Spinal Quiz Flashcards
What is a spinal nerve?
Mixed nerve carrying sensory, motor and autonomic signals
There are 31- 8 for cervical, 12 for thoracic, 5 for lumbar and sacral, 1 for coccygeal
Why are there 8 cervical nerves?
C1 nerve emerges above c1 vertebrae, between it and the occiput l
So c8 emerges below c7 vertebrae
What is a foramen?
Bony hollow archway creating passage for nerves or blood vessels
What is the vertebral canal?
Opening created by vertebral body and vertebral arch
Houses spinal cord
What and where is the intervertebral foramen?
Lies between the pedicles at all neighbouring vertebrae
Spinal nerves pass through
How is C1 different?
Has no spinous process so can’t be palpated
Transverse foramen is opening on transverse process, passage to vertebral artery, vertebral vein, sympathetic nerve plexus
How does the atlanto-occipital enable flexion and extension
Convex occipital condyles on concave atlantal facets enables anterior posterior glide of head on neck
How does the antlanto-axial joint enable rotation?
C1 articulates as pivot joint with odontoid process of C2
How are Spinous processes of thoracic spine different?
T1-3 project horizontally
T4-6 project half a vertebrae distally
T7-9 project a full vertebra distally
T10-12 project horizontally
What are the articulations on mid thoracic vertebrae?
Vertebral body above and below
Superior articulating facets on left and right
Inferior articulating facets on left and right
One left sided rib superolaterally and inferolaterally
One right sided rib superolaterally and inferolaterally
Transverse processes for neck of rib on left and right
What are useful landmarks to determine spinal level
C2 first to be palpated
Inferior angle of scapula- T7
Highest point of iliac crest- L4
C6 disappears with head in extension
