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Musculoskeletal > Lumbar Spine > Flashcards

Lumbar Spine Flashcards

1
Q

How many vertebrae are in the spine? What are the areas?

A

33 vertebrae

  • 7 cervical
  • 12 thoracic
  • 5 lumbar
  • 5 sacral
  • 4 coccygeal
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2
Q

Are all parts of the spine capable of movement?

A
  • 24 separable vertebrae
  • All capable of individual movement
  • Mobile = cervical and lumber
  • Relatively immobile = thoracic
  • 9 vertebrae fused to give to innominate structures in sacrum and coccyx
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3
Q

What are the functions of the vertebral column?

A
  • Central bony pillar of the body
  • Supports the skull, pelvis, upper limbs and thoracic cage
  • Protection of the spinal cord and the cords equina
  • Movement = highly flexible structure of the bones, intervertebral discs and ligaments
  • Haemopoiesis - red marrow
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4
Q

How do the vertebral bodies change in size according to placement in the spinal column?

A

Vertebral bodies increase in size inferiorly as compression forces increase

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5
Q

How are the sacral vertebrae structured to support weight bearing?

A

Sacral vertebrae are fused, widened and concave anteriorly to transmit weight of the body through pelvis to legs.

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6
Q

What are the movements of the lumbar spine?

A

Flexion and extension
Lateral flexion
Rotation

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7
Q

Describe the general structure of a typical lumbar vertebra

A
  • Kidney shaped vertebral body
  • Vertebral arch posteriorly
  • Vertebral foramen: for spinal cord and meninges
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8
Q

Describe the processes that stem from the vertebral arch

A
  • 1 spinous process posteriorly
  • 2 transverse process
  • 2 superior articular process
  • 2 inferior articular process
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9
Q

Describe the key features of the vertebral bodies

A
  • Usually the largest part of the vertebra
  • Usually main weight bearing part of the vertebra
  • Major site of contact between adjacent vertebrae
  • End plates = articular surfaces covered with hyaline cartilage
  • Linked to adjacent vertebral bodies by intervertebral discs
  • Size increases from superior to inferior
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10
Q

How do the vertebral processes of the vertebrae interlock with other vertebra?

A
  • 2 superior articular processes (facets) interlock with the vertebra above
  • 2 inferior articular processes interlock with the vertebra below
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11
Q

What is the lamina?

A

Connects transverse process to spinous process

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12
Q

What does the pedicle do?

A

Connects the transverse process to the body

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13
Q

What makes up the vertebral arch?

A

Lamina and pedicle

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14
Q

What forms synovial joints between vertebrae?

A

Vertebral arches of adjacent vertebrae

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15
Q

Where do spinal nerves emerge from?

A

Intervertebral foramina

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16
Q

What is a synovial facet joint?

A

Articulation of superior and inferior articular processes

17
Q

What is the function of the interlocking design of the facet joints of the vertebrae?

A
  • Interlocking design prevents anterior displacement of vertebrae
  • Orientation determines the amount of flexion and rotation permitted.
18
Q

Why do intervertebral discs lose height with age?

A

Because repair of proteoglycans is less good as we age.

19
Q

What accounts for the secondary curvature of the spine?

A

Slightly wedge shaped discs which are wider posteriorly.

20
Q

What are the two regions of the intervertebral disc?

A
  • Nucleus pulposus (central)

- Annulus fibrosus (peripheral)

21
Q

What makes up the annulus fibrosus?

A
  • Made from the lamellae of annular bands in varying orientations
  • Inner lamellae are fibrocartilaginous
  • Outer lamellae are fibrocartilaginous
  • Avascular and aneural
22
Q

What is the function of the annulus fibrosus?

A
  • Major ‘shock absorber’

- Highly resilient under compression - stronger than the vertebral body

23
Q

What is the nucleus pulposus?

A
  • Remnant of the notochord
  • Gelatinous (Type 2 Collagen)
  • High osmotic pressure
  • Changes in size throughout the day/ with age
  • Surrounded by annulus fibrosis
  • Centrally located in the infant, more poster in the adult
24
Q

What is the function of the ligaments in the vertebral column?

A

Provide stability (anterior stronger than posterior_

25
Q

What are the major ligaments of the vertebral column?

A

Anterior longitudinal and posterior longitudinal

26
Q

Describe the key features of the anterior longitudinal ligament

A
  • Anterior tubercle of atlas to sacrum
  • United with periosteum of vertebral bodies
  • Mobile over intervertebral discs
  • Prevents hyperextension
27
Q

Describe the key features of the posterior longitudinal ligament

A
  • Body of the axis to sacral canal
  • Relatively weak
  • Prevents hyperflexion
  • Position dictates where disc prolapse - as tears occur at the lateral margin of the posterior ligament
28
Q

What is the ligamentum flavum?

A
  • Yellow in colour due to elastic fibres
  • Between laminae of adjacent vertebrae
  • Stretched during flexion of the spine
29
Q

What are the interspinous ligaments?

A
  • Relatively weak sheets of fibrous tissue
  • Unite spinous processes along adjacent borders
  • Well developed only in the lumbar region (stability in flexion)
  • Fuse with supraspinous ligaments
30
Q

What are the supraspinous ligaments?

A
  • Tips of adjacent spinous processes
  • Strong bands of white fibrous tissue
  • Lax in extension
  • Tight in flexion (mechanical support for vertebral column)
31
Q

Describe the articulations of the sacrum

A
  • L5 superiorly
  • Ilium laterally
  • Coccyx inferiorly
32
Q

Describe the curvatures of the vertebral column

A 
Lordosis = curves backwards 
Kyphosis = curves forwards
Cervical = L
Thoracic = K
Lumbar = L
Sacral = K 
Coccyx = K
= Sinusoidal profile
33
Q

Describe the shape of the vertebral column in the foetus

A
  • Flexed in a single curvature
  • C-shaped
  • Concave anteriorly (Kyphosis)
    = Primary curvature
34
Q

When does the cervical lordosis develop?

A

When a child begins to lift its head

35
Q

When is the lumbar lordosis developed?

A

When the child begins to stand up and walk

Musculoskeletal (27 decks)

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