Netters Spine

Question 1

Where is the cervical enlargement on both the vertebral levels and spinal cord segments?
Why does this happen?

Answer 1

C3 to T2 (vertebral level)
C4 to T1 (spinal cord segments)
Occurs because of the large nerve supply necessary for the two upper limbs

Question 2

Where is the lumbrosacral enlargement (vertebral and spinal cord segments)?
Why does it occur?

Answer 2

T9 to T12 (vertebral)
L2 to S3 (spinal cord segments)
Occurs because a large nerve supply is necessary for the two lower limbs

Question 3

How many vertebrae are there in each region?

Answer 3

7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 fused sacral vertebrae, and 4 fused coccygeal vertebrae

Question 4

What are the four functions of the vertebra Column?

Answer 4

Protection of spinal cord in spinal canal.
Support of body weight above pelvis
Forms the central axis of the body
Support posture and movement

Question 5

What are the curvatures of the cervical and lumbar? Are they primary or secondary?

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

What is kyphosis?

Answer 6

Excessive thoracic curvature causing hunchback deformity.

Question 7

What is lordosis?

Answer 7

An excessive lumbar curvature causing swayback deformity.

Question 8

What is scoliosis?

Answer 8

An abnormal lateral curvature of the spine

Question 9

What movements are allowed due to the articulations of the vertebrae above the pelvis?

Answer 9

Flexion, extension
Lateral flexion
Rotation

Question 10

What do the pedicles connect?

Answer 10

Connection between vertebral body and transverse process

Question 11

What is the lamina?

Answer 11

Connection between the transverse and spinous process

Question 12

What is a herniated or slipped disc?

Answer 12

The annulus fibrosus begins to tear allowing the nucleus purposes to bludgeon out of the disc causing pain

Question 13

Describe the spinal cord segments.

Answer 13

There are 31 spinal cord segments (8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal)

Question 14

Which ligament limits hyperextension of the spine?

Answer 14

The anterior longitudinal ligament

Question 15

Which ligament limits hyper flexion?

Answer 15

The posterior longitudinal ligament. It is weaker than the anterior longitudinal ligament

Question 16

What ligament extends between the lamina of adjacent vertebrae?

Answer 16

The ligamentum flavum

Question 17

Which ligament fills the space of the spinous process of adjacent vertebrae?

Answer 17

Interspinous ligament

Question 18

Which ligament extends between the tips of the spinous process?

Answer 18

The supraspinous ligament

Question 19

What ligament extends between the transverse processes?

Answer 19

Intertransverse ligaments

Question 20

Describe the intervertebral disc.

Answer 20

The intervertebral disc is composed of fibrocartilaginous material.
Outside is called annulus fibrosis
The central is gel like substance called nucleus pulposus

Question 21

What is a herniated or slipped disc?

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Where is a slipped disc more likely to happen in the vertebral column?

Answer 22

in the cervical and lumbar regions of the spine.

Question 23

In what nerve does herniated disc effect in both the cervical and lumbar region?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Where does the spinal cord end?

Answer 24

L2

Question 25

How many spinal cord segments are there and what are they?

Answer 25

31, (8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal)

Question 26

Where do spinal nerves leave the spinal cord?

Answer 26

Below the same named vertebrae except in the cervical region.

Question 27

Spinal nerves L2-S5 exit where and what are they referred to?

Answer 27

They travel inferiority to exit the vertebral column and are referred to as the cause equine.

Question 28

What do the ventral/anterior and the dorsal/posterior give rise to?

Answer 28

Ventral/anterior: motor

Dorsal/posterior: sensory

Question 29

Describe the dorsal/posterior Ramus; what is its function?

Answer 29

Motor and sensory nerve fibers to the synovial joints of the vertebral column, intrinsic muscles of the back, skin of the back

Question 30

Describe the ventral/anterior ramus and it’s function.

Answer 30

Motor and sensory nerve fibers to most of the remaining joints, muscles and skin of the body.

Question 31

What is the dura Mater? What does it extend from?

Answer 31

Most external of meninges. It extends from foramen magnum to middle of sacrum.

Question 32

What does the epidural space contain?

Answer 32

Fat, loose connective tissue, and internal vertebral venous plexus.

Question 33

What does the dura form below the conus medullaris?

Answer 33

The lumbar, cistern/Dural sac/thecal sac. It contains CSF and the cauda equina

Question 34

What do the arachnoid space and what does the subarachnoid space contain?

Answer 34

The arachnoid Mater is a delicate membrane located between the dura and innermost pia mater.
The subarachnoid space contains CSF.

Question 35

What is the pia mater?

Answer 35

Innermost meninges.

It is a thin membrane that covers spinal cord, nerve roots, and blood vessels.

Question 36

What does the pia material create interior to the conus medullaris?

Answer 36

The filum terminale which attaches to the end of the vertebral canal, anchoring the inferior end of the spinal cord