Cervical and Thoracic Spine

Question 1

Where do the nerve roots exit in the different locations of the spine?

Answer 1

cervical-above the pedicle. Thoracic/lumbar-below the pedicle

Question 2

Pain generator that are nerve root mediated. Produces dermatomal sharp pain, numbness, parasthesia. Associated with weakness/hyporeflexia

Answer 2

radicular

Question 3

Type of pain that is dull, achy, non-dermatomal. Associated with axial pain. Is localized to a site remote from location of nocioceptors

Answer 3

referred pain

Question 4

What happens to the intervertebral discs with age?

Answer 4

dehydration and narrowing

Question 5

Pressure related nerve root disfunction due to disc herniation or facet joint spurs

Answer 5

radiculopathy

Question 6

Pressure related spinal cord dysfunction due to large disc herniation, spurs, congenitally narrow canal

Answer 6

myelopathy

Question 7

Motor level for deltoid and external rotators

Answer 7

C5

Question 8

What activities are accomplished by motor level C6?

Answer 8

wrist extension and external rotation

Question 9

Motor level for triceps

Answer 9

C7

Question 10

What activities are accomplished by motor level C8?

Answer 10

finger flexion

Question 11

Describe the levels of the motor scale

Answer 11

5/5= normal, 4/5 = weak, 3/5 > gravity, 2/5 < gravity, 1/5= trace, 0/5 = absent

Question 12

Describe the cervical dermatomes of hand

Answer 12

C6= thumb/point finger
C7= middle finger
C8= ring finger and pinky

Question 13

What does hyporeflexion of DTR suggest?

Answer 13

root lesion

Question 14

What does hypereflexion of DTR suggest?

Answer 14

cord lesion