Lecture 3 The Vertebral Column

Question 1

How many vertebrae are in the human spine?

Answer 1

33 vertebrae: 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 fused sacral, and 4 coccygeal.

Question 2

How many intervertebral discs are there in the spine?

Answer 2

23 intervertebral discs.

Question 3

What is the function of the vertebral body?

Answer 3

It is the weight-bearing structure of the vertebra.

Question 4

What is the neural arch of a vertebra?

Answer 4

The part of the vertebra that protects the spinal cord and transmits forces from the posterior elements to the vertebral body. (Coffee mug)

Question 5

What are the posterior elements of the neural arch?

Answer 5

Lamina, articular processes, spinous process, and transverse processes.

Question 6

What is spondylolysis?

Answer 6

A fracture in the pars interarticularis, often at L5-S1.

Question 7

What is spondylolisthesis?

Answer 7

A condition where one vertebra slips forward over the one below it. Fracture and displacement.

Question 8

What is the function of intervertebral discs?

Answer 8

To increase motion and transmit loads between vertebrae.

Question 9

What is the nucleus pulposus?

Answer 9

The inner core of the intervertebral disc, composed of 80% water.

Question 10

What is the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 10

The outer layer of the intervertebral disc, composed of concentric layers of fibrocartilage.

Question 11

How are intervertebral discs nourished?

Answer 11

By diffusion from metaphyseal capillaries at the endplates.

Question 12

What are interbody joints?

Answer 12

Cartilaginous joints between vertebral bodies that allow for sliding, tilting, and compression.

Question 13

What are zygapophyseal joints?

Answer 13

Synovial facet joints that allow for gliding and sliding movements.

Question 14

What ligament resists extension of the spine?

Answer 14

The anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL).

Question 15

What ligament resists flexion of the spine?

Answer 15

The posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL).

Question 16

What ligament connects adjacent spinous processes?

Answer 16

The interspinous ligament.

Question 17

What ligament connects the tips of spinous processes?

Answer 17

The supraspinous ligament.

Question 18

What ligament resists lateral flexion?

Answer 18

The intertransverse ligament.

Question 19

What ligament resists rotation in the upper cervical spine?

Answer 19

The alar ligaments.

Question 20

What is coupling in spinal kinematics?

Answer 20

The consistent association of motion around one axis with motion around another axis.

Question 21

What plane do lumbar facets primarily align with?

Answer 21

The sagittal plane, allowing flexion and extension.

Question 22

What plane do thoracic facets primarily align with?

Answer 22

The frontal plane, allowing lateral flexion.

Question 23

What happens to the inferior facets during flexion?

Answer 23

They slide upward.

Question 24

What happens to the superior facets during extension?

Answer 24

They slide downward.

Question 25

What is axial compression?

Answer 25

The vertical force acting through the spine due to gravity and body weight.

Question 26

What resists axial rotation in the spine?

Answer 26

The annulus fibrosus and facet joints.

Question 27

What is the craniovertebral region?

Answer 27

The upper cervical spine, consisting of the occiput, C1 (atlas), and C2 (axis).

Question 28

What joint allows nodding of the head?

Answer 28

The atlanto-occipital (OA) joint.

Question 29

What joint allows rotation of the head?

Answer 29

The atlanto-axial (AA) joint.

Question 30

What ligament holds the dens in place?

Answer 30

The transverse ligament.

Question 31

What is the function of the ligamentum nuchae?

Answer 31

To resist flexion of the cervical spine.

Question 32

What are uncinate processes?

Answer 32

Hook-like projections on the cervical vertebrae that create saddle-type joints.

Question 33

Where is the greatest range of flexion and extension in the cervical spine?

Answer 33

At the C5-C6 level.

Question 34

What is the primary function of the thoracic spine?

Answer 34

Stability, due to the rib cage and small intervertebral discs.

Question 35

What limits thoracic extension?

Answer 35

The rib cage, facet orientation, and spinal processes.

Question 36

What limits thoracic flexion?

Answer 36

The posterior longitudinal ligament, ligamentum flavum, and interspinous ligaments.

Question 37

What is the primary motion of the lumbar spine?

Answer 37

Flexion and extension.

Question 38

What is the lumbosacral angle?

Answer 38

The angle between the lumbar spine and the sacrum, affecting shear stress.

Question 39

What is the function of the thoracolumbar fascia?

Answer 39

To provide support and act as a muscle attachment site.

Question 40

What is lumbopelvic rhythm?

Answer 40

The coordinated movement of the lumbar spine and pelvis during bending.

Question 41

What is nutation of the sacrum?

Answer 41

Anterior rotation of the sacral base.

Question 42

What is counternutation of the sacrum?

Answer 42

Posterior rotation of the sacral base.

Question 43

What ligaments resist sacral nutation?

Answer 43

The sacrotuberous, sacrospinous, and anterior sacroiliac ligaments.

Question 44

What muscles extend the spine?

Answer 44

The erector spinae group: longissimus, iliocostalis, and spinalis.

Question 45

What muscle provides segmental stability in the lumbar spine?

Answer 45

The multifidus.

Question 46

What muscles make up the abdominal wall?

Answer 46

Rectus abdominus, transverse abdominus, internal and external obliques.

Question 47

What muscle flexes the hip and stabilizes the spine?

Answer 47

The psoas major.

Question 48

What is the function of the pelvic floor muscles?

Answer 48

To provide stability to the lumbopelvic region and control intra-abdominal pressure.

Question 49

What are the lifting principles for a squat lift?

Answer 49

Keep a neutral lumbar spine and use the legs to lift.

Question 50

What happens to intervertebral discs with aging?

Answer 50

They lose water content and proteoglycans, decreasing disc height and load transfer ability.

Question 51

What are Schmorl’s nodes?

Answer 51

Herniations of the disc material into the vertebral body.

Question 52

What is the function of the rib cage?

Answer 52

To protect thoracic organs and assist in respiration.

Question 53

What are true ribs?

Answer 53

Ribs 1-7, which attach directly to the sternum via costal cartilage.

Question 54

What are false ribs?

Answer 54

Ribs 8-10, which attach to the costal cartilage of rib 7.

Question 55

What are floating ribs?

Answer 55

Ribs 11 and 12, which do not attach to the sternum.

Question 56

What muscles are primary for ventilation?

Answer 56

The diaphragm, intercostals, and scalenes.

Question 57

What is the pump handle action of the ribs?

Answer 57

Elevation of the upper ribs to increase the anteroposterior diameter of the thorax.

Question 58

What is the bucket handle action of the ribs?

Answer 58

Elevation of the lower ribs to increase the lateral diameter of the thorax.

Question 59

How does aging affect respiration?

Answer 59

Decreased rib cage mobility, increased kyphosis, and reduced lung capacity.