Movement Lecture 6: Back pain Flashcards
How can you distinguish cervical vertebrae by looking at the spinous process?
Spinous processes are bifid
Why are cervical vertebrae particularly susceptible to dislocation?
Very flat vertebral bodies
Which cervical vertebrae have transverse foramina and which vessels pass through these?
C1-C6
Vertebral arteries and veins
What is the name of the ligament attached to the atlas and what structure does it hold in place?
Transverse ligament of the atlas
Dens of the axis
What is the dens of the axis also known as?
Odontoid process
Why is the dens prone to fracture?
Relatively low density bone
What is the name of a potential treatment for an axis fracture?
Atlantoaxial arthrodesis
What type of vertebrae have the longest and most inferiorly pointing spinous processes?
Thoracic
Which type of vertebrae have costal facets and demi facets, and where are they located?
Thoracic
Costal facets on transverse processes
Costal demifacts on superior and inferior edges of vertebral body
Do ribs articulate with their corresponding superior or inferior demifacet?
Superior demifacet
Do ribs correspond to the vertebra that is above or below where they articulate?
Below
Do the articular facets of the thoracic vertebrae articulate in a posterior/anterior or a medial/lateral fashion?
Posterior/anterior
Do the articular facets of the lumbar vertebrae articulate in a posterior/anterior or a medial/lateral fashion?
Medial/lateral
What is the name for the joints between the articular facets of adjacent vertebrae?
Zygapophysial joints
What is the fibrocartilage ring of the intervertebral discs called and what is its function?
Annulus fibrosis, limits axial rotation
What is the annulus fibrosis and what is it made of?
Outer fibrocartilage ring of the intervertebral discs
What is the centre of the intervertebral discs called?
Nucleus pulposus
What is the function of the nucleus pulposus and what sort of substance is formed from?
Shock absorption
Gelatinous
Are thicker intervertebral discs more or less flexible?
More flexible
Is whiplash caused by hyperflexion or hyperextension of the cervical neck?
Hyperextension
Which ligament is often torn during whiplash?
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Are cervical and lumbar vertebrae lordosed or kyphosed?
Lordosed
Are thoracic and sacral vertebrae lordosed or kyphosed?
Kyphosed
Would someone with excessive lordosis or kyphosis be bent over forwards?
Kyphosis
What is the name for assymetrical abnormal curvature of the spine?
Scoliosis
What group of people are most susceptible to osteoperosis?
Postmenopausal women
Are osteoperotic vertebrae concave or convex?
Concave
What herniates in what is commonly known as a “slipped disk?”
Nucleus pulposus
In which direction does a slipped disk normally occur?
Posterolateral
Between which vertebrae does a slipped disk most commonly occur?
L4/L5 and L5/S1
What is a complication of a severe slipped disk?
Cauda equina syndrome
