Back Anatomy I

Question 1

what is the difference between a plane and a section

Answer 1

a plane is an imaginary cut through the body, a section is an actual cut through the body

Question 2

what is the function of the vertebral column?

Answer 2

it is the main support of the body axis, protects the spinal cord, contains skeletal muscle attachment points

Question 3

How many bones are contained in the vertebral column of a human adult over the age of 25?

Answer 3

26 bones

Question 4

How many bones are contained in the vertebral column of a human adult under the age of 25?

Answer 4

33 bones

Question 5

Which two curvatures of the vertebral column are the primary curvatures?

Answer 5

the thoracic and sacral curves (kyphosis)

Question 6

the thoracic and sacral curves are (concave/convex) posteriorly

Answer 6

convex

Question 7

the cervical and lumbar curves are (concave/convex) posteriorly

Answer 7

concave

Question 8

What two curvatures of the vertebral column are secondary curvatures?

Answer 8

cervical and lumbar curves (lordosis)

Question 9

what is the function of the vertebrae?

Answer 9

main support of the body axis, protects the spinal cord, skeletal muscle attachment and movement

Question 10

the spinous and transverse processes serve as _____ and ________ attachment sites

Answer 10

muscle and ligament

Question 11

what is a laminotomy?

Answer 11

when a piece of the lamina is cut off to access the spinal cord

Question 12

what do the superior and inferior vertebral notches form?

Answer 12

the intervertebral foramen, an exit point for spinal nerves

Question 13

What forms the zygapophyseal joints?

Answer 13

articulation between inferior articular processes and facets with superior articular processes adn facets of the vertebrae immediately inferior

Question 14

What happens to the spinal nerve after it passes through the intervertebral foramen?

Answer 14

bifurcates into two major branches, one heads dorsally and the other anteriorly

Question 15

moving inferiorly, the vertebral bodies (increase/decrease) in size in relationship to (increased/decreased) weight bearing, and the size of the vertebral canal changes in relationship to the _______ of the spinal cord

Answer 15

increase, increased, diameter

Question 16

What kind of bones do vertebral bodies consist of?

Answer 16

largely of trabecular (spongy) bone that is covered by a relatively thin layer of compact bone

Question 17

What are the end plates that cover the superior and inferior surfaces of the vertebral bodies composed of?

Answer 17

hyaline cartilage surrounded by smooth bony epiphysial rims

Question 18

What are the main identifiers of cervical vertebrae?

Answer 18

wider but not thick bodies, transverse foramina located in the transverse processes, bifid spinous processes with the exception of C1 and C7

Question 19

In the cervical vertebrae, which way do the superior facets face?

Answer 19

superoposteriorly (up and back)

Question 20

In the cervical vertebrae, which way do the inferior facets face?

Answer 20

inferoanteriorly (down and forward)

Question 21

What is the vertebra prominens?

Answer 21

large spinous process on C7 that can be seen and felt through the skin

Question 22

T/F there are intervertebral discs and vertebral bodies between the skull and axis

Answer 22

false

Question 23

What does the atlas articulate with on the skull, what motion does this allow for?

Answer 23

articulates with the occipital condyles of the skull which allows for flexion and extension.

Question 24

What are the atlantooccipital joints (2) formed by?

Answer 24

The articulation of the large facets of the atlas with the occipital condyles

Question 25

What does the atlas (C1) consist of?

Answer 25

anterior and posterior arches and lateral masses (superior and inferior articulating surfaces

Question 26

What does the axis (C2) consist of?

Answer 26

body, spinous and transverse processes

Question 27

what is the odontoid process formed by?

Answer 27

it is the missing body of the atlas that fuses with the axis during development

Question 28

What is the function of the odontoid process

Answer 28

acts as a pivot point from the rotation of the atlas and skull, allows for the no motion

Question 29

T/F there is a disc between the atlas and axis

Answer 29

false

Question 30

What causes a Jeffersons burst fracture?

Answer 30

force pushing down onto the head that bursts the atlas

Question 31

Where does the vertebral artery enter the vertebral column? where does it head?

Answer 31

C6, up towards skull

Question 32

What artery forms when the vertebral artery reaches the skull? What does this new artery supply blood to?

Answer 32

basal artery, posterior part of the brain

Question 33

The transverse foramina give passage to the vertebral artery and vein and __________ nerves

Answer 33

sympathetic

Question 34

Where do the vertebral artery and vein usually pass in front of rather than the foramen in C7

Answer 34

transverse process

Question 35

Where do the beams head in an AP film?

Answer 35

anterior-posteriorly

Question 36

Where do the beams head in a lateral film?

Answer 36

laterally

Question 37

Where do the beams head in an APOM film?

Answer 37

anterior-posteriorly with an open mouth

Question 38

What does an APOM film allow us to see?

Answer 38

axis and atlas

Question 39

What is an odontoid fracture? Why is this bad?

Answer 39

When there is a crack or break in the odontoid process, if the neck is moved this can impale the spinal cord

Question 40

T1 has a fully formed _________ _________ facet, why is this important?

Answer 40

superior costal, the first rib doesn't touch C7, and articulates only on T1

Question 41

What does the rib head articulate with in thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 41

inferior costal facet of superior vertebrae and superior costal facet of inferior vertebrae

Question 42

How many facets do most thoracic vertebrae bodies contain? what are they called?

Answer 42

2 facets, superior and inferior costal facets

Question 43

T10 - 12 have fully formed _______ facets. Which ribs do these vertebrae articulate with

Answer 43

single T10 - 10th rib T11 - 11th rib T12 - 12th rib

Question 44

In thoracic vertebrae, spinous processes are _____ and directed ________

Answer 44

long, inferiorly

Question 45

What do the transverse processes of T1-T10 contain that articulate with the rib tubercle?

Answer 45

transverse costal facets

Question 46

In thoracic vertebrae, _______ ________ facets face posterior and inferior and ____________ __________ facets face anterior, this allows for what kind of movement, and limits what kind of movement?

Answer 46

superior articulating, inferior articulating, allows for rotation, limits flexion and extension

Question 47

What is spondylolysis?

Answer 47

stress fracture in the vertebral arch

Question 48

What is the pars interarticularis, where is it located?

Answer 48

region of lamina between the inferior and superior articular processes of joint

Question 49

What do you look for in an oblique film? How do you know if there is a break/ fracture?

Answer 49

scotty dogs, scotty dog with a collar indicates a break or fracture

Question 50

What are 2 idenitfying features of lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 50

body is robust, vertebral arch and processes are short and thick.

Question 51

Why are lumbar vertebral bodies so robust?

Answer 51

weight bearing, must be able to withstand pressure

Question 52

Why are the lumbar vertebral processes and arches short and thick?

Answer 52

for the attachment of large muscles

Question 53

IN lumbar vertebrae, ________ _______ facets face posteromedial and the __________ _______ facet faces anterolateral, what kind of movement foes this allow for, and what kind does it restrict?

Answer 53

superior articulating, inferior articulating allows for flexion and extension but limits rotation

Question 54

What is the sacrum composed of?

Answer 54

fusion of 5 sacral vertabrae

Question 55

what is the sacrum?

Answer 55

fused vertebrae that forms the posterior wall of the pelvis ( amrked by transverse lines and ridges

Question 56

The sacrum articulates with ____ through ________ _______ processes and facets and _________ discs

Answer 56

L5 superior articulating processes and facets intervertebral

Question 57

_____ articulates with the ______of the pelvis to form the sacroiliac joints

Answer 57

ala, ilia

Question 58

What are the median crests of the sacrum composed of?

Answer 58

fused spinous processes

Question 59

What are the lateral crests of the sacrum composed of?

Answer 59

fused transverse processes

Question 60

Branches of spinal nerves exit through the _________ (ventral ramii) and _______(dorsal ramii) sacral foramina

Answer 60

anterior and posterior

Question 61

The _______ canal is a continuation of the vertebral canal

Answer 61

sacral

Question 62

What is the sacral hiatus?

Answer 62

the end of the sacral canal

Question 63

The Coccyx is comprised of _________ fused vertebrae and articulates with the sacrum at the ___________ ________

Answer 63

3-5, sacral apex

Question 64

Although described as vestigial, the coccyx does provide insertion points for multiple ________, __________, __________, and __________.

Answer 64

muscles, ligaments, tendons, and filum terminale

Question 65

What is the filum terminale?

Answer 65

fibrous extension of the spinal cord