General organization of a vertebra

Question 1

What is the general shape of the vertebral body at each region of the spine?

Answer 1

cervical - rectangular; thoracic - triangular; lumbar - reniform

Question 2

What is the name given to the compact bone at the superior and inferior surfaces of the vertebral body?

Answer 2

superior epiphyseal rim, inferior epiphyseal rim

Question 3

What is the name given to the intermediate part of the vertebral arch where the transverse process and articular processes attach?

Answer 3

lamina - pedicle junction

Question 4

What is the generic orientation of the pedicle at each region of the spine?

Answer 4

cervical - posterolateral; thoracic - posterior, slight lateral; lumbar - posterior

Question 5

What ligament will attach to the lamina?

Answer 5

ligamentum flavum

Question 6

What is the name given to abnormal bone at the attachment site of the ligamentum flavum?

Answer 6

para-articular process

Question 7

what classification of bone will para-articular processes represent?

Answer 7

accessory bone

Question 8

what is the name given to the overlap of laminae seen on X-ray?

Answer 8

shingling

Question 9

What is the name given to the lamina - pedicle junction at each region of the spine?

Answer 9

cervical - articular pillar; thoracic and lumbar - pars interarticularis

Question 10

What is the name given to the junction of the vertebral arch - spinous process on lateral X-ray?

Answer 10

spinolaminar junction

Question 11

What is the generic orientation of the transverse process or transverse apophysis at each region of the spine?

Answer 11

cervical - anterolateral; thoracic - posterolateral; lumbar - lateral

Question 12

All non-rib bearing vertebra of the spine retain what equivalent feature?

Answer 12

costal element

Question 13

What will cause the transverse process/transverse apophysis to alter its initial direction in the cervical region?

Answer 13

cervical spinal nerves are pulled forward to form the cervical and brachial nerve plexuses thus remodeling the transverse process to accommodate their new position

Question 14

what will cause the transverse process/transverse apophysis to alter its initial direction in the thoracic region?

Answer 14

growth of the lungs remodel the shape of the ribs which in turn push the transverse processes backward

Question 15

what is the name given to the joint formed between articular facets of a vertebral couple?

Answer 15

zygapophysis

Question 16

What will form the posterior boundary of a typical intervertebral foramen?

Answer 16

the inferior articular process/post-zygapophysis, the superior articular process/pre-zygapophysis, the capsular ligament, the ligamentum flavum

Question 17

What will form the superior boundary of a typical intervertebral foramen?

Answer 17

inferior vertebral notch or inferior vertebral incisure

Question 18

what will form the inferior boundary of a typical intervertebral foramen?

Answer 18

the superior vertebral notch or superior vertebral incisure

Question 19

What will form the anterior boundary of a typical intervertebral foramen?

Answer 19

vertebral body of the segment above, the vertebral body of the segment below, the intervertebral disc, and the posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 20

what is the method of calculating the angle of the spinous process/spinous apophysis?

Answer 20

calculate the angle formed between the undersurface of the spinous process/spinous apophysis and the horizontal plane

Question 21

what is the name given to the normal overlap of spinous processes or spinous apophyses as seen on X-ray?

Answer 21

imbrication

Question 22

what is the orientation of the spinous process/spinous apophysis at each region of the spine?

Answer 22

cervical - slight angle inferiorly; thoracic - noticeable angle inferiorly; lumbar - no inferior angle