Back and vertebral column

Question 1

What parts of the vertebral column are primary curves?

Answer 1

Thoracic

Sacral/coccygeal

Question 2

What are the secondary curves in the vertebral column?

Answer 2

Cervical

Lumbar

Question 3

Answer 3

Abnormal lordosis

Extreme curvature of the lumbar region

Question 4

Abnormal curvature of the thoracic region

Answer 4

Question 5

what is lateral curvature of the back?

Answer 5

Question 6

Which part of the vertebrae is the verterbral column?

What are its functions?

Answer 6

Question 7

Answer 7

Question 8

Answer 8

Question 9

Answer 9

Question 10

Where does the spinal cord terminate?

Answer 10

L1/L2

Question 11

Answer 11

Question 12

What is the intervertebral foramen formed from and house?

Answer 12

Formed from notches in the vertebral column

Houses dorsal root ganglion, spinal nerves and vessels

Question 13

How many cervical nerves are there compared to cervical vertebrae?

Answer 13

8 cervical nerves

7 cervical vertebrae

Question 14

Where do C1-C7 nerves emerge in relation to their respective pedicles?

Answer 14

Superiorly

Question 15

Where does C8 emerge in relation to its pedicle?

Answer 15

Inferiorly

Question 16

Where do nerves of T1 and below emerge in relation to their respective pedicles?

Answer 16

Inferiorly

Question 17

Where do the rami split?

Answer 17

From the spinal nerve

Question 18

What is the order of the parts of a peripheral nerve?

Answer 18

Root, trunk, rami

Question 19

Where are the cell bodies in the motor neurons?

Answer 19

Ventral horn

Question 20

Where are the cell bodies in the sensory neurons?

Answer 20

In the dorsal root ganglion

Question 21

What is the function of the anunlus fibrosus and how is it organised?

Answer 21

Keeps the vertebra together

Attaches the epiphyseal ring

Concentric and oblique fibrous rings

Question 22

What is the nucleus of the spine made of and its function?

Answer 22

Water

Keeps vertebra spaced apart

Shock absorber

Question 23

What is an intervertebral disc composed of?

Answer 23

Annulus fibrosus

nucleus pulposus

Question 24

What is the name of the facet joint on the articular process and what type is it?

Answer 24

Zygapophyseal

Plane synovial

(Orientation determines movement in one axis)

Question 25

Answer 25

Question 26

Answer 26

Question 27

What is characteristic of the posterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 27

Splaying out along its superior aspect

(directs discs posterolaterally under pressure to avoid compressing spinal cord)

Question 28

Where does ligamentum flavum attach?

Answer 28

To the laminae of adjacent vertebrae

Question 29

What are the extrinsic/superficial muscles of the back?

Answer 29

Trapezius

Latissimus dorsi

Rhomboid major/minor

Levator scapulae

Question 30

What are the deep/intrinsic muscles of the back?

Answer 30

Erector spinae

Transversospinalis

Question 31

What is the function of the transversospinalis?

Answer 31

They are stabilizers which prevent excess movement

Question 32

The lumbar fascia attaches the majority of back muscles and what else?

Answer 32

The abdominal wall

(allows for contraction of intrinsic back muscles in core muscle contraction)

Question 33

What are the three types of disc prolapses?

Answer 33

Bulge - Nucleus pushing annulus

Herniation - Nucleus puncturing annulus

Extrusion - Nucleus pinched off outside annulus

Question 34

What occurs when joints degenerate in the back?

Answer 34

Articular cartilage thins

Nucleus dehydrates

Osteophytes form (can protrude into the intervertebral foramen)