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 by 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

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

Answer 4

those between C2 and S1 inclusive

Question 5

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

Answer 5

cervical. . . . 22-25%; thoracic. . . . 20%; Lumbar . . . . 33%

Question 6

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

Answer 6

nucleus pusposus. . . central zone; annulus fribrosus . . . 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 glycosaminoglycans in the lumbar nucleus pulposus?

Answer 8

the nucleus pulposus will loose water under deformation conditions

Question 9

Which type of collagen is dominant in the nucleus pulposus?

Answer 9

collagen type II

Question 10

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

Answer 10

They are irregularly oriented and randomly scattered

Question 11

What is the appearance of the cervical annulus fibrosus?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

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

Answer 12

posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 13

What is the organization of the lumbar annulus fibrosus?

Answer 13

it has 12-14 concentric cylindrical lamellae

Question 14

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

Answer 14

birth . . . . 78%; thirty . . . 70%

Question 15

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

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Which type of collgaen is dominant in the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 16

collagen type 1

Question 17

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

Answer 17

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

Question 18

what is the organization of collagen fibers between lamellae?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

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

Answer 19

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

Question 20

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

Answer 20

sclerotomites

Question 21

How does the intervertebral disc have attachment to the vertebral body?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

How does the intervertebral disc attach to the vertebral body?

Answer 22

Sharpey’s fibers from he outer lamellae of the annulus fibroses are firmly embedded into the epiphyseal rims of the adjacent vertebral bodies

Question 23

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

Answer 23

a cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis

Question 24

What are the divisions of the embryonic somite?

Answer 24

the sclerotome, myotome, and dermatome

Question 25

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

Answer 25

the perichordal blastema

Question 26

What is formed within the perichordal blastema between the sclerotomites?

Answer 26

the intrasclerotomal fissure or fissure of von ebner

Question 27

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

Answer 27

the perichordal disc

Question 28

What will the dense sclerotomite become?

Answer 28

the upper part of the vertebral segment forming below

Question 29

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

Answer 29

the vertebral blastema

Question 30

What part of the intervertebral disc will the notochord form?

Answer 30

the nucleus pulposus

Question 31

What part of the intervertebral disc will the perichordal disc form?

Answer 31

the annulus fibrosus

Question 32

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

Answer 32

the intrasclerotomal fissure or fissure of von ebner

Question 33

What vertebral levels will the anterior longitudinal ligament attach to ?

Answer 33

those between occiput and S3 inclusive are traditionally indicated

Question 34

What is the lowest extent of the anterior longitudinal ligament based on recent studies?

Answer 34

L3

Question 35

What is believed to form the anterior longitudinal ligament in the lumbar spine?

Answer 35

the tendon of the crura of the diaphragm

Question 36

What innervates the anterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 36

the anterior neural plexus formed by fibers from the ventral primary ramus and sympathetic postganglionic fibers from the paravertebral ganglia

Question 37

What is the function of the anterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 37

it brakes or limits dorsi-flexion or hyperflexion of the vertebral column

Question 38

What was ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament in the lumbar region identified as?

Answer 38

Forestier's Disease

Question 39

What is the ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament in the lumbar region now identified as?

Answer 39

Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis or DISH

Question 40

What is the innermost layer of the posterior longitudinal ligament called?

Answer 40

the perivertebral ligament

Question 41

What is the function of the posterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 41

it brakes or limits flexion of the vertebral column

Question 42

Where is ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament commonly identified?

Answer 42

the cervical spine with an 80% incidicence

Question 43

What is the clinical sign of posterior longitudinal ligament ossification in the cervical spine?

Answer 43

a loss of hand and finger dexterity

Question 44

What is the clinical sign of posterior longitudinal ligament ossification in the lumbar spine?

Answer 44

faltering gait

Question 45

What is the gender, age, and ethnic bias associated with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 45

it is greater in males over 50 and has a higher incidence in the Japanese

Question 46

What is the name given to the ligamentum flavum based on appearance and histology?

Answer 46

it is yellow elastic ligament

Question 47

What fibers are most ligaments made up of?

Answer 47

Collagen type I fibers which are whitish in appearance

Question 48

What is the color of most ligaments in the body?

Answer 48

they are whitish

Question 49

Where is ossification of the ligamentum flavum most commonly identified?

Answer 49

the thoracic spine or thoracolumbar transition zone

Question 50

What is the relationship between the capsular ligament and mobility?

Answer 50

the more lax/loose the capsular ligament is, the greater motion of the joint

Question 51

What regions of the vertebral column demonstrates the greatest laxity of capsular ligaments?

Answer 51

the cervical and lumbar regions

Question 52

In which region of the vertebral column will the capsular ligament be tightest?

Answer 52

the thoracic region

Question 53

What layers are present in the capsular ligament?

Answer 53

a superficial layer of collagen fibers and a deep layer of elastic fibers

Question 54

If the zygapophyseal capsular ligament is not significantly involved in restricting motion what is its function?

Answer 54

it s probably involved in propioceptive feedback to the muscles stabilizing the vertebral couple during movement

Question 55

What is now thought to be a major function of the interspinous ligament?

Answer 55

it is more likely a propioceptive transducer for the spinal reflex

Question 56

What is the name given to the superficial layer of the ligamentum nuchae?

Answer 56

the funicular layer or part

Question 57

What is the name given to the deep layer of the ligamentum nuchae?

Answer 57

the lamellar layer or part

Question 58

What are the attachment sites for the superficial layer of the ligamentum nuchae?

Answer 58

the external occipitial protuberance, external occipital crest, and spinous tubercle of C7

Question 59

What is the histological make-up of the human ligamentum nuchae?

Answer 59

it is a yellow elastic ligament, but has more collagen fibers than in quadrupeds

Question 60

What is the classic function of the human ligamentum nuchae?

Answer 60

it brakes or limits flexion of the cervical spine

Question 61

What is the termination level inferiorly for the supraspinous ligament according to current literature?

Answer 61

primarily at L4 (73%); between L4 and L5 (5%)

Question 62

What is ow thought to be a major function of the supraspinous ligament?

Answer 62

it is a propioceptive transduceer for the spinal reflex