Lumbar Spine

Question 1

What is the most important characteristic of the lumbar spine?

Answer 1

Bear tremendous loads created by body weight

Question 2

What region of the spine is largely responsible for trunk mobility? ***

Answer 2

Lumbar spine

Question 3

In which way to the inferior articular processes of the lumbar spine fact?

Answer 3

Anterolaterally (convex)

Question 4

In which way to the superior articular processes of the lumbar spine fact?

Answer 4

Posteromedially (concave)

Question 5

What is a tropism?

Answer 5

Developmental abnormality where one facet faces sagittally and the other faces faces coronally

Question 6

Where does tropism usually occur in the lumbar spine?

Answer 6

Mostly L5-S1

Then L4-L5

Question 7

Lumbar facets primarily lie in what plane?

Answer 7

Sagittal plane

Question 8

When do facets become more coronal again after the lumbar spine?

Answer 8

Lumbosacral junction

Question 9

The facet configuration of the lumbar spine limits what movement and allows for great mobility of what movements?

Answer 9

Limits rotational flexibility

Allows greater flexion/extension

Question 10

The coronal facet orientation at L5-S1 limits what movement?

Answer 10

Posterior*/anterior shear (Z translation)

Question 11

What effect does hyperlordosis have on weight-bearing load of the lumbars?

Answer 11

Increases it

Question 12

What is the primary movement of the lumbar spine?

Answer 12

Flexion/extension (θX)

Question 13

Which occurs more in the lumbar spine: extension or flexion?

Answer 13

Flexion (2X)

Question 14

Why is axial rotation limited in the lumbar spine?

Answer 14

Sagittal facet orientation

Question 15

During lateral bending accompanied with axial rotation in the lumbar spine, to which direction does the spinous move?

Answer 15

Ipsilateral side (same)

Question 16

Why does the spinous move to the ipsilateral side in the lumbar spine during lateral bending coupled with axial rotation?

Answer 16

Eccentric lengthening of the quadratus lumborum

Question 17

In what area of the lumbar spine can the spinous sometimes switch and rotate to the contralateral side during lateral bending coupled with axial rotation?

Answer 17

L4 and L5

Question 18

What is the location of the nucleus pulposus in the lumbar spine?

Answer 18

Posterior

Question 19

What is the IVD height to vertebral body height ratio in the lumbar spine?

Answer 19

1:3 (middle compared to cervicals and thoracics)

Question 20

What is the purpose of the IVD height to body ratio of the lumbars being in the middle compared to cervicals and thoracics?

Answer 20

More movement than thoracics, less then cervicals

Greater resistance to axial compressive forces

Question 21

What does the lumbar spinal canal protect proximally?

Answer 21

Conus medullaris (enlargement of the spinal cord)

Question 22

What does the lumbar spinal canal protect distally?

Answer 22

Cauda equina (spinal nerves)

Question 23

What tethers the CNS to the coccyx?

Answer 23

Filum terminale

Question 24

At what vertebral level does the spinal cord end?

Answer 24

L2

Question 25

After the spinal cord ends at L2, what do the nerve roots continue as?

Answer 25

Cauda equina

Question 26

What structures are responsible for defining the range of motion and stabilizing the dural sac withing the foraminal canal?

Answer 26

Hoffman ligaments

Question 27

Although its movements are limited, how is the spinal cord able to demonstrate flexibility during different movements and activities?

Answer 27

Elastic deformation

Question 28

When does the lumbar curve start to develop?

Answer 28

About 9-12 months of age (as one begins to sit up)

Question 29

Where is the apex of the lumbar curve?

Answer 29

L3-4 disc

Question 30

When does the lumbar curve become established in nature?

Answer 30

About 18 months (as one begins to stand)

Question 31

What is the normal lumbar curve angle?

Answer 31

20-60 degrees

Question 32

What type of curve is the lumbar curve?

Answer 32

Secondary lordotic

Question 33

What are the effects on the sacral base angle with an anterior pelvic tilt? On the lumbar lordosis? Facets?

Answer 33

Increased sacral base angle
Increased lumbar lordosis
More weight bearing responsible on facets

Question 34

What are the effects on the sacral base angle with an posterior pelvic tilt? On the lumbar lordosis? Disc?

Answer 34

Decreased sacral base angle
Decreased lumbar lordosis
More weight bearing responsibility on disc

Question 35

A posterior pelvic tilt decreases the spine’s ability to absorb what kind of forces?

Answer 35

Axial compression

Question 36

What is the major stabilizer of the lumbar spine?

Answer 36

Quadratus lumborum

Question 37

The quadratus lumborum is always active during what motions?

Answer 37

Flexion, extension, lateral bending

Question 38

What do the ALL and PLL attach to?

Answer 38

Vertebral body and annulus

Question 39

What movements are restriction by the ALL and PLL?

Answer 39

ALL - extension

PLL - flexion

Question 40

What ligament is highly elastic and acts as a barrier to material that would otherwise encroach on the cord during range of motion?

Answer 40

Ligamentum flavum

Question 41

The lumbodorsal fascia is an attachment site for what muscles?

Answer 41

1 Transverse abdominis
2 Internal oblique
3 Latissimus dorsi

Question 42

The lumbodorsal fascia as as what kind of structure to constrain long tendons of thoracic and lumbar extensors?

Answer 42

Large extensor retinaculum