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
What are the major ligaments of the vertebral column?
Anterior longitudinal and posterior longitudinal
26
Describe the key features of the anterior longitudinal ligament
- Anterior tubercle of atlas to sacrum - United with periosteum of vertebral bodies - Mobile over intervertebral discs - Prevents hyperextension
27
Describe the key features of the posterior longitudinal ligament
- 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
What is the ligamentum flavum?
- Yellow in colour due to elastic fibres - Between laminae of adjacent vertebrae - Stretched during flexion of the spine
29
What are the interspinous ligaments?
- 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
What are the supraspinous ligaments?
- Tips of adjacent spinous processes - Strong bands of white fibrous tissue - Lax in extension - Tight in flexion (mechanical support for vertebral column)
31
Describe the articulations of the sacrum
- L5 superiorly - Ilium laterally - Coccyx inferiorly
32
Describe the curvatures of the vertebral column
``` Lordosis = curves backwards Kyphosis = curves forwards Cervical = L Thoracic = K Lumbar = L Sacral = K Coccyx = K = Sinusoidal profile ```
33
Describe the shape of the vertebral column in the foetus
- Flexed in a single curvature - C-shaped - Concave anteriorly (Kyphosis) = Primary curvature
34
When does the cervical lordosis develop?
When a child begins to lift its head
35
When is the lumbar lordosis developed?
When the child begins to stand up and walk