Lumbar Vertebrae (Quiz 2/Test 2)

Question 1

Lumbar vertebrae have massive _________ SPs

Answer 1

leveled

Question 2

What are the typical lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 2

L1-L4

Question 3

What are the largest vertebral bodies in the spine?

Answer 3

lumbar body is the largest

Question 4

What shape are lumbar body’s?

Answer 4

kidney shaped cylinders with concave sides (wider than they are long)
-become wider, shorter and more concave sides from L1->L5
-epiphysis wedged open anteriorly at L4/L5

Question 5

What are the features of pedicles on lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 5

-short, thick horizontal cylinders of bone
-shallow superior pedicle notch
-deeper inferior pedicle notch
-formed peanut shaped IVFs***** test q

Question 6

Where do the pedicles of lumbar vertebrae project?

Answer 6

directly posteriorly from the posterolateral corners of the body

Question 7

What is the figure 8 sign?

test q

Answer 7

narrowing of IVF suggests lumbar posteriority (this is a problem and usually a subluxation if not worse)

Question 8

What are the features of TPs on lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 8

-flat, thin blades that are susceptible to fractures
-L1 is the shortest TP in the lumbar spine
-L3 TP is the longest in the lumbar spine
-costogenic tissue (actually lumbar ribs)

Question 9

Which lumbar TP is the shortest?

Answer 9

L1 TP

Question 10

Which lumbar TP is the longest?

Answer 10

L3 TP

Question 11

Where do the TPs of lumbar vertebrae project?

Answer 11

laterally, slightly posterosuperiorly from the pedicles

Question 12

What are the features of the accessory processes of lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 12

-small pointed bump (may be indistinct)
-costogenic tissue

Question 13

Where do the accessory processes of lumber vertebrae project?

Answer 13

from the posterior base of the tp

Question 14

What are the accessory processes of lumbar vertebrae homologous to?

Answer 14

T12 inferior tubercle

Question 15

What are the features of the pre-zygopophyses of lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 15

-massive, strong, rounded process
-set more widely apart from the post-zygopophyses

Question 16

Where do the pre-zygopophyses of lumbar vertebrae project?

Answer 16

posterosuperiorly from the pedicle

Question 17

What are the features of superior articular surfaces of lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 17

-cover the entire medial aspect
-round, oval, irregular shape
-large, smooth clearly marginated
-flat vertically and concave AP

Question 18

What direction do the superior articular surfaces of lumbar vertebrae face?

Answer 18

posteromedially (most medially at L3)

Question 19

What are the features of mammillary processes of lumbar vertebrae? Where is it located?

Answer 19

-distinct rounded bump
-located on the posterior margin of the pre-zygopophyses
-true transverse of lumbar vertebrae
-adjusting contact point (NOT TP bc its very delicate in lumbars)
-palpate just superolaterally to their own spinous

Question 20

What are the mammillary processes homologous to?

Answer 20

T12 superior tubercle of TP

Question 21

What is the pars interarticularis/vertebral isthmus?

Answer 21

-bridge of bone between the pre and post zygopophyses
-separate distinct feature in lumbar vertebrae
-narrowest area and focus of stress in the vertebral arch

Question 22

What part of the spine is more susceptible to herniated discs?

Answer 22

lumbar

strengthen core and it will help

L5 is usually where is starts bc its holding all your weight

Question 23

What is spondylolysis/spondylolisthesis?

Answer 23

-a lumbar vertebrae anomaly
-its a congenital mal-ossification or fracture
-causes forward slippage of body
-can be caused by anterolisthesis
-most commonly happens at L5
-scotty dog’s collar is seen on lumbar oblique x-rays (contralaterally)

note: there are broken grades on a scale of 0-5 that depends on how far it moves from the sacrum or vertebra below (5 being it completely fell off below vertebra or sacrum)

Question 24

What are the features of post-zygopophyses of lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 24

-strong prominent processes set closely together
-project inferiorly from the interarticularis

Question 25

What are the features of the inferior articular surfaces of lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 25

-covers the entire post-zygopophysis anterolaterally
-tall ovals that are flat SI and convex AP
-face anterolaterally (most directly lateral at L3)
-interlock with the superior articular surfaces below does not allow rotation

Question 26

Where do the laminae of the lumbar vertebrae project?

Answer 26

posteromedially from the post-zygopophyses

Question 27

What are the characteristics of laminae in the lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 27

-broad, thick, and strong
-notched top and bottom
-forms the posterior walls of the neural canal

Question 28

What are the features of SPs of lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 28

-large, long, rectangular, stocky
-level with vertebral body
-large fusiform “distal spinous tubercle”

Question 29

Where do the SPs of lumbar vertebrae project?

Answer 29

nearly horizontally

Question 30

What makes L5 atypical?

Answer 30

-mostly typical- looks like a squished lumbar
-vertebral body is wide, short, and very concave on the sides
-most wedged epiphyses (open to anterior)
-may show lipping/spurring (pathology)
-more susceptible to osteoarthritis bc it holds a lot of weight
-SP is shorter and rounded
-SP is angled postero-inferior
-SP is harder to palpate than other lumbar SPs
-has shortened/thickened TPs and pedicles