Lecture 8 Vertebral Column Flashcards by Alla Demarte

Lumbar vertebrae

n=5 vertebrae;
Large kidney-shaped body for weight-bearing;
Mid-sized triangular vertebral foramen;
Facets are faced in a medial or lateral direction permitting good ………. ……. ……….;
Spinous processes are …….

flexion and extension

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Why do the vertebral bodies of the sacrum & coccyx get smaller more inferiorly?

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Coccyx: no ……. ……. or …….. …….. (dural sac of spinal cord ends at S2)

vertebral arches

vertebral canal

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Intervertebral joints are joints between …….. ………

vertebral bodies

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•Zygapophyseal joints are the joints between

vertebral arches

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Bifurcation of the aorta occurs at what vertebral level?

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The lumbar vertebrae has a mid-sized triangular vertebral ……?

foramen;

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Lumbar facets face ……… or ………

medial

Lateral

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The lumbar vertebrae prefers what type of movement?

Flexion and extension

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In the lumbar vertebrae the spinous processes are ……?

Short

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The lumbosacral angle is at what degrees?

130-160 degrees

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The PSIS is located at what vertebral level?

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Craniovertebral

(atlanto-occipital & atlanto-axial joints) is located between what two structures?

Occiput and C1

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Costovertebral joints Is the articulations of vertebrae and ……?

Ribs

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Intervertebral joints
• Joints between the adjacent vertebral bodies.
• Weight-bearing joints.
• Shock-absorbers due to IV discs.
• Stabilised by anterior (strongest) and posterior longitudinal
ligaments.

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Intervertebral disks are present from ….. And the …….?

Sacrum

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The annulus fibrosis, the outer part of the vertebral disk is made out what type of cartilage?

Fibrocartilage

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Nucleus pulposus = is a ………. remnant (collagen, ……… …………) of embryonic ……..

gelatinous
hydrated proteoglycans
notochord

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IV discs are thickest in what region?

lumbar

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The intervertabral disks are secured by the anterior and posterior ………… …………

longitudinal ligaments

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The intervertebral disks account for what % in length of the vertebral column?

20-25%

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Anterior longitudinal ligament is ……… and prevents ……………… of spine (only ligament that limits extension!)
primarily attached to ………. ……….AND …….. discs.

strong
hyperextension
vertebral bodies
I.V

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Posterior longitudinal ligament is …….. and prevents ……………. of spine. => Attached mainly to ……. discs and
less to …….. bodies.

weaker
hyperflexion
I.V
vertebral

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Supraspinous ligaments connect ………. ……. (C7 to sacrum) and are ……….. and limit ………..

spinous tips
stronger
flexion

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The supra spinous ligament travels from ...... to the sacrum

Ligamentum nuchae connects ....... ....... of .......... vertebrae to external ........ ...........

spinous tips cervical occipital protuberance

Intertransverse ligaments connect ........... .......... and are ........

transverse processes | weak

Ligamenta flava connects adjacent ....... of vertebrae.

laminae

Ligamenta flava limits ......... and are more elastic than other ligaments

flexion

Interspinous ligaments connect ....... and are ......

spines | weak

Tranverse costal facets on the ......... .......... for | articulation with .......... of ribs.

transverse processes | tubercle

Superior and inferior costal facets (mostly small demifacets) on ................ margins of vertebral body for articulation with ...... of rib

Posterolateral | head

Zygapophyseal “facet” joints is a ....... ...... joints.

synovial plane

Zygapophyseal “facet” joints occur between the ....... and ........ ............ ............. of adjacent vertebrae.

superior inferior arcticular processes (facets)

Zygapophyseal “facet” joints allow for some ......./........ movement

gliding/sliding

........... is most mobile joint

C5-C6

......... permits most flexion

L4-L

Sensory nerve fibres derived from ....... ...... of spinal nerves supply the ......... ....... of the capsules surrounding these facet joints => ..... % of back pain caused by changes in these joints

dorsal rami synovial linings 15

Zygapophyseal “facet” joints takes innervation from accosiated ...... ....... as well as nerves from vertebrae ......... .... ........

nerve root | below and above

Atlanto-occipital joints • ......... .......... synovial joints. • Allows ........ and ......... (i.e. nodding head up and down) and ......... ....... (i.e. sideways tilting).

Biaxial condyloid flexion/extension lateral flexion

Atlanto-occipital joints- | Movement of joint limited by the ......... and ......... .........-........... membranes.

anterior posterior atlanto-occipital

Atlanto-axial joints • 2x ........ atlanto-axial joint =........ synovial joint. • 1x ....... atlanto-axial joint =...... joint.

Lateral Median gliding pivot

Atlanto-axial joints | Permits ......... ......... of head (i.e. shaking head saying “no”)

lateral rotation

Transverse ligament of Atlas •Holds ........... process (dens) in place •Allows .........

odontoid | rotation

Alar ligaments • Attachment: Dens to ......... ......... • Limit ......... at the atlanto-axial joint

occipital condyles | rotation

Cruciform “Cross” ligaments | Transverse (.......) + longitudinal (........)

strong | weak

Tectorial membrane | Continuation of the ........ ......... ligament from ...... through foramen magnum to floor of cranium

posterior longitudinal | C2

Development of vertebrae • Sclerotomes => vertebra. • Notochord between vertebra => ......... ...... • Birth = 3 bony parts connected by cartilage (C3-C6). • Halves of vertebral arch fuse at .......-years-old. • Vertebral arch fuses to body at .......-years-old.

3-5 3-6 nucleus pulposus

Development Sclerotome = ..............=Bone • Ossification begins during ..... week.

Cartilage | 8th

Scoliolis • Accentuated ....... and ......... curve of the thoracic or lumbar spine. • Aetiology: genetic, trauma, idiopathic; occurs in adolescent girls more than boys

lateral | Rotational

Kyphosis “Hunch-back” • Accentuated ........ of ......... spine. • Aetiology: poor posture, osteoporosis.

flexion | Thoracic

Lordosis “Sway-back” • Accentuated .......... of ........ spine. • Aetiology: weakened trunk muscles, late pregnancy, obesity.

extension | lumbar

Osteoarthritis • Progressive erosion of cartilage in joints of spine, fingers, knee and hip (most commonly). • In spine => can lead to spinal nerve ...........

impingement

Spondylolysis • Affects ...-....% population. • Defect where ......... ........ becomes separated from it’s body. • .....-.....% cases at L5; ....-.....% at L4.

3-6 vertebral arch 85-95 5-15

Spondylolithesis •......... or ......... displacement of vertebrae in relation to vertebrae below.

Anterior | Posterior

IV disc herniation • .......... tears (mostly posterolateral) of ........ ........ allows for extrusion and herniation of ........ ......... which may impinge spinal nerves.

Peripheral anulus fibrous nucleus pulposus

IV disk herniation | • Lumbar disc herniations are common and result in pain over ....... ......... ........ ........

SI joint, hip, posterior thigh and leg

The lamina and the pedicel form the what?

Vertebral arch

The intervertebral joint is supported by what two things?

Anterior and posterior longitudinal ligament

The alar ligament limits what movement?

Rotation

Nutrient arteries branching from the ......... .......... ......... branch supply blood to the red bone marrow with the vertebral bodies.

anterior vertebral canal

• Internal vertebral venous plexus | communicates with ........ ......... and ....... ....... in cranium

dural sinuses | vertebral veins

Internal vertebral venous plexus As well as communication with the dual sinus and vertebral veins it also communicates with the ....... ...... ...... ...... on....... surface of vertebrae.

external vertebral venous plexuses | external

There are: .... anterior longitudinal spinal veins ....posterior longitudinal spinal veins

3 | 3

Basivertebral veins form ........ vertebral bodies.

WITHIN

Basivertebral veins emerge from ....... on surfaces of vertebral bodies (mostly ....... )

foramina | posterior

The basivertebral veins drain into the

venous plexuses

Spinal veins form ...... ....... along the vertebral column both inside (........ venous plexus) and outside (...... venous plexus) of vertebral canal.

venous plexuses internal external

Veins draining spinal cord -> internal & external venous plexus -> ....... ...... .. .......

vertebral veins of neck

Zygapophyseal (facet) joint pain | Degeneration of ...... ....... => synovial inflammation/capsular swelling => pain

articular cartilage

Osteophyte overgrowth of facet articular processes may ..... ... ... .....

impinge on nerve root.

Osteoarthritis •.......... = bony outgrowth •.......... ......... compresses spinal nerves.

Osteophytes | Osteophytic encroachment

What is another name for the zygapophyseal joints?

Facet joints

What is the distinguishing feature of C2?

Odontoid process (Dens)

Which ligament limits extension of the spine?

Anterior longitudinal ligament

What type of movement occurs at the atlanto-axial joint?

Lateral rotation of head

Is the cervical curvature of the spine acquired in utero or after birth?

After birth – once baby can support own head weight