Day 7 (pg 166)

Question 1

What is the status of the thoracic interspinous ligament?

Answer 1

it is narrow and elongated reflecting the shape of the spinous process

Question 2

What are the attachment sites for the superficial layer of the ligamentum nuchae?

Answer 2

the external occipital protuberance, external occipital crest, and spinous tubercle of C7

Question 3

What is the histological make-up of the human ligamentum nuchae?

Answer 3

it is a yellow elastic ligament, but has more collagen fibers than in quadrupeds

Question 4

What is the primary yellow elastic or elastic ligament of the spine?

Answer 4

the ligamentum flavum

Question 5

What is the classic function of the human ligamentum nuchae?

Answer 5

it brakes or limits flexion of the cervical spine

Question 6

What is the termination level inferiorly for the supraspinous ligament according to current literature?

Answer 6

primarily at L4 (73%); between L4 and L5 (5%)

Question 7

What forms the ventral slip of the inter transverse ligament in the lumbar spine?

Answer 7

A membranous partition from the vertebral body covers the intervertebral foramen and extends back to the transverse process to form a ventral slip. It is penetrated by the contents of the intervertebral foramen

Question 8

What forms the dorsal slip of the intertransverse ligament in the lumbar spine?

Answer 8

A thick partition extends from the lamina and articular processes and extends laterally to glen with the ventral slip to form a septum separating the anterior muscles from the posterior muscles of the body wall.

Question 9

What are the attachment sites of the posterior atlanto-occipital ligament?

Answer 9

it is attached to the arcuate rim of the posterior arch of C1, to the superior articular process of the lateral mass of C1 and to the posterior margin of the foramen magnum of the occipital bone

Question 10

What are the attachment sites of the ponticulus posticus?

Answer 10

it is attached to the arcuate rim of the posterior arch of C1 and to the superior articular process of the lateral mass of C1

Question 11

What other name may be used to identify a ponticulus posticus?

Answer 11

Kimmerle’s anomaly

Question 12

What names are given to the opening formed by the ponticulus poticulus?

Answer 12

arcuate foramen or retroarticular canal

Question 13

What amour of flexion - extension is accommodated by the atlanto-occipital joint?

Answer 13

about twenty-five degrees

Question 14

What amount of axial rotation is accommodated by the atlanto-occipital joint?

Answer 14

about three to eight degrees one side axial rotation

Question 15

What amount of lateral bending is accommodated but the atlanto-occipital joint?

Answer 15

about five degrees

Question 16

Which motion is best accommodated by the atlanto-occipital joint?

Answer 16

flexion - extension

Question 17

What are the joint surfaces of the median atlanto-axial joint at the anterior bursa?

Answer 17

the fovea dents of C1 and the facet for fovea dents of C2

Question 18

What are the joint surfaces of the median atlanto-axial joint at the posterior bursa?

Answer 18

the groove for the transverse atlantal ligament of C2 and the transverse atlantal ligament

Question 19

What histological feature is present on the anterior surface of the transverse atlantal ligament?

Answer 19

fibrocartilage at the surface of the ligament articulating with C2

Question 20

What is the function of the transverse atlantal ligament?

Answer 20

it is the primary stabilizer of the atlanto-axial joint restricting the distance of C2 from the anterior arch of C1

Question 21

What is the ADI?

Answer 21

the Atlanto-Dental Interspace, a radiographic distance between the surfaces of the anterior bursa of the median atlanto-axial joint

Question 22

What is the ADI of children compared with that of adults?

Answer 22

about 4.5 mm in children; a range of 2-3 mm or about 2.5 in adults