Back Flashcards
Dr. wilson
What are the reasons for adult visits to office-based physicians?
- Hypertension 2. pregnancy care 3. check-ups 4. colds 5. low-back pain 6. depression/anxiety 7. diabetes
What are the functions of the vertebral column?
weight support, erect posture, bipedal locomotion, enclose and protects the spinal cord & nerves
The spinal cord and nerves is housed and protected by what?
The vertebral column
What is paraplegia?
Damage of the spinal cord below the origin of the brachial plexus (C5-T1) and above (spinal level) S4
Damage of the spinal cord between C5-T1 (the origin of the brachial plexus) results in what?
quadreplegia
Damage of the spinal cord at or above the origin of the phrenic nerve (C3-5) results in ?
asphyxiation and death (without medical intervention)
Changes in the vertebral foramen may result in ?
compression of the spinal cord/nerve
How intervetrabal foramen formed?
by 2 intervetral notches
stenosis of the interverteberal foramen will cause what?
Compression of the spinal nerve
This is their point of exit
What are the 5 regions of the vertebral column?
cervical (7 vertebrae) thoracic (12 vertebrae) lumbar (5 vertebrae) sacral (5 fused vertebrae) coccygeal ( 5 vertebrae)
What are distinct characteristics of the cervical vertebrae?
bifed spine
transverse foramen
What are distinct characteristics of the thoracic vertebrae?
articular facets for ribs
oblique spine
What are distinct characteristics of the lumbar vertebrae?
large size
horizontal spines
what can you see on the dorsal side of the sacrum?
posterior sacral foramen
spinous process
sacral hiatus cornua
What does the depth of anesthesia depend on?
amount injected
position of patient
what are the two type of epidural anesthesia that can be given
Caudal epidural anesthesia (through sacral hiatus) transsacral epidural anesthesia (between posterior sacral foramen)
How do you know where to place the epidural?
You have to palpate and look for the cornea and spinous process
For the caudal (epidural) anesthesia where is the injection made into?
epidural space
From a lateral view, the spine is seen to have?
two secondary curvatures in the cervical & lumbar regions two primary curvatures in the thoracic & sacral regions
Where do most back problems occur?
where secondary curvatures become primary Lower cervical and lower lumbar - common locations for herniated disc
At this time the spine has a single, primary curvature, that is convexed posteriorly
At birth
Why is the baby not stable enough when standing bipedially
the center of gravity is too anterior
When does the secondary curvature in the cervical region begin?
begins to develop at 3 months when the baby begins to raise his/her head to look around
At 1 years of age when the baby begins to stand and walk what happens?
secondary lumbar curvature develops
What is a kyphosis
exaggerated 1’ curvature in the thoracic spine (anterior curvature to the spine) (hunchback, dowager’s hump)
What are different causes of kyphosis?
congenital
occupational
TB
degenerating discs
osteoporosis
fractures (compression fractures)
An Exaggerated secondary curvature in the lumbar region is known as?
Lordosis
What can cause lordosis?
Pregnancy and obesity
Scoliosis is known as?
Lateral curvature of the spine
What are the causes of scoliosis
In many cases, the cause of scoliosis is idiopathic (unknown). Some possible cases hemi-vertebra a short leg polio, stroke, herniated disc
A straight spine is supported by what?
by a level pelvis
patient comes in complaining of back pain.. You realize that her right leg is shorter than her left leg so her left hip is elevated 5 degrees. What do you suspect is the reason for her back pain
Scoliosis