Spine Flashcards

1
Q

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?

A

31

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2
Q

Which root does sensory information go through?

A

Dorsal

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3
Q

Where do the pairs of nerves lie?

A

either side of the vertebral column

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4
Q

How many cervical nerves are there?

A

8 pairs

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5
Q

How many pairs of thoracic nerves are there?

A

12

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6
Q

How many pairs of lumbar nerves are there?

A

5

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7
Q

How many pairs of sacral nerves are there?

A

5

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8
Q

How many pairs of coccygeal nerves are there?

A

1

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9
Q

What of the nervous system do the spinal nerves reside in?

A

peripheral nervous system

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10
Q

Where do the spinal nerves leave the spinal column?

A

intervertebral foramen between adjacent vertebrae. ALL do this apart from C1 which emerges between the occipital bones and the atlas.

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11
Q

What are vertebrae separated by?

A

Intervertebral discs

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12
Q

Functions of the vertebral column

A

protection (of spinal cord), support (weight of body), forming central axis and postures and movement

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13
Q

Briefly describe the structure that all vertebrae share

A

anterior vertebral body and posterior vertebral arch

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14
Q

What are vertebral bodies used for?

A

Weightbearing

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15
Q

Describe the superior and inferior aspects of the vertebral bodies

A

Lined with hyaline cartilage

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16
Q

What is the intervertebral disc made from?

A

fibrocartilage

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17
Q

What part of the vertebrae does the vertebral arch form?

A

lateral and posterior aspect

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18
Q

What do the bony processes of the vertebral arch do?

A

Serve as attachment sites for muscles and ligaments

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19
Q

List some bony processes of the vertebral arch?

A

Spinous processes, transverse processes, pedicles, lamina and articular processes

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20
Q

Describe transverse processes

A

each vertebrae has two which extend laterally and posteriorly from the vertebral body

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21
Q

Where do the ribs attach?

A

To the transverse processes of the thoracic vertebrae

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22
Q

What do pedicles do?

A

Connect the vertebral body to the transverse processes

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23
Q

What does the vertebral lamina do?

A

Connect the transverse and the spinal processes

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24
Q

What do articular processes do?

A

form joints between one vertebrae and its superior and inferior counterparts. The articular processes are located at the intersection of the laminae and pedicles

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25
Q

What are the distinguishing processes of the cervical vertebrae?

A

bifid spinous process (at distal end), transverse foramina (opening in each ransverse process through which arteries travel to the brain), triangular vertebral foramen

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26
Q

Which cervical vertebrae are exceptions to the general vertebrae in terms of bifid spinous process?

A

C1 which has no spinous process and C7 which has a spinous process that is longer than that of C2-C6 and may not bifurcate

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27
Q

Why are the atlas and the axis different?

A

To allow movement of the head

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28
Q

Describe basic features of thoracic vertebrae?

A
  • two demi facets placed superiorly and inferiorly on either side of the vertebral body (articular with heads of two different ribs)
  • On the transverse process there is a costal facet which articulates with the shaft of a single rib
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29
Q

Describe the spinous processes of thoracic vertebrae

A

orientated obliquely inferiorly and posteriorly.

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30
Q

Describe the vertebral foramen of the thoracic vertebrae

A

Circular

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31
Q

What shape are the vertebral bodies of the lumbar vertebrae?

A

kidney shaped

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32
Q

Describe the lumbar vertebral bodies

A

lack characteristic feature of other vertebrae (no transverse foramina, costal facets or bifid spinous process)

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33
Q

Describe the shape of the lumbar vertebral foreamen

A

triangular

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34
Q

Describe the spinous processes of the lumbar vertebrae

A

shorter than those of thoracic and do not extend inferiorly below the level of the vertebral body

35
Q

What are on the lateral sides of the sacrum?

A

facets for articulation with the pelvis at sacro-iliac joints

36
Q

How is the coccyx recognised?

A

By its lack of vertebral arches and no vertebral canal

37
Q

Which facets articulate with the vertebra above?

A

left and right superior

38
Q

Which facets articulate with the vertebrae below?

A

left and right inferior facets

39
Q

What type of joints are the vertebral body joints?

A

cartilaginous

40
Q

Which ligaments strengthen the vertebral body joints?

A

the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments, which run the full length of the vertebral column

41
Q

What is the role of the anterior longitudinal ligament?

A

it is thick and prevents hyperextension of the vertebral column

42
Q

What is the role of the posterior longitudinal ligament?

A

weaker and prevents hyperflexion

43
Q

What are the joints between the facets called?

A

facet joints

44
Q

What ligaments strengthen the facet joints?

A

ligamentum flavum, interspinous and supraspinous, intertransverse

45
Q

Where is ligamentum flavum?

A

between lamina of adjacent vertebrae

46
Q

What do interspinous and supraspinous ligaments do?

A

join the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae. Interspinous ligaments attach between processes, supraspinous attach to the tips

47
Q

Where do intertransverse ligaments go?

A

between transverse processes

48
Q

What is C1?

A

Atlas

49
Q

What is C2?

A

axis

50
Q

Joint between head and C1?

A

atlanto-occipital

51
Q

Why is the atlas different?

A

No body or spinous process

52
Q

Briefly describe structure of the atlas

A

anterior and posterior arch separated by laterally extending structures called lateral masses, or transverse processes

53
Q

What does the most anterior part of the anterior arch of the the atlas form?

A

anterior tubercle

54
Q

What attached to the anterior tubercle of the atlas?

A

the anterior longitudinal ligament

55
Q

What is on the posterior surface of the anterior tubercle of the atlas?

A

oval shaped facet for attachment of the odontoid process of the axis

56
Q

Is the posterior of anterior arch of the atlas larger?

A

Posterior arch is larger

57
Q

Which vertebrae has the largest spinous process?

A

C7

58
Q

What supports the weight of the head?

A

Lateral masses

59
Q

What part of the axis articulates with the atlas?

A

Odontoid process/dens

60
Q

What type of joint is between the atlas and axis?

A

Pivot joint

61
Q

Name of joint between atlas and axis?

A

atlanto-axial joint

62
Q

What is sciatica characterised by?

A

Pain going down leg from lower back

63
Q

What is sciatica caused by?

A

spinal disc herniation, pressing on one of the lumbar or sacral nerve roots

64
Q

What is spinal disc herniation?

A

Injury to the cushioning and connective tissue between the vertebrae. Tear in the outer fibrous ring of an intervertebral disc allows soft central portion to bulge out beyond the damaged outer rings

65
Q

Where do disc herniations most commonly occur?

A

posterolateral due to the presence of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the spinal canal

66
Q

Where are normal lordoses?

A

Two forward curves seen in cervical and lumbar spine

67
Q

Where is normal kyphosis seen?

A

two backward curves in thoracic spine and sacral spine

68
Q

What is the ventral root of a spinal nerve?

A

Carries efferent/ motor information

69
Q

How are the cervical nevres named according to their vertebrae?

A

They are numbered by the vertebrae below, except C8 which is below vertebrae C7 and above T1

70
Q

How are the thoracic, luumbar and sacral nerves numbered?

A

By the vertebrae above

71
Q

Where does the dorsal ramus go?

A

Contains nerves that serve the extensors of spine and overlying skin

72
Q

Where does the ventral ramus go?

A

anterior, limbs and ventral trunk

73
Q

What do the ventral and dorsal root join to form?

A

Spinal nerve

74
Q

Which vertebrae are responsible for rotation

A

thoracic

75
Q

Describe intervertebral discs§

A

has a central nucleus pulposus (proteoglycan and water) surrounded by a ring of collagen bundles, the annulus fibrosus

76
Q

What feature of joints in the thoracic spine allow rotation

A

facets of thoracic vertebrae and curved in the horizontal plane

77
Q

What rami supply the flexors of the spine?

A

anterior primary rami of spinal nerves

78
Q

What rami supply the extensors of the spine?

A

posterior primary rami

79
Q

Where do principle components of the spine develop from? (bones ligaments and muscles)

A

the mesoderm of the somites

80
Q

Where do the vertebrae of the spine develop from?

A

the sclerotomes of the muscles from the myotomes of the somites

81
Q

Spinal nerves for diaphragm

A

C345

82
Q

What are lumbar punctures used for?

A

obtaining a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for analysis (to reveal infection, haemorrhage, tumour cells, etc).

83
Q

How are lumbar punctures done?

A

Needle between L4 and L5

84
Q

What type of joint is the intervetebral disc

A

secondary cartilaginous joint