Axial Skeleton Focused

Question 1

How many movable vertebrae are there in the spinal column?

Answer 1

24

Question 2

How many vertebrae are found in each section of the spine?

Answer 2

Cervical - 7
Thoracic - 12
Lumbar - 5
Sacrum - 1 made of 5 fused bones
Coccyx - 1 made of 4 fused bones

Question 3

Define lordosis and state which areas of the spine have a lordotic curve.

Answer 3

Inward curvature of the spine. The cervical and lumbar regions have lordotic curves.

Question 4

Define kyphosis and state which areas of the spine have a kyphotic curve.

Answer 4

Outward curvature of the spine. The thoracic and sacrum regions have kyphotic curves.

Question 5

What are the “accepted normal” degrees of curvature in the thoracic and lumbar regions?

Answer 5

Thoracic - 20° - 40°

Lumbar - 30° - 50°

Question 6

Cephalad

Answer 6

In a direction towards the head.

Question 7

Caudal

Answer 7

Towards the tail or inferior point, opposite of cephalad.

Question 8

Dorsal

Answer 8

Relative to or situated on the posterior or back surface, opposite of ventral.

Question 9

Ventral

Answer 9

The surface directed towards the belly or ground.

Question 10

Which parts of the vertebra make up the anterior column?

Answer 10

The body

Question 11

What parts of the vertebra make up the posterior column?

Answer 11

A vertebral or neural arch and articular processes.

Question 12

State which parts make up the neural arch.

Answer 12

2 pedicles and two laminae.

Question 13

What is the intervertebral foramen?

Answer 13

Where the nerve roots exit the spinal column.

Question 14

Which anatomical features of the vertebrae form the intervertebral foramen?

Answer 14

Vertebral notches on the inferior and superior borders of pedicles.

Question 15

What is the function of the intervertebral foramen?

Answer 15

Provides a passageway for nerves to exit the spinal column.

Question 16

What is an articular facet?

Answer 16

A posterior structure of a vertebra which articulates with a facet of an adjacent vertebra.

Question 17

What is the function of an articular facet?

Answer 17

The articular processes interlock the vertebrae, preventing anterior displacement and restrict movement between vertebrae.

Question 18

Name the two main component parts of the disc.

Answer 18

Nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus

Question 19

What are the lamellae?

Answer 19

Layers of collagen fibers that form the annulus fibrosus

Question 20

What is the function of the lamellae?

Answer 20

To prevent prolapse of the nucleus.

Question 21

What is cauda equina?

Answer 21

The spinal cord ends at the upper end of the lumbar region. From there down, the spinal canal is filled only with nerve roots. These roots look like a horse’s tail or cauda equina.

Question 22

At which level of the spine does the cauda equina start?

Answer 22

L1

Question 23

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?

Answer 23

31

Question 24

How are the spinal nerves divided amongst the regions of the spinal column?

Answer 24

8 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
1 coccygeal

Question 25

What are myotomes?

Answer 25

The group of muscles that a single spinal nerve root innervates.

Question 26

What are dermatomes?

Answer 26

Area of skin supplied by one spinal segment.

Question 27

What is the clinical significance of myotomes and dermatomes?

Answer 27

The clinician stimulates the sensory nerve by striking an area of the body where the nerve is close to the surface. The impulse generated travels up the nerve as a sensory impulse through the spinal cord and back down the nerve as a motor impulse. Absence of change in reaction to the stimulus can be used to diagnose nerve disfunction.