Lumbar Region: Typical Lumbars: L1-L4 Flashcards
What accounts for the direction of the lumbar curve?
the vertebral body and intervertebral disc have a greater anterior height than posterior height
What is the effect of aging on the vertebral body of a lumbar vertebra?
decrease in height, increase in circumfrence
How many joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of a typical lumbar?
six
What muscles may attach to a typical lumbar vertebral body?
psoas major and psoas minor
Psoas minor will only attach to the vertebral body of which segments?
T12, L1
What is the name given to ligaments that attach the vertebral body to articular process?
transforaminal ligaments
What ligaments attach the vertebral body to the transverse process?
corporotransverse ligaments
Hofmann ligaments are identified in which regions along the vertebral column?
cervical- upper thoracic region and lumbar region
Cervical- upper thoracic Hofmann ligaments will attach which structures together?
dura mater to segments above
What is the highest level known to demonstrate Hofmann ligaments?
C6
What is the proposed function of the cervical - upper thoracic Hofmann ligaments?
resist caudal movement of the dural sac; resist gravitational forces on the dura and cord
Lumbar Hofmann ligaments will attach what structures together?
dura mater to lower segmental levels
What is the proposed function of the lumbar Hofmann ligaments?
resist cranial movement of the dural sac during flexion
What is the proposed function of the proximal root sleeve ligament?
resist displacement of the peripheral nerve system in the intervertebral foramen
What osseous conditions of lumbar vertebrae facilitate a spinal tap in this region?
overlap of the laminae, shingling, diminishes; overlap of spinous process, imbrication, diminishes
What is the outline of the vertebral foramen of a typical lumbar vertebra?
triangular
Which is the greatest diameter of the vertebral foramen of typical lumbars?
transverse
What part of the central nerve system is present in the lumbar spine?
the conus medullaris is typically present in the vertebral foramen of L1?
What part of the peripheral nerve system is present in the lumbar spine?
the cauda equina is typically present in the vertebral foramina of L2-L4
Beginning with the L1 transverse process, what is the generic direction and relative length of each succeeding lumbar transverse process?
each transverse process is directed straight lateral and increases in length from L1-L3; L4 then begins to decrease in length
What is the name of the elevation near the origin of the lumbar transverse process?
accessory process
A styloid process occurs with what frequency and as a result of what condition?
7% occurrence as a result of congenital elongation of the lumbar accessory process
What parts of a vertebra are attached via the mammillo-accessory ligament?
the mammillary process and accessory process of the same segment
What was believed to be entrapped by the mammillo-accessory ligament?
the medial branch of the dorsal ramus of a lumbar spinal nerve
What muscle(s) attach to the lumbar accessory process?
longissimus thoracis and intertransversarrii
What muscles may attach to the transverse process of a typical lumbar vertebra?
psoas major, quadratus lumborum, longissimus thoracis, rotator brevis, rotator longus and intertransversarii
What are the posterior elements of the vertebra?
zygapophysis, lamina and spinous process
What are the anterior elements of the vertebra?
vertebral body and pedicle
What is the orientation of the typical lumbar superior articular facet?
backward, upward, medial (BUM); typically concave
What is the orientation of the typical lumbar inferior articular facet?
forward, lateral, downward (FoLD); significant convexity
What is the name given to the projection on the lumbar superior articular process?
mammillary process
What muscle(s) will attach to the mammillary process?
multifidis and intertransversarii
What ligament will attach to the lumbar superior articular process and transverse process?
mammillo-accessory ligament
What is the position of the lumbar zygapophyses in adults?
the zygapophysis lies in the sagittal plane for L1/L2, L2/L3 and L3/L4; the zygapophysis lies in the coronal plane for L4/L5 and L5/S1
What name is given to the zygapophyses between vertebral couples that lie in the same plane?
joint symmetry
What names are given to the condition in which one zygapophysis of a vertebral couple lies in the coronal plane and the other zygapophysis lies in the sagittal plane?
joint asymmertry or joint tropism
Define or describe joint tropism.
the condition in which one zygapophysis of a vertebral couple lies in the coronal plane and the other zygapophysis lies in the sagittal plane
What is the name(s) of the condition in which the typical lumbar spinous process increases in length due the aging process?
Baastrup’s syndrome or “kissing spines”
What is Baastrup’s syndrome?
elongation of the lumbar spinous process as a result of aging
What muscles will attach to the typical lumbar spinous process?
latissimus dorsi, serratus posterior inferior, iliocostalis lumborum, longissimus thoracis, spinalis thoracis, multifidis, rotator longus, rotator brevis and interspinalis
