Basic anatomy of the spine

Question 1

how many vertebrae each section

Answer 1

7, 12,5,5,4

8 cervical spinal nerves

Question 2

What is a typical vertebrae and examples

Answer 2

A vertebrae with a body, vertebral arch and several processes
Eg cervical , thoracic , lumbar and sacrum and coccyx are the types of vertebra
Middle portion of all of these

Question 3

What is an atypical vertebrae

Answer 3

Highly modified by function and position eg C1,2,7
T1,9,10,11,12 and L5
Transitioning regions of the vertebral Colomm

Question 4

Identify 4 features of a typical cervical vertebrae

Answer 4

Small size
Transverse foramina
Saddle shaped body
Bifid spinous process

C1 is different atlas , as is shaped like a ring
C2, (axis( has upward facing long bony processes called dens
The Dens facilitates turning motions as joins to C1 thereby allowing the head to turn in different directions
C7 - spinous process is a lot bigger better fit to fit with T1 below. C7 also lacks any holes ( transverse processes foramina) for the vertebral arteries to pass through which are present in all other cervical vertebrae
C7 has large spinous process felt at the back of the neck - easily seen and felt at the base making it a prominent landmark of the skeleton and giving the C7 vertebrae promines

Question 5

what is the spine

Answer 5

vertebral coloumn that holds us up

Question 6

what is the back

Answer 6

posterior surface of trunk

Question 7

what is the trunk/torso

Answer 7

body head and limbs

Question 8

roles of the spine

Answer 8

Protects the fragile spinal cord & spinal nerves
Carrying the superior portion of the body
Allows the body to resist gravity
Absorbs shocks through curves and intervertebral discs
Allows limited movement of the trunk & neck

Question 9

how many vertebrae and spinal nerves

Answer 9

33 v

31 spinal nerves

Question 10

which v regions are fused

Answer 10

sacral and coccygeal

Question 11

conus medullaris what level

Answer 11

L1-2

L3 in babies

Question 12

what are the curves in your spine known as

Answer 12

cervical lordosis - secondary curvature
thoracic kyphosis
lumbr lordosis
sacral kyphosis - primayr curvature -Kyphosis is curvature of the spine that causes the top of the back to appear more rounded than normal

inter only kyphosis - one big curve

Question 13

cervical lordosis can be exaggerated when

Answer 13

I’m women with OA

Question 14

when does a baby begin to lift its head

Answer 14

3 months

Starts as a flexion posture before you are born: Foetal concavity
Cervical lordosis

Question 15

when does a baby begin to stand

Answer 15

1 year old

Lumbar lordosis
starts developing when babies begin to learn to stand

Question 16

what is scoliosis

Answer 16

Scoliosis is where the spine twists and curves to the side.

treatment includes painkillers, braces and surgery

ifferent surgical techniques may be used, such as:

laminectomy – where a section of 1 of the bones in your spine (vertebrae) is removed to relieve pressure on the affected nerve
discectomy – where a section of 1 of the discs between the vertebrae is removed to relieve pressure on a nerve
spinal fusion – where 2 or more vertebrae are joined together to stabilise, strengthen and straighten the spine

prosthesis and implants

Question 17

what goes through the vertebral foramen

Answer 17

The spinal cord passes through the vertebral foramina of the vertebrae: the collective vertebral foramina are referred to as the vertebral canal, or spinal canal.

Question 18

how do spinal nerves exit the spinal cord

Answer 18

through neural foramina

Question 19

what are the transverse process

Answer 19

The transverse processes serve as muscle attachment sites and are used as lever arms by spinal muscles. The muscles that attach to the transverse processes maintain posture and induce rotation and lateral flexion of single vertebrae and the spine as a whole.

Question 20

what is pedicle

Answer 20

Each vertebra has two cylinder-shaped projections (pedicles) of hard bone that stick out from the back part of the vertebral body, providing side protection for the spinal cord and nerves. The pedicles also serve as a bridge, joining the front and back parts of the vertebra.

Question 21

what vertebrae have downward facing processes

Answer 21

thoracic

Question 22

vertebral body shape cervical , thoracic and lumbar

Answer 22

small, wide side to side
larger than cervical heart shaped
kidney shaped

Question 23

which vertebral foramen is circular

Answer 23

thoracic

cervical and lumbar - triangular

Question 24

neural foramen is also called intervertebral foramen

Answer 24

true

in lumbar vertebrae rotation is prevented in thoracic flexion and extensions prevented

Question 25

what is spina bifida

Answer 25

Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly. It’s a type of neural tube defect. The neural tube is the structure in a developing embryo that eventually becomes the baby’s brain, spinal cord and the tissues that enclose them

Question 26

types of spina bifida

Answer 26

Spina bifida occulta

“Occulta” means hidden. It’s the mildest and most common type. Spina bifida occulta results in a small separation or gap in one or more of the bones of the spine (vertebrae). Many people who have spina bifida occulta don’t even know it, unless the condition is discovered during an imaging test done for unrelated reasons.

Myelomeningocele

Also known as open spina bifida, myelomeningocele is the most severe type. The spinal canal is open along several vertebrae in the lower or middle back. The membranes and spinal nerves push through this opening at birth, forming a sac on the baby’s back, typically exposing tissues and nerves. This makes the baby prone to life-threatening infections and may also cause paralysis and bladder and bowel dysfunction.

Question 27

what is a sign of spina bifida

Answer 27

tuft of hair

Question 28

what is a median longitudinal furrow

Answer 28

midline longitudinal depression in the surface of the back; it begins superiorly in the cervical region and is continuous inferiorly with the gluteal cleft, diminishing at the base of the neck and over the sacral base.

Question 29

how do you find L4 vertebrae

Answer 29

iliac crest

Question 30

how do you diagnose scoliosis

Answer 30

Scoliosis is usually confirmed through a physical examination, an x-ray, spinal radiograph, CT scan or MRI. The curve is measured by the Cobb Method and is diagnosed in terms of severity by the number of degrees.

Question 31

A herniated disc (also called bulged, slipped or ruptured) is a fragment of the disc nucleus that is pushed out of the annulus, into the spinal canal through a tear or rupture in the annulus. Discs that become herniated usually are in an early stage of degeneration.
what could cause this

Answer 31

annulus fibrosis

nucleus pulposus

Question 32

Supraspinous ligament

Answer 32

strong fibrous cord that connects together the apices of the spinous processes from the seventh cervical vertebra to 3rd or 4th lumbar vertebrae.

Question 33

Ligamentum flavum

Answer 33

connect the ventral parts of the laminae of adjacent vertebrae. They help to preserve upright posture, preventing hyperflexion, and ensuring that the vertebral column straightens after flexion.

Question 34

Anterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 34

The anterior longitudinal ligament is a ligament that runs down the anterior surface of the spine. It traverses all of the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs on their ventral side. It may be partially to treat certain abnormal curvatures in the vertebral column, such as kyphosis.

Question 35

Posterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 35

connects and stabilizes the bones of the spinal column. It runs almost the entire length of the spine, from the 2nd vertebra in the cervical spine (neck) all the way down to the sacrum (end of the spine). The ligament is adjacent to the spinal cord.

Question 36

If a patient has a disc herniation of the L3/L4 intervertebral disc, which dermatome/s would be affected?

Answer 36

disc protrusion at L3

discs correspond to one above and below

Question 37

lumbar pucnture level

Answer 37

between L3 and 4