Movements of Vertebral Column

Question 1

In cervical spine, flexion/extension is facilitated by…

Answer 1

orientation of superior articular facets

Question 2

75% of flexion/extension is in

Answer 2

lumbar

Question 3

Lateral flexion is greatest in:

Answer 3

cervical region
(10 degrees vs 6 degrees in thoracic and lumbar)

Question 4

Lateral flexion is restricted in:

Answer 4

thoracic region (due to ribs)

Question 5

Rotation is greatest in…
and lowest in…

Answer 5

greatest in upper thoracic and lowest in lumbar

Question 6

Lateral flexion is coupled with:

Answer 6

rotation

Question 7

Lateral flexion of cervical vertebral column is coupled with:

Answer 7

ipsilateral rotation of vertebral bodies

Question 8

Lateral flexion of upper thoracics is coupled with:

Answer 8

ipsilateral rotation of vertebral bodies

Question 9

Lateral flexion of lower thoracics is coupled with:

Answer 9

contralateral rotation of vertebral bodies

Question 10

Thoracic flexion is limited by:

Answer 10

vertical articular facets

Question 11

Thoracic extension is limited by:

Answer 11

overlapping laminae, spinous processes

Question 12

What allows for greater rotation in thoracic spine?

Answer 12

Articular facets lie along horizontal arc and permit considerable rotation

Question 13

Why is rotation extremely limited in lumbar spine?

Answer 13

articular facets are oriented along parasagittal planes

Question 14

Lumbar lateral flexion is coupled with:

Answer 14

contralateral rotation of the vertebral bodies

Question 15

What movement of the thoracic spine is free?

Answer 15

lateral flexion
(limited by ribs)

Question 16

What movements of the lumbar spine are free?

Answer 16

flexion, extension, lateral flexion

Question 17

during flexion, what happens to:
a. discs
b. laminae and SPs
c. PLL, ligamentum flavum, interspinous, posterior IVDs
d. extensor muscles
e. inferior articular processes of superior vertebrae
f. fibrous joint capsules of zygoapophyseal joints

Answer 17

a. compressed anteriorly
b. spread apart
c. tensed
d. resist flexion
e. glide superiorly
f. become taught

Question 18

what structures become tense during extension?

Answer 18

ALL, anterior fibers of annulus fibrosis

Question 19

what happens to the discs during extension?

Answer 19

compressed posteriorly

Question 20

during lateral flexion, what happens to IVDs on either side?

Answer 20

compressed on flexed side, tensed on contralateral side

Question 21

what allows for circumduction?

Answer 21

combined rotation of all vertebrae along the column coupled with lateral flexion, flexion/extension

Question 22

what happens to discs during rotation?

Answer 22

torsional deformation