Spine

Question 1

Functions of the spinal cord (3)

Answer 1

Weight-bearing and locomotion

Protection

Question 2

How many cervical vertebrae are there?

Answer 2

7 cervical vertebra

Question 3

How many thoracic vertebrae are there?

Answer 3

12 thoracic vertebra

Question 4

How many lumbar vertebrae are there?

Answer 4

5 lumbar vertebra

Question 5

Describe the vertebrae of the spine

Answer 5

Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacrum
Coccyx

Question 6

At what vertebral level does the spinal cord end?

Answer 6

L1/2

Question 7

How many cervical nerves are there? Why?

Answer 7

8 cervical nerves but 7 cervical vertebra

• cervical nerves exit spinal cord above the vertebra
• 8th cervical nerve exits below 7th cervical vertebra

Question 8

What is the atlas?

Answer 8

1st cervical vertebra - supports the weight of the skull

Question 9

What is the axis?

Answer 9

2nd cervical vertebra - has the odontoid peg which provides the axis around which the neck can rotate

Question 10

How can you distinguish cervical vertebra? (body, foramen, spinous/ transverse process)

Answer 10

• Small vertebral body
• 2 transverse foramen (for vertebral arteries)*
• 1 vertebral/spinal canal
• Bifid (spinous process has 2 points)*

Question 11

How can you distinguish thoracic vertebra? (body, foramen, spinous/ transverse process)

Answer 11

• Larger body
• Vertebral/spinal canal
• Long & thick spinous process
• Transverse process
• Articulation for ribs*

Question 12

How do you distinguish lumbar vertebra?

Answer 12

• Largest vertebral body
• Short, blunt spinous process
• Large, blunt transverse process

Question 13

What are the normal curves of the spine?

Answer 13

• Cervical curvature (forward)
• Thoracic curvature (backward)
• Lumbar curvature (forward)

Question 14

What is lordosis?

Answer 14

Forward curve

Question 15

Wha is kyphosis?

Answer 15

Backward curve

Question 16

What is scoliosis?

Answer 16

Sideways curve

Question 17

What attaches the vertebrae but allows them to remain flexible?

Answer 17

Intervertebral discs
Synovial joints
Ligaments

Question 18

What are the layers of the intervertebral disc? (3)

Answer 18

Hyaline cartilage
Fibrocartilage
Hyaline cartilage

Question 19

What is the structure of fibrocartilage?

Answer 19

Nucleus pulposus (in middle) - filled w gel
Annulus fibrosus (fibrous coencentric circles around)

Question 20

What ligament runs down the front of the spinal ligament?

Answer 20

Anterior spinal (longitudinal) ligament

Question 21

Where does the posterior longitudinal ligament run?

Answer 21

Down the back of the vertebral bodies

Question 22

What is the ligamentum flavum?

Answer 22

Attaches the lamina (is yellow coloured)

Question 23

What is the interspinous ligament?

Answer 23

Connects the spinous processes

Question 24

What is the supraspinous ligament?

Answer 24

Connects the tips of the spinous processes

Question 25

What is an epidural?

Answer 25

Injection of substance (eg local anesthetic) into the epidural space ANYWHERE along the vertebral column

Question 26

What makes up the epidural space?

Answer 26

Space between the dura and the bone of the vertebral column

Question 27

What is a lumbar puncture?

Answer 27

Insertion of a hollow needle BELOW the spinal cord into the subarachnoid space to remove CSF for diagnostic purposes

Question 28

What is the conus medullaris?

Answer 28

Last bit of spinal cord (forms a cone shape)

Question 29

What comes off the end of the spinal cord and continues down to the coccyx?

Answer 29

Phylum terminalis (tube of pia mater)

Question 30

What is the cauda equina?

Answer 30

Collection of sensory & motor neurons entering/ exiting the spinal cord (below the spinal cord)

Question 31

Where do the dorsal root ganglia lie and why is this clinically important?

Answer 31

Just outside the dural sheath - at risk of compression from a slipped disc

Question 32

Where do the dural sac and subarachnoid space end?

Answer 32

S2 (lower sacrum)

Question 33

Blood supply to the spinal cord?

Answer 33

Anterior and posterior spinal arteries (from vertebral arteries)
Reinforced by radicular arteries (from the aorta)

Question 34

Describe the blood supply of the spinal cord (3)

Answer 34

Anterior spinal artery
Posterior spinal artery
Radicular arteries (support)