Lumbar Spine Flashcards
Which segments of the spine are more prone to variation in morphology
L1 and L5
What parts of the vertebra may be used to distinguish L1-L4 from L5
vertebral body, pedicle, articular process, transverse process, spinous process
What is the generic shape of the typical lumbar vertebral body from the cranial view
reniform or kidney shaped
What would be the direction of the lumbar curve based on osseous features
anterior lordotic
what accounts for the direction of the lumbar curve
the vertebral body height and intervertebral disc have a greater anterior height than posterior height
What is the effect of agin on the vertebral body of the lumbar spine
decrease in height, increase in circumference
how many fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis joint surfaces are on a typical lumbar vertebral body
4
how many joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of a typical lumbar
6
how many synovial joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of a typical lumbar vertebral body
none
How many cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis joint surfaces are on a typical lumbar vertebral body
two
What muscles attach to the first lumbar vertebral body
psoas major and psoas minor
What muscles may attach from the second down to the fourth lumbar vertebral body
psoas major
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
what corporotransverse ligaments are identified
superior corporotransverse and inferior corporotransverse ligaments
What are the types of hofmann ligaments
hofmann ligaments, posterior hofmann ligaments, lateral hofmann ligaments, and proximal hofmann ligaments
Hofmann ligaments are identified in which regions along the vertebral column
cervical-upper thoracics region and lumbar region
cervical - upper thoracic hofmann ligaments will attach what 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 is the orientation of the pedicle of a typical lumbar vertebrae
posterior
the pedicle attaches at what location on vertebral body of a typical lumbar
to the upper third or half of the vertebral body
What ligament attaches to the lamina of a typical lumbar
ligamentum flavum
what joint classification will be associated with the ligamentum flavum attachment
fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis joint
What osseous conditions of lumbar vertebrae facilitate a spinal tap in this region
overlap of the laminae, shingling, diminishes;
overlap of spinous processes, 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
how does the size of the vertebral foramen differ along the spine
cervicals have the greatest size
lumbars next
thoracics are the smallest
What part of the central nervous 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
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 ligaments will attach to the lumbar accessory process
mammilo-accessory ligament
What parts of the vertebrae are attached via the mammillo-accessory ligament
the mammillary process and the 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 muscles attach to the lumbar accessory process
longissimus thoracis, and intertransversarii
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 ligaments attach to the transverse process of a typical lumbar vertebra
the lumbocostal, mammillo-accessory and intertransverse ligaments
what joint classifications are present at the transverse process of a typical lumbar
fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis
What are the posterior elements of the vertebrae
zygapophysis, lamina and spinous process
what are the anterior elements of the vertebrae
vertebral body and pedicle
What is the orientation of the typical lumbar superior articular facet
BUM backward upward and medial
What is the orientation of the typical lumbar inferior articular facet
FoLD forward lateral and down
what muscles 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 was believed to be entrapped by the mammillo-accessory ligament
the medial branch of the dorsal ramus of a lumbar spinal nerve
What additional ligaments are said to attach to lumbar articular processes
transforaminal ligaments
What is the joint classification for the typical lumbar zygapophysis
synovial plane (diarthrosis arthrodia)
how many synovial joints are present on a typical lumbar vertebra
four
what is the position of the lumbar zygapophysis in children
the zygapophysis lies in the coronal plane
what is the position of the lumbar zygapophysis in adults
the zygapophysis lies in the sagittal plane for L1/L2, L2/L3, L3/L4
the zygapophysis lies in the coronal plane for L4/L5 and L5/S1
What name is given to 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 or postition and the other zygapophysis lies in the sagittal plane or position
joint asymmetry or joint torpism
define or describe joint tropism
the condition in which one zygapophysis of a vertebral couple lies in the coronal plane or position and the other zygapophysis lies in the sagittal plane or position
what is the name of the condition in which the typical lumbar spinous process increases in length due to the aging process
Basstrups syndrome or kissing spines
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
