General Spine (Back and Vertebral Column)

Question 1

Back functions

Answer 1

-Support, movement, protection

-Supports the body’s weight, transmit forces, carry & positioning of the head, and brace & help maneuver the upper limbs

Question 2

Which vertebral curvatures are primary and secondary?

Answer 2

-Primary (concave anteriorly): Thoracic and sacral/coccygeal
-Secondary (concave posteriorly): Cervical and lumbar

Question 3

What is the main purpose of secondary curvatures?

Answer 3

-They bring the center of gravity into a vertical line

-Allows BW to be balanced over vertebral column so as to minimize energy expenditure w/maintaining upright bipedal stance

Question 4

Extrinsic vs intrinsic muscles (type, location, innervation)

Answer 4

Extrinsic- move the UL (superficial) & ribs/thoracic wall (intermediate); innervated by the anterior rami of spinal nerves

Intrinsic- maintain posture & move vertebral column (flexion, ext, lateral flexion & rotation); Deep & innervated by posterior rami of spinal nerves; support and move vertebral column, participate in head movements

Question 5

Back/vertebral column protects what?

Answer 5

CNS (brain and spinal cord) & PNS (cranial nerves and spinal nerves)

Question 6

What does the vertebral column & associated soft tissues contain?

Answer 6

Spinal cord & proximal parts of the spinal nerves

Question 7

Bones of the vertebral column?

Answer 7

-C1-C7
-T1-T12
-L1-L5
-S1-S5
-3-4 fused coccygeal vertebra

Question 7

Two major joints between vertebrae?

Answer 7

-Symphyses between vertebral bodies; Each symphysis includes an intervertebral disc (2)
-Synovial (facet) joints between articular processes (4; two above and two below)

Question 8

What is the symphysis (disc) made of?

Answer 8

Nucleus pulposus and Annulus fibrous

Question 9

Superficial group of extrinsic muscles

Answer 9

Trapezius, levator scapulae, rhomboid minor and major, latissimus dorsi

Question 10

Intermediate group of extrinsic muscles

Answer 10

Serratus posterior superior and inferior muscles

Question 11

Intrinsic group of muscles

Answer 11

Suboccipital, splenius, erector spinae muscles (longissimus, iliocostalis, spinalis)

Question 12

3 protective layers of the SC? Where is the CSF found?

Answer 12

-Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
-In subarachnoid space between arachnoid and pia mater

Question 13

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?

Answer 13

• 31 pairs emerge from the vertebral canal between pedicles
  -8 pairs c/s
  -12 pairs t/s
  -5 pairs l/s
  -5 pairs sacral
  -1 coccygeal

Question 14

What is transmitted in anterior and posterior roots?

Answer 14

-Anterior: transmit motor signals
-Posterior: return sensory signals

Question 15

Root vs Rami

Answer 15

-Root= connection of spinal nerve w/SC
-Rami> spinal nerve> root

Question 16

Posterior vs Anterior ramus

Answer 16

-Posterior- smaller, innervates the back
-Anterior- larger, innervates most regions of the body except the head; typically innervated by cranial nerves; form somatic plexuses (cervical, brachial, lumbar, and sacral); Major visceral components of PNS (sympathetic trunk & prevertebral plexus)

Question 17

T/F: Spinal cord extends the entire length of vertebral canal

Answer 17

False

Question 18

Where do spinal nerves originate from?

Answer 18

Originate from spinal cord at increasingly oblique angles from C1 to Co

Question 19

Cauda equina is formed by what?

Answer 19

Lumbar and sacral nerve roots

Question 20

Where do spinal nerves exit? How are they formed?

Answer 20

-Exit the vertebral canal laterally through an intervertebral foramen
-Formed between adjacent vertebral arches

Question 21

Where does the SC end?

Answer 21

Between T12 and L2; Doesn’t extend the entire length of vertebral canal