General Spine

Question 1

Purpose of the spine

Answer 1

protection, stability, and mobility

Question 2

Spines role in protection

Answer 2

houses and protects elements of the central to peripheral nervous system including the brainstem, spinal cord, spinal plexus, cauda equina, and nerve roots

Question 3

spines role in stability

Answer 3

provides a rigid column for stability for head and extremity movement against multidirectional forces (tension, compression, bending, and twisting)

Question 4

spines role in mobility

Answer 4

allows segmental, 3 dimensional motion directly within the rigid column when needed

Question 5

Spinal regions

Answer 5

1) sub-cranial (OA, AA)
2) cervical -7
3) thoracic -12
4) lumbar - 5
5) sacral - 5 fused
6) coccyx

Question 6

The spinal segment consists of

Answer 6

• adjacent halves of two vertebrae
  -the disc
  -the contents of the vertebral and interverbral foramen
  -the facets (synovial joints)
  -associated ligaments
  -associated muscle, fascia, and integument innervated by the spinal nerve

Question 7

Joints of the spinal segment

Answer 7

• A tripod design
• disk anteriorly
  -Facet joints posteriorly

Question 8

The disc contents

Answer 8

• annulus fibrosis
  -nucleus pulpous
  -vertebral end plates

Question 9

Annulus fibrosis

Answer 9

fibro collagenous circular layers which are laid down perpendicular to one another

Question 10

nucleus pulposis

Answer 10

centrally located proteoglycan rich gelatinous material

Question 11

the facets are created by

Answer 11

• inferior articular process of superior vertebra
• superior articular process of inferior vertebrae
• thoracic spine has additional facets for articulation with ribs

Question 12

when does the C spine develop lordosis

Answer 12

with the onset of the head lift

Question 13

when does the L spine develop lordosis

Answer 13

with the onset of sitting

Question 14

spinal curves in the frontal plane

Answer 14

should be symmetrical between left and right. Scoliosis is the lateral curvature in the frontal plane

Question 15

saggital plane curves

Answer 15

• can get wedge fractures when disk is weak (leads to excessive kyphosis)
  -lumbar lordosis
  -cervical lordosis
• lack of curvature

Question 16

Regional physiologic movement

Answer 16

refers to how a region of the spine functions (ex the cervical spine)

Question 17

Segmental physiologic movement

Answer 17

how does one spine segment move on another spine segment. ex: how is C4 moving on C5

Question 18

spinal movements in the sagital plane

Answer 18

flexion and extension

Question 19

spinal movement in frontal plane

Answer 19

side bending

Question 20

spinal movement in transverse plane

Answer 20

rotation

Question 21

what spinal segment does flexion and extension most occur

Answer 21

lower lumbar

Question 22

what spinal segment does rotation occur in most

Answer 22

AA joint (C1 and C2)

Question 23

ways to measure ROM of spine

Answer 23

1) tape measure
2) goniometer
3) inclinometer
4) C-ROM device

Question 24

muscle groups of the spine

Answer 24

• deep segmental
• multisegmental (erector spinae, longitudinal muscles)
• muscle of the head and neck
• abdominal core (TA, multifidi, diaphram, pelvic
• the pelvic floor
• the stabilizing muscle of the LE

Question 25

cervical spine concerns

Answer 25

1) instabiltiy/fracture -h/o trama, MVA, RA
2) neurological signs/symptoms from hx
3) vertebral artery sign of dizziness, or drop attacks with head movement

Question 26

Kaltenborn 4 treatment options for spinal dysfunctions

Answer 26

1) control pain and inflammation
2) in the presence of limited movement, restore normal movement
3) in the presence of hyper mobility, stabilize
4) inform, instruct and train