Lecture 2.2

Question 1

What ligament runs anteriorly to the vertebral bodies?

Answer 1

Anterior longitudinal ligament.

Question 2

What constitutes a spinal segment?

Answer 2

2 subsequent vertebra and the disk between them

Question 3

What are the ligaments that run over the spinous and transverse processes?

Answer 3

Supraspinous ligament

Intertransverse ligament

Question 4

What ligaments run between spinous processes?

Answer 4

Interspinous ligaments

Question 5

What is the difference between the posterior longitudinal ligament and the ligamentum flavum?

Answer 5

Posterior longitudinal arch runs posteriorly to the vertebral body within the vertebral canal. Protects against herniation via flaps that cover disks..

Ligamentum flavum runs on the posterior side of the vertebral canal between laminae. Ligamentum flavum contains elastic tissue.

Question 6

What happens to ligamentum flavum with age?

Answer 6

It becomes more fibrous and thickens up and encroaches on the spinal cord and can impinge on nervous structures.

Question 7

What portion of the disk can repair itself and can cause pain?

Answer 7

Outer 1/3 of the disk contains a nerve supply and blood supply.
Contains sensory and sympathetic fibers.

Question 8

What type of joint are facet joints? What is characteristic of the fibrous capsule which makes it permit more movement?

Answer 8

Synovial joints with a lax fibrous capsule to permit movement.

Question 9

What rami of the spinal nerves supply the facet joints?

Answer 9

Posterior rami

Question 10

What is the function of facet joints in the spinal cord?

Answer 10

Facet surfaces limit movement in the back.

Question 11

What are the layers of the spinal cord?

Answer 11

dura mater -> arachnoid mater -> pia mater

Question 12

Why do babies have a spinal cord that reaches S5 whereas in adults it only reaches L1/L2?

Answer 12

Spinal cord does not grow at the same rate as the vertebral canal.

Question 13

Where is the lumbar cistern located?

Answer 13

Dura mater extends down to S3 after the spinal cord terminates until the point where the dura mater terminates is known as the lumbar cistern.

Question 14

What is the clinical significance of the lumbar cistern?

Answer 14

The lumbar cistern can be used as the site for a lumbar puncture.

Question 15

What are the contents of the intervertebral foramen?

Answer 15

Dorsal root ganglion which contains sensory cell bodies.

Nerve roots are located in the inferior vertebral notch (on top of the foramen)

Question 16

Is trapezius innervated by anterior rami?

Answer 16

No, the trapezius muscle is innervated by a cranial nerve.

Question 17

What innervates the superficial muscles of the back?

Answer 17

Anterior rami

Question 18

What innervates deep muscles of the back?

Answer 18

Posterior rami.

Question 19

Where would transversospinalis be found?

Answer 19

Transversospinalis connect between vertebrae.

Question 20

How many cervical vertebrae are there?

Answer 20

7

Question 21

What types of vertebrae are there in the cervical spine?

Answer 21

typical & atypical vertebrae

Question 22

What are the main features that are seen in the cervical spine that differentiates them from the other vertebrae?

Answer 22

Typical vertebrae contain bifid spinous processes, transverse foraminae, and 45 degree articular surfaces.

Question 23

What structure passes through the transverse foraminae?

Answer 23

Transverse foraminae transmit vertebral artery which goes to the brain and communicates with carotid plexus.

Question 24

Which Cervical vertebra contains a non-bifid spinous process?

Answer 24

C7 does not contain a bifid spinous process.

Question 25

What is another name for C7?

Answer 25

C7 is also known as vertebra prominens.

Question 26

How long are cervical ribs? What are the pathologies associated with cervical ribs?

Answer 26

cervical ribs could be short or long and could attach to the sternum via a fibrous band. This could impinge on nerve roots that form the ulnar nerve.

Question 27

What is another name for C1 and for C2?

Answer 27

C1 is also known as the atlas

C2 is known as the axis

Question 28

What replaces the C1 vertebral body and how is it important for the function of C1?

Answer 28

C1 vertebral body replaced by an arch and the odontoid process goes through the ring structure in front of this point and forms a joint with the arch?.

Question 29

What type of joint exists between the dens and smooth surface of the vertebral arch of C1?

Answer 29

joint between dens and smooth surface of the vertebral arch of C1 is a pivot joint.

Question 30

Are cervical disk prolapses possible?

Answer 30

Yes

Question 31

What structures of the cervical spine limit movement of the cervical spine to flexion and extension?

Answer 31

The uncinate processes articulate with vertebrae above them to form uncovertebral joints which can only be moved in the saggital plane with slight ability to tilt in the coronal plane.

Question 32

How are cervical facet joints different in children?

Answer 32

Facet joints are more horizontal in children.

Question 33

What is the function of the atlantoaxial joint?

Answer 33

Atlantoaxial joint allows at least half of the rotation of the head.

Question 34

How is the supraspinous ligament in cervical vertebrae different to other vertebrae?

Answer 34

Supraspinous ligament in cervical spine is much thicker and stronger than other vertebrae.

Question 35

What ligaments stabilize the atlantoaxial joint?

Answer 35

Anterior + posterior longitudinal ligaments.
Ligamentum flavum

The head of the dens is held in place by:

Transverse ligament (prevents dislocation of dens into vertebral canal)

Alar ligaments (prevent too much rotation of atlas around dens.)

Membrana tectoria

Question 36

What condition can lead to laxity in transverse ligament of the atlantoaxial joint?

Answer 36

rhematoid arthritis

Question 37

What does the sternomastoid muscle do?

Answer 37

flexes and rotates the neck