Lumbar

Question 1

What are the three divisions of the lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 1

• Vertebral body
• Pedicles
• Posterior elements

Question 2

Which division of the lumbar vertebrae are designed for weight bearing?

Answer 2

Vertebral body

Question 3

What are the posterior elements of the lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 3

• Laminae
• Articular processes
• Spinous processes
• Transverse processes

Question 4

What is the connection between body and posterior elements?

Answer 4

Pedicles

Question 5

Where does the strength of the lumbar vertebral body come from?

Answer 5

Multidirectional pattern of trabeculae

Question 6

Lumbar vertebral bodies are slightly deformable in response to…

Answer 6

loading (some shock absorption)

Question 7

In the lumbar spine, pedicles are…

Answer 7

short and strong

Question 8

The intervertebral foramen is formed between…

Answer 8

the pedicles

Question 9

Superior and inferior facets on the articular processes form what joint?

Answer 9

Zygapophyseal joint

Question 10

Orientation of articular facets in lumbar spine helps prevent…

Answer 10

excess translational and rotational movement

Question 11

Where is pars interarticularis?

Answer 11

Runs obliquely from lateral border or vertically oriented lamina and connects to the horizontally oriented pedicle

Question 12

Injury to pars can result in…

Answer 12

spondylolisthesis

Question 13

Pars interarticularis injury is commonly found in…

Answer 13

adolescent athletes (ie. repeated extension)

Question 14

What are the three joints of the articular triad?

Answer 14

• Two true diarthrodial synovial zygapophyseal joints
• One amphiarthrodial cartilaginous joint

Question 15

The intervertebral disc includes what two parts?

Answer 15

• Nucleus pulposis
• Annulus fibrosis

Question 16

What are the contents of the nucleus pulposus?

Answer 16

Semi-fluid mass with cartilage and collagen in ground substance

Question 17

The nucleus pulposus is a remnant of…

Answer 17

notochord

Question 18

What can cause deformation of nucleus pulposus? How is volume affected?

Answer 18

Derformable under pressure but volume is not compressed

Question 19

What are the contents of annulus fibrosis?

Answer 19

Collagen fibers arranged concentrically with alternation orientation

Question 20

What types of cartilage are found at the vertebral endplates?

Answer 20

Hyaline and fibrocartilage

Question 21

The vertebral endplates are vulnerable with…

Answer 21

axial loading

Question 22

What are the two main functions of the disc?

Answer 22

Weight bearing and movement

Question 23

Weight bearing and shock absorption involve what components of the disc?

Answer 23

All components

Question 24

Which component of the disc resists buckling?

Answer 24

Annulus fibrosis (relatively stiff)

Question 25

What is the function of annulus fibrosis in movement?

Answer 25

Acts similarly to ligamentous structures to restrain and stabilize joint movement
All fibers will resist distraction by alternating orientation of the fibers

Question 26

Both weight bearing and movement aspects of IVD function are ultimately designed to…

Answer 26

dissipate mechanical stress

Question 27

Spinal compression is resulting from…

Answer 27

• Body weight
• Weight held by arms and hands

Question 28

When standing upright, where is total body center of gravity?

Answer 28

Anterior to the spinal column

Question 29

When standing upright, the spine is placed under constant… movement

Answer 29

forward bending movement

Question 30

What is the function of the facets?

Answer 30

Primarily guidance of motion, not weight bearing

Question 31

The facets limit ___ of the superior vertebra

Answer 31

anterior motion

Question 32

When seated, nearly all weight is carried by…

Answer 32

discs and vertebral bodies

Question 33

When standing, 20% of body weight is…

Answer 33

transferred to the facets

Question 34

About 75% of trunk flexion/extension occurs in…

Answer 34

lumbar spine

Question 35

Which vertebral level of the lumbar spine has the greatest combined flexion/extension?

Answer 35

L5-S1 (17 degrees)

Question 36

Which vertebral level of the lumbar spine has the least combined flexion/extension?

Answer 36

L1-L2 (12 degrees)

Question 37

Which vertebral level of the lumbar spine has the greatest unilateral lateral flexion?

Answer 37

L3-L4 (8 degrees)

Question 38

Which vertebral level of the lumbar spine has the least unilateral lateral flexion?

Answer 38

L5-S1 (3 degrees)

Question 39

Which vertebral level of the lumbar spine has the least unilateral axial rotation?

Answer 39

L5-S1 (1 degree)

Question 40

L1-L5 vertebral levels all have ___ degrees of unilateral axial rotation

Answer 40

2

Question 41

In cervical spine, rotation of the vertebra is ___ the side of lateral flexion

Answer 41

towards

Question 42

In thoracic spine, rotation of the vertebra is ___ with lateral flexion

Answer 42

variable
T1-4 behave more like cervicals

Question 43

In lumbar spine, bodies rotate ___ the side of lateral flexion

Answer 43

away from

Question 44

Arthrokinematics refers to…

Answer 44

joint movement

Question 45

Osteokinematics refers to…

Answer 45

bone movement

Question 46

In flexion from an upright position, the stability of the spine is maintained mostly by…

Answer 46

the facets

Question 47

Resistance to flexion is:
39% from ___
29% from ___
19% from ___
13% from ___

Answer 47

39% from facet joints and their capsules
29% from discs (annulus)
19% from supra and interspinous ligaments
13% from ligamentum flavum

Question 48

Extension is limited mostly by…

Answer 48

bony impaction (not ligamentous and capsular tension)

Question 49

Resistance to rotational torque comes mostly from…

Answer 49

posterior elements

Question 50

Resistance to rotation torque is:
65% from ___
35% from ___

Answer 50

65% from facet capsules, facet impaction, and interspinous ligaments
35% from discs (annulus)