Lecture 21 - Back and Vertebrae Flashcards
What shape is the primary curve of the vertebral common?
C-shaped
What part of the body does prostate/ovarian cancer tend to metastasize to first?
The back.
Why can osteophytes cause pain?
New bone might impinge at critical spaces, such as the vertebral foramina.
Why are the lumbar vertebrae larger than other vertebrae? Why is L5 the largest vertebra?
Lumbar vertebrae are large because they need to bear the most weight. L5 bears the most weight.
At what vertebral level does the spinal chord end?
Between L1 and L2
What exits the vertebral column via the intervertebral foramen?
Nerves (ventral and dorsal roots), arteries, and veins.
Is the image shown a joint that belongs to lumbar vertebrae or thoracic vertebrae? Explain how you can tell.
Thoracic; the joint is in the coronal plane so it allows limited ROTATION (also, minimal lateral flexion and forward flexion), which is the characteristic movement in the thoracic spine.
Disc prolapse is most common between which two intervertebral discs?
L5/S1 intervertebral disc
What is disc prolapse?
The annulus is torn and the nucleus (which is deformable) is squeezed down the defect in the annulus.
What structure does the spinal chord take after L1/L2?
Cauda equina - horses tail (latin)
How many cervical nerves are there?
8
True or false: mixed spinal nerves contain both motor and sensory fibres
True
Extrusion, if repaired, may leave nuclear fragments in the spinal canal and thus cause irritation. What is the name of the medical procedure of removing this fragment?
Laminectomy
What part of the vertebrae is shown? What are their different names?
They are colled ‘processes’
Middle: spinous process
Lateral 2: transverse processes
Where are the dorsal horn of the spinal cord?
The ‘back’ horn of the spinal cord touches the ‘back’ of the spinal cord.
Ie, the dorsal horns of white matter are the two horns that contact the outer edge of the spinal cord. The ventral horns of white matter do not touch the outer edge.
What are the four extrinsic muscles of the back? What are each of their primary movement(s)?
Latissimus dorsi - adduction of the humerus and extension at the shoulder
Rhomboid major and rhomboid minor - scapula adduction
Trapezius - retraction, medial rotation, and depression of the scapula
Levator scapulae - lifts the scapula
Intervertebral discs are made of which two structures?
Nucleus pulposus
Annulus fibrosus
At what age and why does the secondary cervical curve form?
Around about 6 months after birth the baby starts to develop the secondary cervical curve by the strengthening of the muscles in the neck.
What part of the annulus fibrosus is innervated?
Outer 1/3
What distinguishes the thoracic vertebrae from other vertebrae?
Thoracic vertebra have two attachments for the ribs: one for the tubicles of the rib and one for the head of the rib. Thus, they also have hylaine cartilage.
What makes a back muscle ‘intrinsic’?
Its insertion and origin are in the back
Which two parts of the vertebral column are fused?
The coccyx and sacrum are fused.