Spinal Anatomy

Question 1

Name the regions of the spine and numbers of vertebrae in each

Answer 1

Cervical - 7
Thoracic - 12
Lumbar - 5
Sacral - 5
Coccygeal -3/4

Question 2

What are the main regional differences between vertebrae

Answer 2

Cervical - smallest body, largest canal/foramen. Shallow, horizontal facet joints

Thoracic - medium sized body and foramen, diagonal facet joints

Lumbar - largest body, smallest foramen, vertical facet joints

Sacral/Coccygeal - fused

Question 3

Name the main muscles of the lumbar region

Answer 3

Multifidus
Quadratus Lumborum
Transverse Abdominis 
Rectus Abdominis
External Oblique
Internal Oblique

Question 4

Describe the anatomy of an intervertebral disc

Answer 4

nucleus pulposus surrounded by annulus fibrosus. top and bottom = vertebral end plate

Question 5

Describe the anatomy of the spinal cord

Answer 5

central canal surrounded by ‘H’ shaped gray matter - ventral and dorsal horns.

31 pairs of spinal nerves attached to the side - dorsal and ventral roots enter via intravertebral foramen

Sensory = enter dorsal
Motor = exit ventral

Question 6

What are the bony landmarks of a vertebrae?

Answer 6

Spinous Process
Transverse Process
Body
Foramen
Pedicle
Lamina
Facet Joint/ articular process

Question 7

Name the ligaments of the lumbar spine and their attachments

Answer 7

Posterior Longitudinal Ligament
Anterior Longitudinal Ligament
Ligamentum Flavum
Interspinous Ligament
Supraspinous Ligament
Intertransverse Ligament