

Fibers from the ventral primary ramus

Question 31

What forms the lateral neural plexus of the vertebral column?

Answer 31

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 32

What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated by fibers from the ventral primary ramus?

Answer 32

The outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus at the anterior and lateral part of the intervertebral disc

Question 33

What innervates the annulus fibrosus at the lateral part of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 33

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 34

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

Answer 34

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

Question 35

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

Answer 35

The paradiscal ramus communicans

Question 36

How does the intervertebral disc attach to the vertebral body?

Answer 36

Sharpey's fibers from the outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus are firmly embedded into the epiphyseal rims of the adjacent vertebral bodies

Question 37

In what regions of the vertebral column is the space formed between vertebral bodies by the intervertebral disc the greatest?

Answer 37

The cervical and lumbar regions

Question 38

Which curve direction will be associated with the greatest space observed between vertebral bodies?

Answer 38

The lordotic or anterior curves

Question 39

What is the popular theory of intra-abdominal cavity pressure and intervertebral disc response to weight bearing?

Answer 39

Increasing the intra-abdominal cavity pressure will diminish the amount of resistance the intervertebral disc needs to generate by up to 50%

Question 40

Based on histology, what is the classification of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 40

A cartilaginous (amphiarthosis) symphysis

Question 41

Based on function, what is a possible classification for the intervertebral disc?

Answer 41

A synovial (diarthrosis) arthrodia

Question 42

What part of the somite will form the vertebral column?

Answer 42

The sclerotome

Question 43

What structure is formed following migration of sclerotomes to surround the notochord?

Answer 43

The perichordal blastema

Question 44

What is formed within the perichordal blastema between the sclerotomites?

Answer 44

The intrasclerotomal fissure or fissure of von Ebner

Question 45

What does the intrasclerotomal fissure or fissure of von Ebner become?

Answer 45

The perichordal disc

Question 46

What structure forms following migration and subsequent mixing of the sclerotomites?

Answer 46

The vertebral blastema

Question 47

What is the earliest indicator of the position of the adult intervertebral disc?

Answer 47

The intrasclerotomal fissure or fissure of von Ebner