Atypical Lumbar Vertebra: L5

Question 1

What is the generic size of the fifth lumbar vertebral body from the cranial view?

Answer 1

transversely broad

Question 2

What is the generic shape of the fifth lumbar vertebral body from the cranial view?

Answer 2

reniform or kidney-shaped

Question 3

What is the appearance of the fifth lumbar vertebral body from the lateral view?

Answer 3

• anterior height is greater than posterior height by several millimeters
• it appears to form a wedge on a lateral x-ray view

Question 4

How many synovial joint surfaces are present at the L5 vertebral body?

Answer 4

none

Question 5

What is the joint classification for the spongy bone-intervertebral disc articulation?

Answer 5

cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis

Question 6

What is the joint classification for the longitudinal lig. attachments?

Answer 6

fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis

Question 7

How many fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis joint surfaces are present on the L5 vertebral body?

Answer 7

4

Question 8

Identify the fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis joint surfaces present on the L5 vertebral body.

Answer 8

• superior and inferior anterior longitudinal lig. attachment sites
• superior and inferior posterior longitudinal lig. attachment sites

Question 9

How many joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of L5?

Answer 9

6

Question 10

How many cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of L5?

Answer 10

2

Question 11

What joint classifications are observed on the vertebral body of L5?

Answer 11

• cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis

- fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis

Question 12

What muscle attaches to the L5 vertebral body?

Answer 12

psoas major

Question 13

What are the attachment sites of the superior transforaminal lig. at the L4-L5 intervertebral foramen?

Answer 13

• L4 vertebral body

- inferior articular process of L4

Question 14

What are the attachment sites of the middle transforaminal lig. at the L4-L5 intervertebral foramen?

Answer 14

• intervertebral disc

- inferior articular process of L4

Question 15

What are the attachment sites of the inferior transforaminal lig. at the L4-L5 intervertebral foramen?

Answer 15

• L5 vertebral body

- superior articular process of L5

Question 16

What are the attachment sites of the superior corporotransverse lig. at the L4-L5 intervertebral foramen?

Answer 16

• L4 vertebral body
• L4-L5 intervertebral disc
• TVP of L5

Question 17

What are the attachment sites of the inferior corporotransverse lig. at the L4-L5 intervertebral foramen?

Answer 17

• L5 vertebral body
• L5-S1 intervertebral disc
• TVP of L5

Question 18

What is the orientation of the pedicle to L5?

Answer 18

posterior

Question 19

At what location on the vertebral body of L5 will the pedicle attach?

Answer 19

to the upper third or half of the vertebral body

Question 20

Which spinal nerve will be accommodated on the superior vertebral notch of L5?

Answer 20

L4 spinal nerve

Question 21

Which spinal nerve will be accommodated on the inferior vertebral notch of L5?

Answer 21

L5 spinal nerve

Question 22

What is the outline of the vertebral foramen of L5?

Answer 22

triangular

Question 23

Which is the greatest diameter of the vertebral foramen of L5?

Answer 23

transverse

Question 24

What part of the PNS is present in the L5 vertebral foramen?

Answer 24

cauda equina

Question 25

What is the generic direction and length of the L5 TVP?

Answer 25

it is directed straight lateral and is the shortest of all lumbar TVPs

Question 26

What accounts for the shortness of the L5 TVP?

Answer 26

the hip/innominate bones diminsh the available space in the transverse plane

Question 27

What is the distal modification of the TVP of L5?

Answer 27

transverse tubercle

Question 28

What muscle attaches to the L5 accessory process?

Answer 28

longissimus thoracis

Question 29

What muscles may attach to the TVP of L5?

Answer 29

- psoas major - quadratus lumborum - longissimus thoracis - rotator brevis - rotator longus - intertransversarii

Question 30

Which of the erector spinae muscles attach to the TVP of L5?

Answer 30

longissimus

Question 31

Which of the transversospinalis muscle groups attach to the TVP of L5?

Answer 31

rotators

Question 32

What lig. traditionally attach to the TVP of L5?

Answer 32

- lumbosacral - iliolumbar - mammillo-accessory

Question 33

What joint classifications are present at the TVP of L5?

Answer 33

- fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis

Question 34

What is the name of the lamina-pedicle junction of L5?

Answer 34

pars interarticularis

Question 35

What is the position of the pars interarticularis relative to the apophyseal regions of L5?

Answer 35

lateral to the spinous process, medial to the TVP, and in between the articular processes

Question 36

What is characteristic of the L5 articular processes?

Answer 36

The transverse diameter of superior articular processes will be greater than the transverse diameter of the inferior articular processes of that same segment and it is the greatest distance in the lumbar spine.

Question 37

What is the reported angulation and x-ray appearnce of the L5 articular facets?

Answer 37

they lie in the vertical plane and are coronal facets

Question 38

What is the orientation of the L5 superior articular facet?

Answer 38

- backward, upward, medial (BUM) | - typically concave

Question 39

What is the orientation of the L5 inferior articular facet?

Answer 39

- forward, lateral, downward (FoLD) | - significant convexity

Question 40

What is the joint classification for the L5 zygapophysis?

Answer 40

synovial (diarthrosis) arthrodia

Question 41

How many synovial joints are present on L5?

Answer 41

4

Question 42

Identify the synovial joints present on L5.

Answer 42

- two superior articular facets | - two inferior articular facets

Question 43

What is the usual condition for the L5 spinous process?

Answer 43

non-bifid and short

Question 44

What is the usual appearance of the L5 spinous process?

Answer 44

rectangular with the long axis in the superior-inferior orientation

Question 45

What is the name given to the congenital condition in which the L5 spinous process is elongated, the sacrum exhibits spina bifida, and dorsiflexion produces pain?

Answer 45

knife clasp syndrome

Question 46

What muscles will attach to the L5 spinous process?

Answer 46

- latissimus dorsi - iliocostalis lumborum - longissimus thoracis - multifidis - rotator longus - rotator brevis - interspinalis

Question 47

What lig. will attach to the L5 spinous process?

Answer 47

- interspinous | - supraspinous