Curvatures of the Column

Question 1

What embryonic event causes the direction of the posterior curve of the vertebral column?

Answer 1

the embryonic disc will undergo flexion in a cranial to caudal direction

Question 2

Why is the posterior curve also called the primary curve?

Answer 2

it is the first curve to appear embryologically

Question 3

What are the adult remnants of the primary curve along the vertebral column?

Answer 3

the thoracic or dorsal curve and the pelvic or sacrococcygeal curve

Question 4

What are the names given to curves that form during development to reverse the direction of regions along the vertebral column?

Answer 4

anterior curve, secondary curve, compensatory curve

Question 5

What are the names of the anterior curves, secondary curves, and compensatory curves?

Answer 5

cervical curve and lumbar curve

Question 6

What segmental levels form the cervical curve?

Answer 6

C2 - T1

Question 7

What segmental levels form the lumbar curve?

Answer 7

T12 to L5

Question 8

What is the earliest time of appearance of the cervical curve?

Answer 8

the third fetal month

Question 9

What is the traditional time of appearance of the cervical curve said to be?

Answer 9

during the last trimester in utero

Question 10

What is the time during which the “adult” cervical curve is said to appear?

Answer 10

within the first year after birth

Question 11

What developmental events are indicated in the formation of the adult cervical curve?

Answer 11

1. centers for vision and equilibrium will appear in the brain
2. musculature attaching the skull, cervical region, and upper thorax together develops
3. the head is held upright
4. the intervertebral disc height becomes greater anterior than posterior

Question 12

At what age will the infant begin to hold the head erect?

Answer 12

usually between the third and fourth month after birth

Question 13

What is the name given to the integration of visual and motor pathways associated with holding the head erect?

Answer 13

the righting reflex

Question 14

What is the location for the apex of the cervical curve?

Answer 14

typically between C4 and C5

Question 15

What is the location for the cervical kyphosis?

Answer 15

between occiput and C1

Question 16

What is the vertebral relationship between the cervical curve and the cervical enlargement?

Answer 16

cervical curve C2-T1; cervical enlargement C3-T1

Question 17

What is the time of appearance of the lumbar curve?

Answer 17

between 12 and 18 months after birth

Question 18

What infant activities are associated with the developmental of the lumbar curve?

Answer 18

crawling and walking

Question 19

What developmental events are indicated in the formation of the adult lumbar curve?

Answer 19

1. crawling will cause the abdomen to put tension on the lumbar region and pulls it forward
2. muscle development is promoted to compensate for the swayback of the lumbars
3. intervertebral disc height will become greater anterior compared to posterior
4. walking will further promote muscle and intervertebral disc development

Question 20

Which sense is a requirement for holding the head erect, standing, sitting, and walking?

Answer 20

vision

Question 21

What is the gender bias associated with lumbar curve convexity?

Answer 21

females have a greater convexity of the lumbar curve

Question 22

What is the vertebral relationship between the lumbar curve and the lumbar enlargement?

Answer 22

lumbar curve T12-L5; lumbar enlargement T9-T12

Question 23

What is the formation of the lateral curve often correlated with?

Answer 23

faster development of the muscles on the side of handedness

Question 24

What is the time of appearance of the lateral curves?

Answer 24

they appear after 6 years old

Question 25

Which lateral curves are best developed?

Answer 25

thoracic or dorsal, and lumbar

Question 26

What is the relationship between curve direction and handedness?

Answer 26

a right-handed person has a high probability for a right thoracic, left lumbar curve combination

Question 27

What is the incidence of a right thoracic, left lumbar curve combination in the population?

Answer 27

about 80% of the population demonstrates this

Question 28

What names are given to conditions associated with abnormal curves of the vertebral column?

Answer 28

lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis

Question 29

What is the definition of lordosis?

Answer 29

a forward bending condition

Question 30

What is the definition of kyphosis?

Answer 30

a humpback or hunchback condition

Question 31

What is the definition of scoliosis?

Answer 31

a warped or crooked condition

Question 32

What is the direction of the curve deviation in lordosis?

Answer 32

to the anterior

Question 33

What is the direction of the curve deviation in kyphosis?

Answer 33

to the posterior

Question 34

What clinical examples of abnormal curvatures along the vertebral column were stressed in class?

Answer 34

military neck, humpback or hunchback, and swayback

Question 35

What are the curve classifications for military neck?

Answer 35

a kyphosis or hypolordotic curve

Question 36

What are the curve classifications for humpback or hunchback?

Answer 36

kyphosis or hyperkyphotic curve

Question 37

What is the more complete, accepted definition of scoliosis?

Answer 37

an abnormal lateral curve coupled with axial rotation

Question 38

What are the classifications of scoliosis according to the Scoliosos Research Society?

Answer 38

magnitude, location, direction, etiology, stuctural scoliosis and non-structural scoliosis