Intervertebral foramen: Regional Characteristics and Sources of Nerve Compression

Question 1

What parts of the cervical vertebra will modify the intervertebral foramen?

Answer 1

the lateral groove and uncinate process

Question 2

What happens to cervical nerve roots between their origin from the spinal cord and exit from the intervertebral foramen?

Answer 2

the descend along the spinal cord

Question 3

What is the relationship between aging andcervical spine nerve root characteristics?

Answer 3

the length of the nerve root increases as it descends from the apparent origin on the spinal cord, but the cross-sectional are of the nerve root decreases

Question 4

What is the relationship between aging and cervical spine intervertebral foramen size?

Answer 4

the cross-sectional area diminishes after ago 50

Question 5

What are the specific attachment sites for a cervical spinal nerve?

Answer 5

the sulcus for the ventral primary ramus on the costotransverse bar and the vertebral artery

Question 6

What contributes to the anterior boundary of the thoracic intervertebral foramen?

Answer 6

the costocentral joint

Question 7

Which are the largest spinal nerves?

Answer 7

L5 and S1 spinal nerves

Question 8

What increases the length of the intervertebral foramen at L5?

Answer 8

the lumbosacral tunnel

Question 9

What forms the lumbosacral tunnel?

Answer 9

the lumbosacral ligament, transverse process of L5 and sacral ala

Question 10

What condition is the result of encroachment on the L5 spinal nerve?

Answer 10

the far out syndrome

Question 11

What ligament may contribute to the loss of size in the lumbar intervertebral foramen?

Answer 11

the transforaminal ligament

Question 12

What is the relationship between intervertebral disc herniation andlumbar spinal nerves?

Answer 12

the intervertebral disc above the intervertebral foramen i usually the source of damage

Question 13

What is unusal about the sacral intervertebral foramen compared to the other intervertebral foramina?

Answer 13

a completely osseous boundary exists

Question 14

What is the most likely cause of nerve root irritation at the sacral intervertrbal foramen?

Answer 14

the tilt of position of the enitre sacrum relative to the pelvis

Question 15

What is the relationship of lumbar nerve root size to the intervertebral size above L4?

Answer 15

the nerve root size will account for less than 22% of the available size

Question 16

What is unique about the relationship of spinal nerve to intervertebral foramen at S5-Co1?

Answer 16

there are two neres present, S5 nerve and Co1 nerve

Question 17

What are some examples of destructive lesions of the vertebral body?

Answer 17

tuberculosis, hemangiomas, osteoporosis

Question 18

What may reduce the impact of the intervertebral disc loss of intergrity on the intervertebral foramen in the cervical and thoracic spine?

Answer 18

the jointof Luschka in the cervicals, the costocentral joint in the thoracics

Question 19

What are examples of osteophyte formation that influence the intervertebral foramen?

Answer 19

the bony spurs of the vertebral body and para-articular processes on the lamina

Question 20

Whar are examples of acquired alterations of the spinal curves identified in class?

Answer 20

obesity, pregnancy, and the use of heavy backpacks