Lecture 3 - The Back

Question 1

How many vertebrae are present in an adult? List them

Answer 1

33 vertebrae in total
7 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral ( fuse to become sacrum)
4 coccygeal (fuse to become coccyx)

Question 2

Which vertebrae permit movement?

Answer 2

Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar (upper regions only)

Question 3

Which movements do the trunk permit?

Answer 3

• forward flexion
• lateral flexion
• Extension
• Rotation

Question 4

In a typical vertebrae, what does the intervertebral foramen allow for?

Answer 4

passage for spinal cord

Question 5

What are other names for the 1st and 2nd cervical vertebrae?

Answer 5

1st cervical = atlas (C1)

2nd cervical = axis (C2)

Question 6

In a superior view of the C1 vertebrae, list the visible components:

Answer 6

• anterior arch
• transverse ligament
• transverse foramen
• vertebral foramen
• posterior arch

Question 7

In a postosuperior view of the C2 (Atlas) vertebrae, list the visible components:

Answer 7

• body

- dens

Question 8

What is the body size and shape of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 8

Cervical: small and rectangular

Thoracic: medium and heart shaped (costal facets for
ribs)

Lumbar: Large and kidney shaped

Question 9

What are some defining features of the TVP for the 3 upper vertebrae?

Answer 9

Cervical: contain foramina for passage of vertebral arteries

Thoracic: have articular facets for ribs

Lumbar: Long and slender

Question 10

What are some defining features of the spinous process for the 3 upper vertebrae?

Answer 10

cervical: bifid
thoracic: long and slender
lumbar: short and hatchet shaped

Question 11

What are some defining features of the articular facets for the 3 upper vertebrae?

Answer 11

Cervical:

• facing superiorly and inferiorly
• allows for movement in all directions

Thoracic:

• Facing anteriorly and posteriorly
• rotation and lateral flexion

Lumbar:

• facing medially and laterally
• flexion and extension

Question 12

Joints of the vertebral bodies are known as _______ while joints of the vertebral arches are known as _______

Answer 12

vertebral bodies = symphyses

vertebral arches = zygopophyseal/facet joints

Question 13

What are symphyses? What type of joint is it?

Answer 13

joints of the vertebral bodies are secondary cartilaginous joints

Question 14

In intervertebral discs, what acts as shock absorbers?

Answer 14

• outer annulus fibrosus and inner nucleus pulposus

Question 15

What type of joint is formed by the articulation of the superior articular facet and the inferior articular facet?

Answer 15

plane/gliding synovial joints

Question 16

The atlanto-occipital joint is formed by which articulation?

Answer 16

articulation between C1 (atlas) and the occipital bone of the skull

Question 17

What type of joint does the atlanto-occipital joint form and what movement does it allow for?

Answer 17

• condyloid, synovial joint

- flexion and extension ( “yes” nodding movement)

Question 18

The atlanto-axial joint is formed by which articulation?

Answer 18

articulation between C1 (atlas) and dens of C2 (axis)

Question 19

The atlanto-axial joint is classified as what type of joint?

What movements does it allow?

Answer 19

• pivot, synovial joint

- rotation of the head, shaking the head “no”

Question 20

List the ligaments of the vertebral column

Answer 20

• nuchal ligament
• supraspinous ligament
• interspinous ligament
• Anterior Longitudinal ligament
• Posterior Longitudinal Ligament
• Intertransverse ligament

Question 21

List the 4 vertebral curvatures:

Answer 21

• cervical
• thoracic
• lumbar
• sacral

Question 22

What is the curvature of the vertebral column in a fetus?

Answer 22

concave anteriorly

Question 23

Primary curvatures are also known as _____

Answer 23

kyphotic curvatures

present at birth

Question 24

In a baby who can hold up their head, the cervical vertebrae has changed to _____

Answer 24

convex anteriorly

Question 25

Secondary curvatures are also known as ____

Answer 25

lordotic curvatures

Question 26

In an adult, the curvatures are as follows:

Answer 26

cervical: lordotic
thoracic: kyphotic
lumbar: lordotic
sacral: kyphotic

Question 27

What are the pathological curvatures of the vertebral column?

Answer 27

kyphosis (hunchback)

• exaggerated thoracic curvature
• common with old age

lordosis (swayback)

• exaggerated lumbar curvature
• common in pregnancy and obesity

scoliosis
- vertebral column deviates from side to side

Question 28

The deep back muscles are also known as ____

Answer 28

intrinsic back muscles

Question 29

Name the deep back muscles

Answer 29

• iliocostalis (most lateral)
• longissimus
• spinalis thoracis (most medial)

I Like Standing

Question 30

What is the function of the intrinsic back muscles?

Answer 30

• maintain posture

- control movements of the vertebral column