Lecture 8: Small Animal Spinal Column Flashcards
How many cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae do dogs have
Cervical-7
Thoracic-13
Lumbar-7
Sacral- 3 (fused)
Coccygeal- 20-23
How many cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae do cats have
Cervical- 7
Thoracic-13
Lumbar-7
Sacral- 3
Coccygeal 18-21
What muscles lie along the spinous process
Epaxial
Where do the nerves come out of the vertebrae
Articular facets
What part of the vertebrae protects the spinal cord
Vertebral arch
What part of the vertebrae is between the intervertebral discs
Vertebral body
Which vertebrae is responsible for holding the neck muscles
C1- wings of Alta’s
The shape of the atlas allows for ___of the head
Rotation
What structure on the atlas allows for articulation of the dens of C2
Fovea
What is the dens
Structure off of C2 (Axis) that articulates with the fovea of C1
What is another name for the dens
Odontoid process
Which vertebral joint space lacks an intervertebral disc
C1-C2
What structure is the red arrow pointing to
Dens of C2
identify 1-9
- Dorsal arch of atlas
- Ventral arch (body of atlas)
- Transverse process (wing) of atlas
- Occipital condyle
- Dens
- Spinous process of axis
- Vertebral foramen of axis
- Transverse process of axis
- Caudal articular process of axis
Identify 1-7
- Transverse process (wing) of atlas
- Atlantoaxial joint
- Spinous process of axis
- Dens of atlas
- Transverse process of axis
- Intervertebral disc between C2 and C3. Articular process of C2 and C3
Case example: 8mo, MI Yorkie with progressive ataxia and weakness in all 4 limbs, knuckling on all 4 limbs, holds head down most of time. The following X-ray was taken, what is the problem
Hypoplastic dens atlantoaxial subluxation
What happens during a hypoplastic dens atlantoaxial subluxation
Dens malformed along with loss/weakening of ligamentous structures
Causes cervical pain and neurological deficits
What breeds is hypoplastic dens atlantoaxial subluxation most common in
Any miniature and toy breeds
What ligament keeps C1-C2 in place
Dorsal atlantoaxial ligament
What ligament holds the dens in place
Transverse ligament
what ligament is indicated by the arrow
Dorsal atlantoaxial ligament
What ligament is indicated by the star
Transverse ligament of the atlas
What is indicated by the MRI
A-A subluxation- C2 moving in the absence of the dens and putting extra pressure on the spinal cord
What ligament gets torn during an A-A subluxation
Dorsal atlantoaxial ligament
What cervical vertebrae is distinguishable by its large transverse process
C6
what vertebrae is indicated by the red arrow
C6
Nerves from the brachial plexus branch off of what vertebral segments
C6-T2
What is the spinal intumescence
Concentration of lower motor neurons
What cavity are we collecting CSF from in a cervical/ high tap
Cerebellomedullary cistern
Where is the cerebellomedullary cistern located
Cranial to C1 and caudal to the occipital protuberance
Is this X-ray of a cat or dog and how do you know
Cat because the vertebrae are more long and rectangular
Is this X-ray of a cat or dog and how do you know
Dog, vertebrae are more block shaped