Lumbar Spine: L1-L4

Question 1

What is the generic shape of the typical lumbar vertebral body from the cranial view?

Answer 1

Reniform or kidney-shaped

Question 2

What accounts for the direction of the lumbar curve?

Answer 2

The vertebral body and intervertebral disc have a greater anterior height than posterior height

Question 3

How many joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of a typical lumbar?

Answer 3

6

Question 4

How many synovial joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of a typical lumbar?

Answer 4

None

Question 5

How many cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis joint surfaces are on a typical lumbar vertebral body?

Answer 5

2

Question 6

How many fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis joint surfaces are on a typical lumbar vertebral body?

Answer 6

4

Question 7

Psoas minor will only attach to the vertebral body of which segments?

Answer 7

T12, L1

Question 8

What is the name given to ligaments that attach the vertebral body to articular process?

Answer 8

Transforaminal ligaments

Question 9

What ligaments attach the vertebral body to the transverse process?

Answer 9

Corporotransverse ligaments

Question 10

Hofmann ligaments are identified in which regions along the vertebral column?

Answer 10

Cervical-upper thoracic region and lumbar region

Question 11

Cervical-upper thoracic Hofmann ligaments will attach what structures together?

Answer 11

Dura mater to segments above

Question 12

What is the highest level known to demonstrate Hofmann ligaments?

Answer 12

C6

Question 13

What is the proposed function of the cervical- upper thoracic Hofmann ligaments?

Answer 13

Resist caudal movement of the dural sac; resist gravitational forces on the dura and cord

Question 14

What is the proposed function of the cervical- upper thoracic Hofmann ligaments?

Answer 14

Resist caudal movement of the dural sac; resist gravitational forces on the dura and cord

Question 15

Lumbar Hofmann ligaments will attach what structures together?

Answer 15

Dura mater to lower segmental levels

Question 16

What is the proposed function of the lumbar Hofmann ligaments?

Answer 16

Resist cranial movement of the dural sac during flexion

Question 17

What osseous conditions of lumbar vertebrae facilitate a spinal tap in this region?

Answer 17

Overlap of the laminae, shingling, diminishes; overlap of spinous processes, imbrication, diminishes

Question 18

What is the name of the elevation near the origin of lumbar transverse process?

Answer 18

Accessory process

Question 19

A styloid process occurs with what frequency and as a result of what condition?

Answer 19

7% occurrence as a result of congenital elongation of the lumbar accessory process

Question 20

What muscle(s) attach tot he lumbar accessory process?

Answer 20

Longissimus thoracis and intertransversarii

Question 21

What muscles may attach to the transverse process of a typical lumbar vertebra?

Answer 21

Psoas major, quadratus lumborum, longissimus thoracis, rotator brevis, rotator longus and intertransversarii

Question 22

What muscles will attach to lumbar superior articular processes?

Answer 22

multifidis and intertransversarii

Question 23

What ligament will attach to the lumbar superior articular process and transverse process?

Answer 23

mammillo-accessory ligament

Question 24

What was believed to be entrapped by the mammilo-accesory ligament?

Answer 24

the medial branch of the dorsal rams of a lumbar spinal nerve

Question 25

What is the joint classification for the typical lumbar zygapophysis?

Answer 25

synovial plane (diarthrosis arthrodia)

Question 26

how many synovial joints are present on a typical lumbar vertebra?

Answer 26

four

Question 27

what is the position of the lumbar zygapophysis in children?

Answer 27

the aygapophysis lies in the coronal plane

Question 28

what is the position of the lumbar zygapophysis in adults?

Answer 28

the zygapophysis lies in the sagittal plane for L1/L2, L2/L3 and L3/L4; the zygapophysis lies in the coronal plane for L4/L5 and L5/S1

Question 29

what name is given to zygapophysis between vertebral couples that lie in the same plane?

Answer 29

joint symmetry

Question 30

what names are given to 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?

Answer 30

joint asymmetry or joint tropism

Question 31

what is the name(s) of the condition in which the typical lumbar spinous process increases in length due to the aging process?

Answer 31

Baastrup’s syndrome or “kissing spines”

Question 32

what muscles will attach to the typical lumbar spinous process?

Answer 32

latissimus dorsi, serratus posterior inferior, iliocostalis lumborum, longissimus thoracis, spinalis thoracis, multifidus, rotator longus, rotator brevis and interspinalis