Osteology of the Vertebral Column

Question 1

What are common causes of chronic back pain in degenerative spine disease?

Answer 1

Disk herniation or age-related degenerative changes.

Question 2

What are three effects of degenerative spine disease on the body?

Answer 2

Significant inflammatory response

Mechanical neural compression

Radicular symptoms in the upper and lower limbs

Question 3

What factors can contribute to back pain?

Answer 3

Trauma, stress, strain (non-specific and mechanical pain).

Question 4

What are the key aspects of mechanical back pain management?

Answer 4

Control of pain and inflammation

Restoring joint range of movement and soft tissue extensibility

Improving and maintaining muscle strength

Question 5

How many vertebrae are in the vertebral column?

Answer 5

33

Question 6

What are the five regions of the vertebral column?

Answer 6

Cervical (7)
Thoracic (12)
Lumbar (5)
Sacrum (5, fused)
Coccyx (4, fused)

Question 7

What are the 4 main functions of the vertebral column?

Answer 7

Protects the spinal cord

Supports body weight above the pelvis

Forms the central axis of the body

Facilitates posture and movement

Question 8

Answer 8

Question 9

What are the 2 primary curvatures of the vertebral column?

Answer 9

Thoracic
Sacrococcygeal

Question 10

What are the 2 secondary curvatures of the vertebral column?

Answer 10

Cervical
Lumbar

Question 11

What is the difference between primary and secondary curvatures?

Answer 11

Primary curvatures develop in fetal life and remain convex posteriorly.

Secondary curvatures develop after birth and are concave posteriorly.

Question 12

What are the two main parts of a vertebra?

Answer 12

Vertebral body (anteriorly)
Vertebral arch (posteriorly and laterally)

Question 13

What 5 structures make up the vertebral arch?

Answer 13

Spinous process
Transverse processes
Pedicle
Lamina
Articular processes

Question 14

Answer 14

Question 15

Answer 15

Question 16

What is the function of the vertebral canal?

Answer 16

It encloses and protects the spinal cord.

Question 17

what are 2 features of typical cervical vertebrae

Answer 17

Foramen transversarium (vertebral artery, vein and sympathetic nerves)

Bifid spinous process

Question 18

What is the shape of the thoracic vertebral body?

Answer 18

Heart-shaped.

Question 19

What are demi-facets on thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 19

Articular surfaces on the sides of the vertebral body for the heads of the ribs.

Question 20

Where are costal facets located, and what do they articulate with?

Answer 20

On the transverse processes; they articulate with the tubercles of the ribs.

Question 21

How do the spinous processes of thoracic vertebrae differ from other regions?

Answer 21

They are long and slant inferiorly, becoming more horizontal in the lower thoracic region.

Question 22

How do the superior and inferior facets of thoracic vertebrae articulate with ribs?

Answer 22

The superior facet articulates with the head of the adjacent rib, and the inferior facet articulates with the head of the rib below.

Question 23

What is the shape of the lumbar vertebral body?

Answer 23

Kidney-shaped.

Question 24

How do the spinous processes of lumbar vertebrae differ from other regions?

Answer 24

They are short and broad.

Question 25

What additional processes are present in lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 25

Mammillary and accessory processes.

Question 26

what are 4 types of typical vertebrae

Answer 26

Question 27

What type of joint is between vertebral bodies?

Answer 27

adjacent vertebrae are joined by intervertebral discs. This is a type of cartilaginous joints, known as a symphysis.

Question 28

What type of joint is between vertebral arches?

Answer 28

by the articulation of superior and inferior articular processes from adjacent vertebrae. It is a synovial type joint.

Question 29

What are the two parts of a fibrocartilaginous intervertebral disc?

Answer 29

Nucleus pulposus annulus fibrosus.

Question 30

What type of cartilage forms the end plates of intervertebral discs?

Answer 30

Hyaline cartilage.

Question 31

What are the 3 functions of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 31

Permits flexibility of the spine Acts as a shock absorber Supports the curvature of the spine

Question 32

herniation of an intervertebral disc

Answer 32

Question 33

What are the major ligaments present throughout the vertebral column?

Answer 33

Anterior longitudinal ligament Posterior longitudinal ligament Ligamentum flavum Interspinous ligament Supraspinous ligament Intertransverse ligament

Question 34

Answer 34

Question 35

What passes through the intervertebral foramina?

Answer 35

Spinal nerve roots, arteries, vessels, nerves, and transforaminal ligaments.

Question 36

What are the three layers of back muscles and their functions?

Answer 36

Deep layer – Moves the vertebral column Intermediate layer – Moves the thoracic cage Superficial layer – Moves the shoulder

Question 37

What is a dermatome?

Answer 37

A strip of skin innervated by a single spinal nerve.

Question 38

How many pairs of spinal nerves are present bilaterally?

Answer 38

31 pairs.

Question 39

What is the diagnostic importance of dermatomes?

Answer 39

helps determine spinal nerve damage and its extent based on sensory symptoms.

Question 40

What happens if nerves with specific root values are damaged?

Answer 40

Leads to muscle weakness (motor symptoms).

Question 41

What spinal nerve roots form the sciatic nerve?

Answer 41

L4-S3.

Question 42

What is the sensory function of the sciatic nerve?

Answer 42

Innervates the lateral and posterior lower limb skin, and both dorsal and plantar foot surfaces.

Question 43

What is the motor function of the sciatic nerve?

Answer 43

Innervates the hamstring muscles.

Question 44

What is sciatica?

Answer 44

Irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve.

Question 45

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Answer 45

Pins and needles, numbness, pain, and weakness.

Question 46

What are common causes of sciatica?

Answer 46

Injury, disc herniation, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis.

Question 47

What are the treatment options for sciatica?

Answer 47

Exercises, stretches, painkillers, physiotherapy, or decompression surgery in severe cases.

Question 48

What are common causes of chronic back pain?

Answer 48

Disk herniation and age-related degenerative changes.

Question 49

What factors can contribute to back pain?

Answer 49

Trauma, stress, and strain.