Osteology Of Lumbar Vertebrae

Question 1

What are the typical lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 1

L1-L4

Question 2

What are the characteristics of a typical lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 2

Club like, short and stout SP. No downward slope
Kidney-shaped body, large, robust
Triangle-shaped vertebral foramen
“Tripod” TP
Superior articulate process/facet oriented in sagittal plane

Question 3

Describe the features of the transverse processes of typical lumbar vertebrae.

Answer 3

“Tripid”
Mammillary process
Transverse process, costal element
Accessory mammillary process

Question 4

What is the “true” TP on the typical lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 4

Mammillary process

Question 5

What is the other name for the TP of the lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 5

Costal element

Question 6

Describe the position of the superior processes and facets of the typical lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 6

Oriented in sagittal plane

Medial, slightly posterior

Question 7

Describe the position of the inferior processes and facets of the typical lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 7

Oriented in the sagittal plane.

Lateral, slightly anterior

Question 8

What is the lateral recess?

Answer 8

Lateral part of the vertebral canal, just medial to the IVF. Bilateral.

Question 9

Describe the characteristics of IVF in the typical lumbar vertebrae.

Answer 9

Largest openings in VC.
Superior notch smaller, inferior larger
Oriented laterally (sagittal plane)

Question 10

What is the purpose of the lateral recess?

Answer 10

Serves as a doorway for spinal n. before it enters the IVF

Question 11

Name the atypical lumbar vertebrae.

Answer 11

L5

Question 12

Which characteristics make L5 atypical?

Answer 12

Smaller SP
Short TP
Body is shortest in AP dimension, widest in lateral dimension
Inf articular facets face anterior and slightly lateral - coronal plane

Question 13

What is spondyloschisis?

Answer 13

Vertebral arch of C1 does not fully fuse

Question 14

What is spondylolysis?

Answer 14

Fracture of pars interarticularis

Question 15

What are possible causes of spondylolysis?

Answer 15

Repetitive loading

Trauma

Question 16

What is spondylolisthesis?

Answer 16

Vertebral column is out of normal position, often due to a fracture (spondylolysis)

Question 17

What is sacralization?

Answer 17

Partial or complete fusion of L5 to sacrum

Question 18

What is tropism?

Answer 18

Turning at the articular facets so they are asymmetrical (oriented in improper planes) within one segment.

Question 19

Describe pathological fracture.

Answer 19

Fractures in the vertebral column caused by a disease that reduces the strength of bone.
Can occur anywhere in the VC.
Possible causes include osteoporosis, cancer - primary or metastasis

Question 20

At what level of the lumbar spine are we most likely to see clinical conditions?

Answer 20

L5

Question 21

At what level are we likely to palpate the SP of the typical lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 21

Likely the same level, or 0.5 segments above.

Question 22

What shape is the vertebral body in the lumbar spine?

Answer 22

Kidney-shaped, large, robust

Question 23

T/F

The typical lumbar vertebral foramen are the largest in the VC.

Answer 23

False. They are the smallest.

C>V>T

Question 24

T/F

The IVFs in the lumbar vertebrae are the largest.

Answer 24

True

Question 25

What two structures/features do we find in the vertebral foramen of the lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 25

Vertebral canal, lateral recess