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Clinical Anatomy > Lecture 8: Small Animal Spinal Column > Flashcards

Lecture 8: Small Animal Spinal Column Flashcards

1
Q

How many cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae do dogs have

A

Cervical-7
Thoracic-13
Lumbar-7
Sacral- 3 (fused)
Coccygeal- 20-23

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2
Q

How many cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae do cats have

A

Cervical- 7
Thoracic-13
Lumbar-7
Sacral- 3
Coccygeal 18-21

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3
Q

What muscles lie along the spinous process

A

Epaxial

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4
Q

Where do the nerves come out of the vertebrae

A

Articular facets

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5
Q

What part of the vertebrae protects the spinal cord

A

Vertebral arch

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6
Q

What part of the vertebrae is between the intervertebral discs

A

Vertebral body

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7
Q

Which vertebrae is responsible for holding the neck muscles

A

C1- wings of Atlas

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8
Q

The shape of the atlas allows for ___of the head

A

Rotation

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9
Q

What structure on the atlas allows for articulation of the dens of C2

A

Fovea

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10
Q

What is the dens

A

Structure off of C2 (Axis) that articulates with the fovea of C1

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11
Q

What is another name for the dens

A

Odontoid process

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12
Q

Which vertebral joint space lacks an intervertebral disc

A

C1-C2

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13
Q

What structure is the red arrow pointing to

A

Dens of C2

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14
Q

identify 1-9

A
  1. Dorsal arch of atlas
  2. Ventral arch (body of atlas)
  3. Transverse process (wing) of atlas
  4. Occipital condyle
  5. Dens
  6. Spinous process of axis
  7. Vertebral foramen of axis
  8. Transverse process of axis
  9. Caudal articular process of axis
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15
Q

Identify 1-7

A
  1. Transverse process (wing) of atlas
  2. Atlantoaxial joint
  3. Spinous process of axis
  4. Dens of atlas
  5. Transverse process of axis
  6. Intervertebral disc between C2 and C3. Articular process of C2 and C3
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16
Q

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

A

Hypoplastic dens atlantoaxial subluxation

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17
Q

What happens during a hypoplastic dens atlantoaxial subluxation

A

Dens malformed along with loss/weakening of ligamentous structures

Causes cervical pain and neurological deficits

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18
Q

What breeds is hypoplastic dens atlantoaxial subluxation most common in

A

Any miniature and toy breeds

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19
Q

What ligament keeps C1-C2 in place

A

Dorsal atlantoaxial ligament

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20
Q

What ligament holds the dens in place

A

Transverse ligament

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21
Q

what ligament is indicated by the arrow

A

Dorsal atlantoaxial ligament

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22
Q

What ligament is indicated by the star

A

Transverse ligament of the atlas

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23
Q

What is indicated by the MRI

A

A-A subluxation- C2 moving in the absence of the dens and putting extra pressure on the spinal cord

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24
Q

What ligament gets torn during an A-A subluxation

A

Dorsal atlantoaxial ligament

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25
Q

What cervical vertebrae is distinguishable by its large transverse process

A

C6

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26
Q

what vertebrae is indicated by the red arrow

A

C6

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27
Q

Nerves from the brachial plexus branch off of what vertebral segments

A

C6-T2

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28
Q

What is the spinal intumescence

A

Concentration of lower motor neurons , aka brachial plexus

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29
Q

What cavity are we collecting CSF from in a cervical/ high tap

A

Cerebellomedullary cistern

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30
Q

Where is the cerebellomedullary cistern located

A

Cranial to C1 and caudal to the occipital protuberance

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31
Q

Is this X-ray of a cat or dog and how do you know

A

Cat because the vertebrae are more long and rectangular

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32
Q

Is this X-ray of a cat or dog and how do you know

A

Dog, vertebrae are more block shaped

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33
Q

What anatomical marker is useful to distinguish C7 vs T1

A

Thoracic vertebrae have large spinous processes compared to cervical

34
Q

What vertebrae is anticlinal

35
Q

What vertebrae is circled and how do you know

A

T11, anticlinal vertebrae

36
Q

Identify 1-6

A
  1. Spinous process of T1
  2. Intervertebral foramina between T4-T5
  3. Synovial articulations between T4 and T5
  4. Intervertebral disc between T5 and T6
  5. Body of T7
  6. Anticlinal T11
37
Q

Where does the dorsal longitudinal ligament lie

A

Floor of vertebral canal and runs from the dens to the sacrum

38
Q

What is the intercapital ligament

A

Runs between rib head from T2-11

39
Q

What ligament is present only in thoracic region, that provides extra support against spinal cord injuries

A

Intercapital ligament

40
Q

Which vertebrae allow more motion: thoracic or lumbar

41
Q

Which vertebrae have larger bodies: thoracic or lumbar

42
Q

What structure is composed of 3 fused vertebrae

43
Q

what is indicated by the red circles

A

Soft tissue opacity, normal!
NOT A FRACTURE

44
Q

Identify 1-7

A
  1. Spinous process of L5
  2. Transverse process of L6
  3. Cranial articular process of L6
  4. Caudal articular process of L5
  5. Intervertebral disc between L6 and L7
  6. Sacrum
  7. SI joint
45
Q

What species lack a sacrotuberous ligament and what is the result

A

Cats- allows for increased mobility and flexibility of the sacrum

46
Q

identify 1-4

A
  1. Dorsal sacroiliac ligament
  2. Sacrum
  3. First coccygeal vertebrae
  4. Sacrotuberous ligament
47
Q

What is a myelogram

A

X-ray where contrast is injected into subarachnoid space to allow for visualization of the spinal cord

48
Q

Which has a larger vertebral canal: cervical or lumbar

49
Q

Which MRI shows cervical, which shows lumbar? What is indicated by red arrow in left image

A

Left: cervical because wider cervical canal
Right: lumbar

Red arrow: CSF

50
Q

What junction do you want to be in during lumbosacral epidural

A

Lumbosacral junction, caudal to L7 and cranial to S1

51
Q

How do cervical disc herniations differ from lumbar disc herniations symptomatically and why

A

Cervical vertebral canal has a lot more space so the spinal cord has more room. Therefore a cervical herniation results in less severe neuro deficits (walking) and mainly painful

Lumbar vertebral canal is smaller so spinal cord has less room. Therefore disc herniation can commonly result in severe neuro deficits (non-ambulatory)

Lumbar vertebrae lack intercapital ligament is less protected

52
Q

What vertebra region lack the intercapital ligament and what is the consequence

A

Lumbar region lacks intercapital ligament and therefore less protected

53
Q

What are the landmarks for an epidural

A
  1. Ilial wings
  2. Dorsal spinous process of L7
  3. Sacral vertebrae
54
Q

What is the result of differential growth of the vertebrae and spinal cord

A

Spinal cord ends before vertebrae and gives off spinal roots/nerves

55
Q

When does spinal cord end

56
Q

What is the cauda equina

A

Caudally streaming spinal roots innervating pelvic viscera and tail

57
Q

Case example: Remi, 7yr, GSD with decreased willingness to jump, low tail carriage, difficulty posturing to defecate, pain on palpation of lower back and tail life. The following MRI images were taken. What is the problem

A

Cauda equine syndrome (lumbosacral stenosis)

58
Q

What is block vertebrae

A

Result of the fusion of two or more vertebral bodies

59
Q

Where are block vertebrae most common

A

Cervical region

60
Q

Block vertebrae increase the risk of ___

A

Intervertebral disc disease

61
Q

Block vertebrae increase the risk of herniated IVD in what vertebrae

A

Surrounding vertebrae (not the ones fused)

62
Q

What is hemivertebrae

A

Failure of development and ossification of the vertebrae, usually affects vertebral bodies and can lead to compression of spinal cord

63
Q

What pathology is indicated by these X-rays

A

Hemivertebrae

64
Q

what is indicated by the arrow

A

Incomplete fusion of sacral vertebrae due to transitional vertebrae

65
Q

What is transitional vertebrae

A

Failure of complete transition from one vertebral type to the next, usually involves the vertebral arch

66
Q

What is indicated by the red circle and what is it most likely a result of

A

Extra rib present do to problems in transitional vertebrae. Thoracic vertebrae have rib articulations, T13 should be around last rib, but here rib is present in lumbar vertebrae

67
Q

Case example: 2yr, MI, English Bulldog with chronic skin irritation around his tail, moist dermatitis and painful to touch and clean. The following X-ray was taken, what is the problem. What is the treatment

A

Screw tail due to malformation of one to several coccygeal vertebrae

Tx: tail amputation

68
Q

What is Manx syndrome

A

Abnormal development of sacral and coccygeal vertebrae in Manx cats

69
Q

What is the result of dominant inheritance of Manx syndrome

70
Q

What are some negative implications of Manx syndrome

A

Fecal and urinary incontinence, difficulty moving

71
Q

what species is this and what is indicated by the red circle

A

Cat- long, thin vertebrae
Red circle indicates Manx syndrome

72
Q

What is a common site for IM injections

A

Epaxial muscles

73
Q

What must you be careful not to hit during Epaxial IM injections

A

Aorta and caudal vena cava

74
Q

What is indicated by 1-2

A
  1. Annulus fibrosus
  2. Nucleus pulposus
75
Q

Case example: 4yr, MN, Dachshund jumped off couch and screamed in pain, lost motor function in both hind legs, but still has sensation. The following X-ray with contrast was taken what is the problem

A

Intervertebral disc herniation most likely secondary to IVDD

76
Q

What dogs are at greatest risk of disk herniation

A

Chondrodystrophic dogs

77
Q

What happens to disc during IVDD

A

Nucleus pulposus dehydrates, becomes brittle and risk of traumatic extrusion into the spinal canal

78
Q

What is type I IVDD and who is most susceptible

A

Nucleus pulposus has herniated upward, creating swelling and inflammation

Chondrodystrophic dogs

79
Q

What is type II IVDD and who is most susceptible

A

Disc squashed between adjacent vertebral bodies, causing annulus fibrous to bulge upward

Large breed dogs

80
Q

what nerve roots can lumbosacral stenosis (cauda equina syndrome) affect?

A

femoral, pudendal, sciatic, pelvic and coccygeal

Clinical Anatomy (11 decks)

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