Osteology Of Lumbar Vertebrae Flashcards
What are the typical lumbar vertebrae?
L1-L4
What are the characteristics of a typical lumbar vertebrae?
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
Describe the features of the transverse processes of typical lumbar vertebrae.
“Tripid”
Mammillary process
Transverse process, costal element
Accessory mammillary process
What is the “true” TP on the typical lumbar vertebrae?
Mammillary process
What is the other name for the TP of the lumbar vertebrae?
Costal element
Describe the position of the superior processes and facets of the typical lumbar vertebrae?
Oriented in sagittal plane
Medial, slightly posterior
Describe the position of the inferior processes and facets of the typical lumbar vertebrae?
Oriented in the sagittal plane.
Lateral, slightly anterior
What is the lateral recess?
Lateral part of the vertebral canal, just medial to the IVF. Bilateral.
Describe the characteristics of IVF in the typical lumbar vertebrae.
Largest openings in VC.
Superior notch smaller, inferior larger
Oriented laterally (sagittal plane)
What is the purpose of the lateral recess?
Serves as a doorway for spinal n. before it enters the IVF
Name the atypical lumbar vertebrae.
L5
Which characteristics make L5 atypical?
Smaller SP
Short TP
Body is shortest in AP dimension, widest in lateral dimension
Inf articular facets face anterior and slightly lateral - coronal plane
What is spondyloschisis?
Vertebral arch of C1 does not fully fuse
What is spondylolysis?
Fracture of pars interarticularis
What are possible causes of spondylolysis?
Repetitive loading
Trauma
What is spondylolisthesis?
Vertebral column is out of normal position, often due to a fracture (spondylolysis)
What is sacralization?
Partial or complete fusion of L5 to sacrum
What is tropism?
Turning at the articular facets so they are asymmetrical (oriented in improper planes) within one segment.
Describe pathological fracture.
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
At what level of the lumbar spine are we most likely to see clinical conditions?
L5
At what level are we likely to palpate the SP of the typical lumbar vertebrae?
Likely the same level, or 0.5 segments above.
What shape is the vertebral body in the lumbar spine?
Kidney-shaped, large, robust
T/F
The typical lumbar vertebral foramen are the largest in the VC.
False. They are the smallest.
C>V>T
T/F
The IVFs in the lumbar vertebrae are the largest.
True
What two structures/features do we find in the vertebral foramen of the lumbar vertebrae?
Vertebral canal, lateral recess
