Module 1 COPY Flashcards
How many vertebrae in spine?
33
What does the intervertebral disc provide?
Movement, shock absorption, and spacing
The discs are securely attached to the vertebrae above and below via…
Cartilaginous endplates
Facets are also called…
Zygapophyseal joints
The posterior aspects of the veterbrae form…
Facet joints
What attaches to the spine to create movement?
Muscles
What are the function of spinal ligaments?
Connect vertebrae and prevent extreme motions that could cause injury
Which foramen does the spinal cord pass through?
Vertebral foramen
Which foramen does the spinal nerve pass through?
Intervertebral foramen
What is the function of the spinal cord?
Transmit nerve signals between the brain and body
Number of cervical vertebrae
7
Number of thoracic vertebrae
12
Number of lumbar vertebrae
5
Number of sacral vertebrae
5
Number of coccyx vertebrae
4
A lordotic curve is…
concave towards posterior
A kyphotic curve is
Concave towards anterior
Lordotic curves are found in
Cervical and lumbar spine
Kyphotic curves are found in
Thoracic Spine
Sagittal plane curves serve three functions
Flexibility, balance, and shock absorption
Part of spine primarily responsible for weight bearing
Vertebral body
Opening formed by the union of the posterior arch with the vertebral body
Vertebral foramen
Spinal cord and cauda equina pass through this
Vertebral foramen
Bony bridge between the vertebral body and the posterior arch
Pedicle
Connection between anterior and posterior columns of spine
Pedicle
Bony protrusion on either side of the posterior arch of the vertebra, originating from junction of lamina and pedicle
Transverse Process
Attachment for muscles and ligaments
Transverse process
The portion of the posterior arch of the vertebra between the transverse processes and the spinous process
Lamina
Completes the bony ring protecting the spinal cord and cauda equina
Lamina
Bony protrusion on the caudal (toward feet) aspect of the vertebra that articulates with the vertebra below
Inferior articular process
Joins with the superior articular process of the vertebra below to form a facet joint
Inferior articular process
Joins with the inferior articular process of the vertebra above to form a facet joint
Superior articular process
The cervical spine articulates cranially with the…
occiput
The cervical spine allows…..
flexion, extension, lateral bending and rotation
Cervical spine is discussed in two segments…
C1, C2 C3-C7
These cervical spine vertebrae are uniquely shaped
Upper cervical
These cervical spine vertebrae are consistent in appearance
Lower cervical
This vertebrae is known as the atlas
C1
Which vertebrae articulates with the occiput
C1/Atlas
Described as a ring of bone
Atlas/C1
Has TPs, transverse foramen, but lacks vertebral body and a spinous process
C1/atlas
This vertebrae is known as axis
C2
While this vertebrae is uniquely shaped it does have a vertebral body, spinous process, TP, etc.) in addition to a dens or odontoid process
C2/Axis
C2 has a bony process called the dens which is also known as
odontoid process
The dens of C_ extends cranially into the ring of C_
C2 into C1
This is a pivot point around which C1 can rotate
Dens
The rotation of C1 on C2 makes up __% of the rotation in the cervical spine
50%
Which are the only vertebrae that lack a disc?
C1 and C2
The ____ complex is less stable than the rest of the spine
C1-C2
This ligament wraps around the dens and holds it to the ring of C1
Transverse
When the transverse ligmaent comes together with two longitudinal bands to form a cross shape, these are referred to as the ______ ligament
Cruciform
The _____ and _____ ligaments connect the tip of the dens to the occiput
Apical and alar
The spinous processes of the cervical spine are ______
Bifid
These three structures make the cervical vertebrae different from the rest of the spine
Lateral mass, transverse foramina, and uncinate process
The _____ is made up of the superior and inferior articular processes and the transverse process
Lateral mass
This is a column of bone on either side of the vertebral body that provides additional stability for the head
Lateral mass
These are openings in the transverse processes of the cervical spine through which the vertebral arteries travel
Transverse foramen
Generally, the vertebral arteries travel through the transverse foramen of C_ to C_
C1-C6, however, this is subject to individual anatomic variation
This is a lip of bone on the lateral aspect of the vertebral body in the cervical spine
Uncinate process
In C3 through C7, this creates a small joint with the vertebral body above that is known as the _____ joint or Joint of _______
uncovertebral joint, Joint of Luschka
The uncovertebral joint or Joint of Lucshka prevents ______ _______ _____ of the cervical vertebrae
Excessive lateral motion
The joints between the thoracic vertebrae and the ribs
Costal facets
The size of the vertebrae in the lumbar spine is in response to the________
Amount of load they are required to bear
The region of the lamina between the superior and inferior articular processes
Pars interarticularis
The forward displacement of one vertebra over another
Spondylolisthesis
Deformities in the pars can lead to
Spondylolisthesis
Transitions load from the spine into the plevis and lower extremities
Sacrum
Represents the vestigial tail from our mammalian ancestors
Coccyx
Consists of 5 vertebrae that fuse together by the time a person reaches skeletal maturity
Sacrum
Three important anatomical landmarks on the sacrum
Sacral ala, sacral foramen, sacral promontory
Broad flat region of the anterior surface of S1 where it articulates with the ilium of the pelvis
Sacral ala
Openings in the anterior and posterior surface of the sacrum through which nerve roots exit
Sacral foramen
The typical sacrum has ____ pairs of nerve roots
4
The most superior portion of the first sacral vertebra - contains very dense bone and can provide good purchase for screws in the sacrum
Sacral promontory
Formed by two hip bones and sacrum
Pelvis
Broad, flat portion of the hip bone
Illium
Cranial surface of ilium
Iliac crest
Lower posterior portion of hip bone
Ischium
Lower anterior portion of the hip bone
Pubic bone
What are the two components of the intervertebral disc
annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus
Tough outer layer of woven cartilage fibers
Annulus
The annulus is _____ anteriorly due to _____ _____
Thicket, higher loads
Inner portion of disc that is more gelatinous and has a higher water content
Nucleus
Where the cartilaginous fibers of the disc anchor
Cartilaginous endplate
What percent of the overall height of the spine does the disc constitute
25%
Three main functions of disc
Spacer, distribute load, accommodate movement
Disc maintains height of _____ _____
Intervertebral foramen
The soft makeup of the discs allows them to assist in absorbing and distributing _____ forces that the spine experiences on daily basis
Axial
Five main ligament structures that prevent extremes of motion that could damage spine and spinal cord
ALL, PLL, supraspinous ligament, ligamentum flavum, interspinous ligament
Ligament that runs along the anterior surface of VBs from occiput to sacrum - resists excessive extension
ALL
Runs along posterior surface of VBs beginning at occiput and extending to sacrum, resists excessive extensions
PLL
Ligament that runs along the tip of each spinous process from C7 to sacrum - resists excessive flexion
supraspinous ligament
Ligament that connects the lamina of adjacent vertebrae
Ligament flavum
Ligament that connects the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae
Interspinous ligament
Continous spinal ligaments
ALL, PLL, supraspinous ligaments
Segmental spinous ligaments
Ligamentum flavum and interspinous ligaments
Represents supraspinous ligament in cervical spine
Nuchal ligament (connects the occiput and spinous processes of C1 to C7)
Facet joints are true joints with a ___ ___ and ___ ____
Capsular membrane, synovial fluid
In the cervical spine the facets are oriented in the ____ plane tilted ____ at approximately ___ degrees to the axial plane
axial, cranially, 45 degrees
What does the axial orientation of cervical facets allow
Rotation, lateral bending, flexion/extension
In the thoracic spine, the facets are oriented in the ____ plane and positioned at an angle, generally __ degrees, to the axial plane
front plane, 60 degrees
The angled orientation of the thoracic facets resists ______
rotation
The ____ ____ is the only achievable movement of the thoracic spine
Cat stretch
In the lumbar spine, the facets are oriented in the _____ plane at an angle approximately ____ to the frontal plane
Sagitall, 45 degrees
The sagittal plane orientation of the lumbar facets resists ______ but allows ____ ___ and ___ ___
Rotation, lateral bending, flexion/extension
Unlike the facets in the cervical and thoracic spine, the facets in the lumbar spine are _____
Curved (superior articular processes slightly concave, inferior articular processes slightly convex)
The spinal cord is part of the ___ ____ ____
Central nervous system
The main function of the spinal cord is to ____
carry sensory and motor signals back and forth between the body and the brain
What part of the skull does the spinal cord pass through
Foramen magnum
The ___ ___ encloses and protects the spinal cord
vertebral column
what level does the spinal cord extend to
L1
The spinal cord tapers to a cone shape called the ____ ____ as it transitions from the spinal cord to the ____ _____
conus medullaris, cauda equina
A bundle of nerve elements contained within a membranous sack
Cauda equina
The filaments of the cauda equina exit the spine as the ___, ____, and ____ nerves
lumbar, sacral, coccygeal nerves
The three membranes of the spinal cord are
dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater (collectively known as meninges)
The “potential space” between the dura mater and arachnoid
subdural space
The space between the arachnoid and pia mater
subarachnoid space
Where is the cerebral spinal fluid located
Subarachnoid space
What does cerebral spinal fluid do?
Bathes the spinal cord and brain, cushioning and protecting the delicate neural structures
Lies directly over the neural tissues of the spinal cord
Pia mater
Transmit signals to specific areas of the body
Spinal nerves
The two nerve roots that exit the spinal cord are called
Dorsal and ventral nerve root
Transmits sensory information
Dorsal nerve root
Transmits motor information
Ventral nerve root
Number of spinal nerve pairs
31
Number of cervical spine nerve pairs
8
Number of thoracic nerve pairs
12
Number of Lumbar nerve pairs
5
Number of sacral nerve pairs
5
Number of coccygeal nerve pairs
1
______ spinal nerves are named for the vertebrae they exit above
Cervical
Where does the C8 spinal nerve exit the spine?
Between C7 and T1
All spinal nerves except for cervical are named for the vertebrae they exit ______
Below
Individual spinal nerves innervate specific regions of skin called ________
Dermatomes
____ are used to diagnose the level of spinal injury
Dermatomes
Responsible for innervation of the arms
Cervical spinal nerves
Responsible for innervation of the torso
Thoracic nerves
Responsible for innervation of the legs
Lumbar and sacral
The two branches of a spinal nerve after exiting foramen
Dorsal ramus and ventral ramus
Innervate posterior skin and muscles of back
Dorsal ramus
Travel anteriorly where they join together and reorganize into peripheral nerves of the body
Ventral rami
A network of intersecting and dividing nerves
Nerve plexus
The five nerve plexuses in the body
Cerval, brachial, lumbar, sacral, coccygeal
Characterized by a total loss of motor, sensory and reflex functions below the level of injury.
Complete lesion
Injury named by the last functioning nerve root (i.e., C4 quadriplegia).
Complete cord injury
Some function below the level of injury. Variable in the amount of function, and whether or not that function is useful for the patient.
Incomplete lesion
________ symptoms occur in a specific region, usually corresponding to a dermatome.
Radicular
– Numbness – Tingling – Weakness – Paresthesia (feeling of pins and needles)
Radicular symptom
These symptoms usually occur over a larger general area, often on both sides of the body.
Myelopathic symptoms
– Gait disturbances – Bowel and bladder dysfunction – Generalized weakness
Myelopathic symptoms
Exits heart and travels caudally, directly anterior to spine
Aorta
Carries oxygenated blood from the heart and distributes it to the body
Aorta
Carries deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart
Vena cava
Iliac arteries
Bifurcation of aorta around L4-L5
Exit aorta at every level
Segmental artery
The aorta bifurcates into the…
Iliac arteries
The vena cava is formed by the confluence of the…
Iliac veins
Which arteries wrap around the vertebral body and supply the vertebrae and spinal cord with blood
Segmental arteries
These vessels carry blood to and from the head
Carotid artery and jugular vein
In the cervical spine, the vertebral arteries branch off the aorta via the…
Subclavian arteries
Damage to this artery is a potential complication of spine surgery
Subclavian arteries
Supply blood to the base of the brain
Subclavian artery
