Lumbar Spine Flashcards
What is the most important characteristic of the lumbar spine?
Bear tremendous loads created by body weight
What region of the spine is largely responsible for trunk mobility? ***
Lumbar spine
In which way to the inferior articular processes of the lumbar spine fact?
Anterolaterally (convex)
In which way to the superior articular processes of the lumbar spine fact?
Posteromedially (concave)
What is a tropism?
Developmental abnormality where one facet faces sagittally and the other faces faces coronally
Where does tropism usually occur in the lumbar spine?
Mostly L5-S1
Then L4-L5
Lumbar facets primarily lie in what plane?
Sagittal plane
When do facets become more coronal again after the lumbar spine?
Lumbosacral junction
The facet configuration of the lumbar spine limits what movement and allows for great mobility of what movements?
Limits rotational flexibility
Allows greater flexion/extension
The coronal facet orientation at L5-S1 limits what movement?
Posterior*/anterior shear (Z translation)
What effect does hyperlordosis have on weight-bearing load of the lumbars?
Increases it
What is the primary movement of the lumbar spine?
Flexion/extension (θX)
Which occurs more in the lumbar spine: extension or flexion?
Flexion (2X)
Why is axial rotation limited in the lumbar spine?
Sagittal facet orientation
During lateral bending accompanied with axial rotation in the lumbar spine, to which direction does the spinous move?
Ipsilateral side (same)
Why does the spinous move to the ipsilateral side in the lumbar spine during lateral bending coupled with axial rotation?
Eccentric lengthening of the quadratus lumborum
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?
L4 and L5
What is the location of the nucleus pulposus in the lumbar spine?
Posterior
What is the IVD height to vertebral body height ratio in the lumbar spine?
1:3 (middle compared to cervicals and thoracics)
What is the purpose of the IVD height to body ratio of the lumbars being in the middle compared to cervicals and thoracics?
More movement than thoracics, less then cervicals
Greater resistance to axial compressive forces
What does the lumbar spinal canal protect proximally?
Conus medullaris (enlargement of the spinal cord)
What does the lumbar spinal canal protect distally?
Cauda equina (spinal nerves)
What tethers the CNS to the coccyx?
Filum terminale
At what vertebral level does the spinal cord end?
L2