idk yet Flashcards
vertebral column sections
7 cervical 12 thoracic 5 lumbar 5 sacral 4 coccygeal
what’s different about the sacral and coccygeal vertebrae
they’re fused
what atypical vertebrae allow head rotation
atlas and axis
what’s atypical about the C7 vertebra
long spinous process non-bifid and small foramina transversus
what are the 4 main curves of the spine
cervical, throracic, lumbar and sacral curvatures
what type of joints are facet joints
synovial
what movement do facet joints allow
flexion, extension and lateral flexion
at what spinal levels does degeneration of the spinal column leading to spondylosis most commonly occur at
L4/5 or L5/S1
where do motor neurones originate
anteriorly with bodies in the anterior grey horn
where do sensory neurones originate
dorsally with their bodies in the dorsal ganglion root
how do motor and sensory neurones run in the lumbar spine
together with 2 pairs at each level
where does the spinal cord end
L1
L1 is the junction between what
upper motor neurones and lower motor neurones
what is the thecal sac
sheath surrounding the spinal cord/cauda equina
the exiting nerve root passes under what
pedicle of the corresponding vertebra
what type of nerve root is most commonly compressed in a prolapsed disc
the transversing (next to become exiting)
if a disc prolapse is more lateral what type of nerve root is likely to be compressed
exiting
what is the sciatica
dermatome in the lower leg - sensory distribution of the sciatic nerve
what can cause sciatica
disc prolapse in L4, 5 and S1 vertebra
what is myelopathy
injury to spinal cord that may cause severe compression
what are the muscles of the spine that make up the erector spinae
semispinalus capitalis, spinalis, longismus, iliocostalis
what are the ligaments of the spine
anterior longitudinal, posterior longitudinal, supraspinous, interspinous, ligamentum flavium
what do the spinal ligaments contribute to
spinal stability
what is a chance fracture
a fracture extending into all 3 columns of the spine
what levels are anaesthesia and lumbar punctures performed at and why
L3/4 or L4/5
spinal cord normally ends at L1 but can be lower in some patients, this avoids hitting it
at what spinal level is the posterior iliac crest
L4
at what spinal level is the PSIS
S2
