Spine Flashcards
Functions of the spinal cord (3)
Weight-bearing and locomotion
Protection
How many cervical vertebrae are there?
7 cervical vertebra
How many thoracic vertebrae are there?
12 thoracic vertebra
How many lumbar vertebrae are there?
5 lumbar vertebra
Describe the vertebrae of the spine
Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacrum Coccyx
At what vertebral level does the spinal cord end?
L1/2
How many cervical nerves are there? Why?
8 cervical nerves but 7 cervical vertebra
- cervical nerves exit spinal cord above the vertebra
- 8th cervical nerve exits below 7th cervical vertebra
What is the atlas?
1st cervical vertebra - supports the weight of the skull
What is the axis?
2nd cervical vertebra - has the odontoid peg which provides the axis around which the neck can rotate
How can you distinguish cervical vertebra? (body, foramen, spinous/ transverse process)
- Small vertebral body
- 2 transverse foramen (for vertebral arteries)*
- 1 vertebral/spinal canal
- Bifid (spinous process has 2 points)*
How can you distinguish thoracic vertebra? (body, foramen, spinous/ transverse process)
- Larger body
- Vertebral/spinal canal
- Long & thick spinous process
- Transverse process
- Articulation for ribs*
How do you distinguish lumbar vertebra?
- Largest vertebral body
- Short, blunt spinous process
- Large, blunt transverse process
What are the normal curves of the spine?
- Cervical curvature (forward)
- Thoracic curvature (backward)
- Lumbar curvature (forward)
What is lordosis?
Forward curve
Wha is kyphosis?
Backward curve
What is scoliosis?
Sideways curve
What attaches the vertebrae but allows them to remain flexible?
Intervertebral discs
Synovial joints
Ligaments
What are the layers of the intervertebral disc? (3)
Hyaline cartilage
Fibrocartilage
Hyaline cartilage
What is the structure of fibrocartilage?
Nucleus pulposus (in middle) - filled w gel Annulus fibrosus (fibrous coencentric circles around)
What ligament runs down the front of the spinal ligament?
Anterior spinal (longitudinal) ligament
Where does the posterior longitudinal ligament run?
Down the back of the vertebral bodies
What is the ligamentum flavum?
Attaches the lamina (is yellow coloured)
What is the interspinous ligament?
Connects the spinous processes
What is the supraspinous ligament?
Connects the tips of the spinous processes
What is an epidural?
Injection of substance (eg local anesthetic) into the epidural space ANYWHERE along the vertebral column
What makes up the epidural space?
Space between the dura and the bone of the vertebral column
What is a lumbar puncture?
Insertion of a hollow needle BELOW the spinal cord into the subarachnoid space to remove CSF for diagnostic purposes
What is the conus medullaris?
Last bit of spinal cord (forms a cone shape)
What comes off the end of the spinal cord and continues down to the coccyx?
Phylum terminalis (tube of pia mater)
What is the cauda equina?
Collection of sensory & motor neurons entering/ exiting the spinal cord (below the spinal cord)
Where do the dorsal root ganglia lie and why is this clinically important?
Just outside the dural sheath - at risk of compression from a slipped disc
Where do the dural sac and subarachnoid space end?
S2 (lower sacrum)
Blood supply to the spinal cord?
Anterior and posterior spinal arteries (from vertebral arteries)
Reinforced by radicular arteries (from the aorta)
Describe the blood supply of the spinal cord (3)
Anterior spinal artery
Posterior spinal artery
Radicular arteries (support)
