BRS Anatomy - Back & Spine Flashcards
During an outbreak of meningitis at a local college, a 20-year-old student presents to a hospital emergency department com- plaining of headache, fever, chills, and stiff neck. On examination, it appears that he may have meningitis and needs a lumbar puncture or a spinal tap. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is normally withdrawn from which of the following spaces?
(A) Epidural space
(B) Subdural space
(C) Space between the spinal cord and the pia mater
(D) Subarachnoid space
(E) Space between the arachnoid and dura maters
The Answer is D.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is found in the subarachnoid space, which is a wide interval between the arachnoid layer and the pia mater. The epidural space contains the internal vertebral venous plexus and epidural fat. The subdural space between the arachnoid and the dura contains a little fluid to moisten the meningeal surface. The pia mater closely covers the spinal cord and enmeshes blood vessels on the surfaces of the spinal cord. Thus, the space between the spinal cord and the pia is a potential space.
A 23-year-old jockey falls from her horse and complains of headache, backache, and weakness. Radiologic examination would reveal blood in which of the following spaces if the internal vertebral venous plexus was ruptured?
(A) Space deep to the pia mater
(B) Space between the arachnoid and dura maters
(C) Subduralspace
(D) Epidural space
(E) Subarachnoidspace
The Answer is D.
The space between the vertebral canal and the dura mater is the epidural space, which contains the internal vertebral venous plexus. The spinal cord and blood vessels lie deep to the pia mater. The space between the arachnoid and dura maters is the subdural space, which contains a film of fluid. The subarachnoid space contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
A 42-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer is known to have tumors in the intervertebral foramina between the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae and between the fourth and fifth thoracic verte- brae. Which of the following spinal nerves may be damaged?
(A) Fourth cervical and fourth thoracic nerves
(B) Fifth cervical and fifth thoracic nerves
(C) Fourth cervical and fifth thoracic nerves
(D) Fifth cervical and fourth thoracic nerves
(E) Third cervical and fourth thoracic nerves
The Answer is D.
All cervical spinal nerves exit through the intervertebral foramina above the corresponding vertebrae, except the eighth cervical nerves, which run inferior to the seventh cervical vertebra. All other spinal nerves exit the intervertebral foramina below the corresponding vertebrae. Therefore, the fifth cervical nerve passes between the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae, and the fourth thoracic nerve runs between the fourth and fifth thoracic vertebrae.
A 39-year-old woman with headaches presents to her primary care physician with a possible herniated disk. Her magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan reveals that the posterolateral protrusion of the interverte- bral disk between L4 and L5 vertebrae would most likely affect nerve roots of which of the following spinal nerves?
(A) Third lumbar nerve
(B) Fourth lumbar nerve
(C) Fifth lumbar nerve
(D) First sacral nerve
(E) Second sacral nerve
The Answer is C.
A posterolateral herniation of the intervertebral disk at disk level L4–L5 affects the fifth lumbar nerve root but rarely affects the fourth lumbar nerve root because of a progressive descending obliquity of the fourth and fifth lumbar nerve roots. The first seven cervical nerves exit above the corresponding vertebra, and the eighth cervical nerve exits below the seventh cervical vertebra because there are eight cervical nerves but only seven cervical vertebrae. The rest of the spinal nerves exit below their corresponding vertebrae.
A 57-year-old woman comes into her physician’s office complaining of fever, nau- sea, vomiting, and the worst headache of her life. Tests and physical examination suggest hydrocephalus (widening ventricles) result- ing from a decrease in the absorption of cer- ebrospinal fluid (CSF). A decrease of flow in the CSF through which of the following structures would be responsible for these findings?
(A) Choroid plexus
(B) Vertebral venous plexus
(C) Arachnoidvilli
(D) Internal jugular vein
(E) Subarachnoid trabeculae
The Answer is C.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is absorbed into the venous system primarily through the arachnoid villi projecting into the cranial dural venous sinuses, particularly the superior sagittal sinus. CSF is produced by the choroid plexuses of the ventricles of the brain and is circulated in the subarachnoid space, in which subarachnoid trabeculae are also found. The vertebral venous plexus and internal jugular vein are not involved in the absorption of CSF.
After a 26-year-old man’s car was broad- sided by a large truck, he is brought to the emergency department with multiple frac- tures of the transverse processes of the cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae. Which of the following muscles might be affected?
(A) Trapezius
(B) Levator scapulae
(C) Rhomboidmajor
(D) Serratus posterior superior
(E) Rectus capitis posterior major
The Answer is B.
The levator scapulae arise from the transverse processes of the upper cervical vertebrae and inserts on the medial border of the scapula. The other muscles are attached to the spinous processes of the vertebrae.
A 27-year-old mountain climber falls from a steep rock wall and is brought to the emer- gency department. His physical examination and computed tomography (CT) scan reveal dislocation fracture of the upper thoracic vertebrae. The fractured body of the T4 ver- tebra articulates with which of the following parts of the ribs?
(A) Head of the third rib
(B) Neck of the fourth rib
(C) Tubercle of the fourth rib
(D) Head of the fifth rib
(E) Tubercle of the fifth rib
The Answer is D.
The body of vertebra T4 articulates with the heads of the fourth and fifth ribs. The body of the T3 vertebra articulates with the head of the third and fourth ribs. The neck of a rib does not articulate with any part of the vertebra. The transverse process of the vertebra articulates with the tubercle of the corresponding rib. Therefore, the trans- verse process of vertebra T4 articulates with the tubercle of the fourth rib.
A young toddler presents to her pediatrician with rather new onset of bowel and bladder dysfunction and loss of the lower limb function. Her mother had not taken enough folic acid (to the point of a deficiency) during her pregnancy. On examina- tion, the child has protrusion of the spinal cord and meninges and is diagnosed with which of the following conditions?
(A) Spina bifida occulta
(B) Meningocele
(C) Meningomyelocele
(D) Myeloschisis
(E) Syringomyelocele
The Answer is C.
Meningomyelocele is protrusion of the meninges and spinal cord through the unfused arch of the vertebra. A sufficient amount of folic acid during preg- nancy is shown to prevent these kinds of neural tube defects. Spina bifida occulta is failure of the vertebral arch to fuse (bony defect only). Meningocele is protrusion of the meninges through the defective vertebral arch. Syringomyelocele is protrusion of the meninges and a pathologic tubular cavity in the spinal cord or brain.
A 34-year-old woman crashes into a tree during a skiing lesson and is brought to a hospital with multiple injuries that impinge the dorsal primary rami of several spinal nerves. Such lesions could affect which of the following muscles?
(A) Rhomboid major
(B) Levator scapulae
(C) Serratus posterior superior
(D) Iliocostalis
(E) Latissimus dorsi
The Answer is D.
The dorsal primary rami of the spinal nerves innervate the deep muscles of the back, including the iliocostalis. The other muscles are the superficial muscles of the back, which are innervated by the ventral primary rami of the spinal nerves.
During a domestic dispute, a 16-year-old boy receives a deep stab wound around the superior angle of the scapula near the medial border, which injures both the dorsal scapular and spinal accessory nerves. Such an injury could result in paralysis or weak- ness of which of the following muscles?
(A) Trapezius and serratus posterior superior
(B) Rhomboid major and trapezius
(C) Rhomboid minor and latissimus dorsi
(D) Splenius cervicis and sternocleidomastoid
(E) Levator scapulae and erector spinae
The Answer is B.
The dorsal scapular nerve innervates the levator scapulae and rhomboid muscles, whereas the accessory nerve innervates the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles. The serratus posterior superior is innervated by ventral primary rami of the spi- nal nerves, whereas the splenius cervicis and erector spinae are innervated by dorsal pri- mary rami of the spinal nerves.
An elderly man at a nursing home is known to have degenerative brain disease. When cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is withdrawn by lumbar puncture for further examination, which of the following structures is most likely penetrated by the needle?
(A) Pia mater
(B) Filum terminale externum
(C) Posterior longitudinal ligament
(D) Ligamentum flavum
(E) Annulus fibrosus
The Answer is D.
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is located in the subarachnoid space, between the arachnoid layer and the pia mater. In a lumbar puncture, the needle pene- trates the skin, fascia, ligamentum flavum, epidural space, dura mater, subdural space, and arachnoid mater. The pia mater forms the internal boundary of the subarachnoid space; thus, it cannot be penetrated by needle. The posterior longitudinal ligament lies anterior to the spinal cord; thus, it is not penetrated by the needle. The filum terminale externum is the downward prolongation of the spinal dura mater from the second sacral vertebra to the dorsum of the coccyx. The annulus fibrosus consists of concentric layers of fibrous tissue and fibrocartilage surrounding and retaining the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disk, which lies anterior to the spinal cord.
A 27-year-old stuntman is thrown out of his vehicle prematurely when the car used for a particular scene speeds out of control. His spinal cord is crushed at the level of the fourth lumbar spinal segment. Which of the following structures would most likely be spared from destruction?
(A) Dorsal horn
(B) Ventral horn
(C) Lateralhorn
(D) Gray matter
(E) Pia mater
The Answer is C.
The lateral horns, which contain sympathetic preganglionic neuron cell bodies, are present between the first thoracic and second lumbar spinal cord levels (T1–L2). The lateral horns of the second, third, and fourth sacral spinal cord levels (S2–S4) contain parasympathetic preganglionic neuron cell bodies. The entire spinal cord is sur- rounded by the pia mater and has the dorsal horn, ventral horn, and gray matter. Note that the fourth lumbar spinal cord level is not the same as the fourth vertebral level.
A 24-year-old woman comes to a hospital to deliver her baby. Her obstetrician uses a caudal anesthesia during labor and child- birth to block the spinal nerves in the epidural space. Local anesthetic agents are most likely injected via which of the following openings?
(A) Intervertebral foramen
(B) Sacral hiatus
(C) Vertebral canal
(D) Dorsal sacral foramen
(E) Ventral sacral foramen
The Answer is B.
Caudal (epidural) anesthesia is used to block the spinal nerves in the epidural space by injecting local anesthetic agents via the sacral hiatus located between the sacral cornua. An intervertebral foramen transmits the dorsal and ventral primary rami of the spinal nerves. The vertebral canal accommodates the spinal cord. Dorsal and ventral sacral foramina transmit the dorsal and ventral primary rami of the sacral nerves.
In a freak hunting accident, a 17-year- old boy was shot with an arrow that penetrated into his suboccipital triangle, injuring the suboccipital nerve between the vertebral artery and the posterior arch of the atlas. Which of the following muscles would be unaffected by such a lesion?
(A) Rectus capitis posterior major
(B) Semispinalis capitis
(C) Spleniuscapitis
(D) Obliquus capitis superior
(E) Obliquus capitis inferior
The Answer is C.
The splenius capitis is innervated by dorsal primary rami of the middle and lower cervical nerves. The suboccipital nerve (dorsal primary ramus of C1) supplies the muscles of the suboccipital area including the rectus capitis posterior major, obliquus capitis superior and inferior, and the semispinalis capitis.
A 26-year-old heavyweight boxer was punched on his mandible, resulting in a slight subluxation (dislocation) of the atlantoaxial joint. The consequence of the injury was decreased range of motion at that joint. What movement would be most affected?
(A) Extension
(B) Flexion
(C) Abduction
(D) Adduction
(E) Rotation
The Answer is E.
The atlantoaxial joints are synovial joints that consist of two plane joints and one pivot joint and are involved primarily in rotation of the head. Other movements do not occur at this joint.
When the internal vertebral venous plexusis ruptured,venous blood may spread into which tissue and space?
The Answer is E.
Epidural fat is shown in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. In addition, the internal vertebral venous plexus lies in the epidural space; thus, venous blood from the plexus may spread into epidural fat.
Dorsal and ventral roots of the lower lumbar and sacral nerves are lacerated. Which structure is most likely damaged?
The Answer is C.
The cauda equina is formed by a great lash of the dorsal and ventral roots of the lumbar and sacral nerves.
The spinal cord is crushed at the level of the upper part of the first lumbar vertebra. Which structure is most likely damaged?
The Answer is B.
The conus medullaris is a conical end of the spinal cord and terminates at the level of the L2 vertebra or the intervertebral disk between L1 and L2 vertebrae. A spinal cord injury at the level of the upper part of the first lumbar vertebra damages the conus medullaris.
Which structure may herniate through the annulus fibrosus, thereby impinging on the roots of the spinal nerve?
The Answer is A.
The intervertebral disk lies between the bodies of two vertebrae and con- sists of a central mucoid substance, the nucleus pulposus, and a surrounding fibrous tis- sue and fibrocartilage, the annulus fibrosus. The nucleus pulposus may herniate through the annulus fibrosus, thereby impinging on the roots of the spinal nerves.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced by vascular choroid plexuses in the ventricles of the brain and accumulated in which space?
The Answer is D.
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is found in the lumbar cistern, which is a subarachnoid space in the lumbar area. CSF is produced by vascular choroid plexuses in the ventricles of the brain, circulated in the subarachnoid space, and filtered into the venous system through the arachnoid villi and arachnoid granulations.
