Ch. 9 Lumbar Spine, Sacrum, and Coccyx Flashcards
largest and strongest individual vertebra
lumbar
due to load of the body weight on this aspect of the body, these are common sites for injury and pathologic processes
cartilaginous disks between inferior lumbar vertebrae
how many lumbar vertebrae are there
typically 5
these are small on lumbar vertebra
transverse processes
these are bulky and blunt on lumbar vertebrae
spinous process
the palpable lower tip of each lumbar spinous process lies at this level
intervertebral disk space inferior to each vertebral body
how are the intervertebral foramen situated in relation to the midsagittal plane
90 degrees
when vertebrae are stacked, the superior and inferior vertebral notches line up, and the two half-mooned shaped areas form a single opening called this
intervertebral foramina
along the upper surface of each pedicle is a half-moon-shaped area called what
superior vertebral notch
along the lower surface of each pedicle is a half-moon-shaped area called what
inferior vertebral notch
how are the intervertebral foramina of the lumbar spine best demonstrated
lateral radiograph
the processes that project upward from the area of junction between the pedicles and laminae
superior articular processes
processes that project downward from the area of junction between the pedicles and laminae
inferior articular processes
articulating surface
facet
articulation between the superior and inferior articular processes
zygapophyseal joints
how do the z-joints of the lumbar spine open in relation to the midsagittal plane
30-50 degrees
how are the upper/proximal z-joints of the lumbar spine in relation to the midsagittal plane
50 degrees
how are the lower/distal z-joints of the lumbar spine in relation to the midsagittal plane
30 degrees
these form a bridge between the transverse processes, lateral masses, and spinous process
laminae
portion of each laminae between the superior and inferior articular processes
pars interarticularis
how is the pars interarticularis demonstrated radiographically
oblique lumbar image
how does the anterior surface of the sacrum curve
concave
how many segments are in the sacrum
5
how is the sacrum shaped
shovel-shaped
how does the apex of the sacrum point
inferiorly and anteriorly
how many pelvic sacral foramina are there
4 sets, 8 total