Netters Spine Flashcards
Where is the cervical enlargement on both the vertebral levels and spinal cord segments?
Why does this happen?
C3 to T2 (vertebral level)
C4 to T1 (spinal cord segments)
Occurs because of the large nerve supply necessary for the two upper limbs
Where is the lumbrosacral enlargement (vertebral and spinal cord segments)?
Why does it occur?
T9 to T12 (vertebral)
L2 to S3 (spinal cord segments)
Occurs because a large nerve supply is necessary for the two lower limbs
How many vertebrae are there in each region?
7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 fused sacral vertebrae, and 4 fused coccygeal vertebrae
What are the four functions of the vertebra Column?
Protection of spinal cord in spinal canal.
Support of body weight above pelvis
Forms the central axis of the body
Support posture and movement
What are the curvatures of the cervical and lumbar? Are they primary or secondary?
Anteriorly curved, and develop secondarily after birth.
Cervical appears when baby learns to hold his/her head up.
The lumbar regions develops when baby learns to sit and walk.
What is kyphosis?
Excessive thoracic curvature causing hunchback deformity.
What is lordosis?
An excessive lumbar curvature causing swayback deformity.
What is scoliosis?
An abnormal lateral curvature of the spine
What movements are allowed due to the articulations of the vertebrae above the pelvis?
Flexion, extension
Lateral flexion
Rotation
What do the pedicles connect?
Connection between vertebral body and transverse process
What is the lamina?
Connection between the transverse and spinous process
What is a herniated or slipped disc?
The annulus fibrosus begins to tear allowing the nucleus purposes to bludgeon out of the disc causing pain
Describe the spinal cord segments.
There are 31 spinal cord segments (8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal)
Which ligament limits hyperextension of the spine?
The anterior longitudinal ligament
Which ligament limits hyper flexion?
The posterior longitudinal ligament. It is weaker than the anterior longitudinal ligament
What ligament extends between the lamina of adjacent vertebrae?
The ligamentum flavum
Which ligament fills the space of the spinous process of adjacent vertebrae?
Interspinous ligament
Which ligament extends between the tips of the spinous process?
The supraspinous ligament
What ligament extends between the transverse processes?
Intertransverse ligaments
Describe the intervertebral disc.
The intervertebral disc is composed of fibrocartilaginous material.
Outside is called annulus fibrosis
The central is gel like substance called nucleus pulposus
What is a herniated or slipped disc?
The annulus fibrosis begins to tear allowing nucleus to bulge out of the disc causing pain.
The bluegrass typically occurs laterally this affecting one side of the body.
Where is a slipped disc more likely to happen in the vertebral column?
in the cervical and lumbar regions of the spine.
In what nerve does herniated disc effect in both the cervical and lumbar region?
In the cervical region it will effect the the nerve passing through the intervertebral foramen at the same level.
In the lumbar region it will affect the next lower nerve
Where does the spinal cord end?
L2
How many spinal cord segments are there and what are they?
31, (8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal)
Where do spinal nerves leave the spinal cord?
Below the same named vertebrae except in the cervical region.
Spinal nerves L2-S5 exit where and what are they referred to?
They travel inferiority to exit the vertebral column and are referred to as the cause equine.
What do the ventral/anterior and the dorsal/posterior give rise to?
Ventral/anterior: motor
Dorsal/posterior: sensory
Describe the dorsal/posterior Ramus; what is its function?
Motor and sensory nerve fibers to the synovial joints of the vertebral column, intrinsic muscles of the back, skin of the back
Describe the ventral/anterior ramus and it’s function.
Motor and sensory nerve fibers to most of the remaining joints, muscles and skin of the body.
What is the dura Mater? What does it extend from?
Most external of meninges. It extends from foramen magnum to middle of sacrum.
What does the epidural space contain?
Fat, loose connective tissue, and internal vertebral venous plexus.
What does the dura form below the conus medullaris?
The lumbar, cistern/Dural sac/thecal sac. It contains CSF and the cauda equina
What do the arachnoid space and what does the subarachnoid space contain?
The arachnoid Mater is a delicate membrane located between the dura and innermost pia mater.
The subarachnoid space contains CSF.
What is the pia mater?
Innermost meninges.
It is a thin membrane that covers spinal cord, nerve roots, and blood vessels.
What does the pia material create interior to the conus medullaris?
The filum terminale which attaches to the end of the vertebral canal, anchoring the inferior end of the spinal cord
