Back Osteology

Question 1

Regions of the temporal bone

Answer 1

Squamous
Petrous
Mastoid (includes styloid process/mandibular fossa)
Tympanic

Question 2

Regions of occipital bone

Answer 2

Squamous part (external)- includes superior/inferior nuchal line
Squamous part (internal)
Internal/external basilar part

Question 3

Pharyngeal tubercle of external basilar portion of occipital bone- what muscle inserts here

Answer 3

Superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle

Question 4

Occipital condyle articulates with

Answer 4

Superior articulating process of the Atlas

Question 5

Posterior arch of atlas contains

Answer 5

Groove for vertebral artery
Posterior tubercle (analogous to spinous process)

Question 6

Features of lateral mass of the Atlas

Answer 6

Tubercle for transverse ligament (origin/contralateral insertion of transverse band of cruciform ligament)
Superior articulating process (for occipital condyles)
Inferior articulating process (for C2)
Transverse process- transverse foramen for vertebral A.

Question 7

Jeffersons fracture

Answer 7

Cause by blow to top of the head. Both arches of the atlas are fractured. Typically does not injure spinal cord, but it is possible if the transverse L. is ruptured

Question 8

Vertebral body of axis contains

Answer 8

Odontoid process aka; dens

Question 9

Hangmans fracture

Answer 9

Fracture of the vertebral arch of the axis

Caused by hyperextension of head/neck

Question 10

Odontoid process fracture

Answer 10

Can occur after horizontal blow to head

If it breaks at its base, it will usually not heal because transverse L. is holding it away from blood supply

Question 11

Vertebral body of typical cervical vertebrae (3-6) contain

Answer 11

Uncinate process

Question 12

Spina Bifida

Answer 12

Vertebral lamina fail to fuse and close off the vertebral canal
Commonly occurs at L5 and S1
Small patch of hair occurs over the defect
If neural tissue and meninges are involved it is referred to as spina bifida cystica

Question 13

What is significant about cervical vertebrae spinous processes

Answer 13

They are often bifid

Question 14

Posterior and anterior tubercles on transverse processes of C1-C6 are attachment for

Answer 14

Posterior: Levator scapulae, scalene and splenius cervicis muscles
Anterior: Longus colli, capitis and scalene muscles

Question 15

What is the anterior tubercle on C6 also known as

Answer 15

Carotid tubercle

Question 16

Costotransverse bar

Answer 16

Lateral boundary of transverse foramen

Contains depressed area that accommodates the anterior rami of spinal nerves

Question 17

Why does it require less force to dislocate cervical vertebrae

Answer 17

Because the articulating facets are more horizontal

However, due to large vertebral foramen, this does not usually result in injury to spinal cord

Question 18

Vertebral body of thoracic vertebrae

Answer 18

Articulates with the ribs
Superior costal facet- meets with costal head of same segment
Inferior costal facet- meets with costal head one segment up

Question 19

Spondylosis vs Spondylolysis vs Spondylolisthesis

Answer 19

Spondylosis- calcification of edges of vertebral body
Spondylolysis- Separation of vertebra arch from vertebral body
Spondylolisthesis- Anterior displacement of vertebral body on the inferior vertebral segment

Question 20

Superior articular facet of ribs

Answer 20

Articulates with inferior costal demifacet on thoracic vertebral body one segment superior

Question 21

Inferior articular facet of ribs

Answer 21

Articulates with superior costal demifacet on thoracic vertebral body of same segment

Question 22

Tubercle of ribs

Answer 22

Possesses articular part and non articular part
Articular facet articulates w/transverse costal facet on thoracic vertebrae
Non articular part is attachment point for lateral costotransverse ligament

Question 23

Costal groove and costal angle on body of ribs

Answer 23

Groove houses intercostal nerve and vessels

Angle is the anterolateral turning point of the rib

Question 24

Vertebral body of lumbar vertebrae

Answer 24

Very large and kidney shaped

Question 25

Vertebral foramen of lumbar vertebrae

Answer 25

Transmits spinal cord, conus medullaris and cauda equina | Very large and triangular

Question 26

Accessory process of lumbar vertebrae

Answer 26

Located on transverse process | Attachment for intertransversarii muscles

Question 27

Mamillary process

Answer 27

Located on superior articulating process | Attachment for multifidi muscles and intertransversarii muscles

Question 28

Lumbar spinal stenosis

Answer 28

Narrowing of the lumbar vertebral foramen, may cause compression of spinal nerve roots Much worse when compounded with intervertebral disc bulging

Question 29

Lumbar puncture

Answer 29

Performed between L3/L4 or L4/L5 at level of the iliac crests. This level is chosen to avoid injuring the spinal cord

Question 30

Articular surface or sacrum

Answer 30

Articulates with articular surface of ilium

Question 31

Hemisacrilization and lumbarization

Answer 31

Hemisacrilization-Partial or complete incorporation of the L5 vertebral segment into the sacrum. Lumbarization- Separation of the S1 vertebrae from the sacrum

Question 32

Median sacral crest

Answer 32

Fused spinous processes

Question 33

Medial (intermediate) sacral crest

Answer 33

Fused articulating processes

Question 34

Lateral sacral crest

Answer 34

Fused transverse processes

Question 35

Posterior/dorsal sacral foramina

Answer 35

Smaller than anterior sacral foramina | Transmit posterior ramus of sacral spinal nerves

Question 36

Sacral hiatus

Answer 36

Gap left by absence of lamina and spinous process of S5

Question 37

Anterior sacral foramina

Answer 37

Larger | Transmit anterior ramus of sacral spinal nerves

Question 38

Apex

Answer 38

Articular facet for coccyx

Question 39

Sacrum is how many fused vertebrae

Answer 39

5

Question 40

Coccygodynia

Answer 40

Caused by abrupt falls on lower back and difficult child birth that results in bruising/dislocation/fracture of coccyx Painful and difficult to treat

Question 41

Primary vs secondary curvatures of vertebral column

Answer 41

Primary- Thoracic and sacral kyphoses | Secondary- Cervical and lumbar lordosis- result from extension from fetal position

Question 42

Kyphosis vs lordosis vs scoliosis

Answer 42

Kyphosis- exaggerated curving of thoracic vertebrae causing hump back Lordosis- curving of lumbar vertebrae resulting in sway back Scoliosis- lateral curving of spine to right or left