Lumbar spine Flashcards
How many vertebrae in the lumbar spine?
5
how to tell its lumbar
Large vertebral bodies
kidney-shaped vertebral bodies
They are deeper anteriorly than posteriorly, producing the lumbosacral angle
Triangular vertebral foramen is triangular in shape.
long and slender Transverse processes
Articular processes have nearly vertical facets.
Spinous processes are short and broad.
Accessory processes
Mammillary processes
how to tell its L5
large vertebral body
large transverse processes as it carries the weight of the entire upper body.
where do spinal nerves exit the vertebral canal?
intervertebral foramina
what happens at L1 spinally
spinal cord terminates and the cauda equina begins
what is the cauda equina?
bundle of lumbar, sacral and coccygeal nerve roots
what is the lumbosacreal angle
(the angle between the long axis of the lumbar region and that of the sacrum).
what are accesoory processes and where are they found
They act as sites of attachment for deep back muscles.can be found on the posterior aspect of the base of each transverse process.
what are mamillary processes and where are they found
They act as sites of attachment for deep back muscles.
Mammillary processes can be found on the posterior surface of each superior articular process.
which ligaments are unique to the lumbar spine?
The lumbosacral joint (between L5 and S1 vertebrae) is strengthened by the iliolumbar ligaments. These are fan-like ligaments radiating from the transverse processes of the L5 vertebra to the ilia of the pelvis
The joints of the lumbar vertebrae are supported by several ligaments. They can be divided into two groups, what are these groups?
those present throughout the vertebral column, and those unique to the lumbar spine.