Spine

Question 1

What action does the anterior longitudinal ligament limit?

Answer 1

excessive hyperextension of the spine

Question 2

where are the interspinous ligaments located?

Answer 2

BETWEEN adjacent spinous processes

Question 3

Answer 3

axis C2

Question 4

What does the major segmental artery specifically provide nutrients for?

Answer 4

vertebral body, vertebral arch (bones)

Question 5

how many lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 5

5

Question 6

What property is unique of the atlas bone?

Answer 6

there is no spinous process, and no vertebral body

Question 7

What is unique about the internal and external vertebral venous plexus and why is it clinically significant?

Answer 7

there are no valves, and they are linked together (anastomose). this increases the risk of allowing the spread of malignant disease and sepsis.

Question 8

What is the strength of posterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 8

weak, narrow and thinner (than anterior longitudinal)

Question 9

What portion of the intervertebral disc “leaks” during a herniation?

Answer 9

nucleus pulposus

Question 10

Where is the interspinous ligament connected?

Answer 10

between adjacent spinous processes

Question 11

Where do 95% of disc herniations occur and why?

Answer 11

L4-L5 or L5-S1, larger intervertebral discs with greater movements

Question 12

3 specific venous plexus’ of the spinal veins?

Answer 12

internal vertebral venous plexus, external vertebral venous plexus (anterior and posterior)

Question 13

Which curves of the back are primary curves?

Answer 13

kyphotic curve of the thoracic spine and kyphotic curve of the sacrum

Question 14

What action does the supraspinous ligament limit?

Answer 14

flexion of spine/neck

Question 15

How far does the supraspinous ligament run down the spine?

Answer 15

runs the length of the vertebral column

Question 16

how many coccygeal segments?

Answer 16

4

Question 17

Answer 17

atlas C1

Question 18

What spinal ligaments could be damaged due to extreme hyperflexion of the spine?

Answer 18

posterior longitudinal ligament, interspinous ligaments (could be due to facet jumping of cervical vertebrae)

Question 19

Continuous Ligaments of the Spine (3)

Answer 19

Supraspinous Ligament, Posterior Longitudinal Ligament, Anterior Longitudinal Ligament

Question 20

where is the posterior longitudinal ligament located?

Answer 20

posterior surface of vertebral bodies (in the vertebral canal)

Question 21

How many cervical vertebrae?

Answer 21

7

Question 22

Which specific vein drains the vertebral bodies and where does it drain?

Answer 22

basivertebral vein drains into internal and external vertebral venous plexus’

Question 23

What comprises the atlanto occipital joint?

Answer 23

occipital condyles and the superior articular facets

Question 24

What is the main intervertebral joint (posterior articulation)?

Answer 24

zygapophysial joints, 1 vertebra participates in 2 zygapophysial joints, superior and inferior.

Question 25

What forms the nuchal ligament in the cervical spine?

Answer 25

supraspinous ligament

Question 26

Which component of the intervertebral disc is tough and thick?

Answer 26

annulus fibrosus

Question 27

Where is the anterior longitudinal ligament located?

Answer 27

anterior surface of vertebral bodies

Question 28

What action does the ligamentum flavum limit?

Answer 28

flexion

Question 29

How far does the anterior longitudinal ligament stretch?

Answer 29

occipital bone to sacrum

Question 30

What does the supraspinous ligament connect?

Answer 30

tips of the spinous processes in thoracic and lumbar spines

Question 31

What action does the posterior longitudinal ligament prevent?

Answer 31

limits hyperflexion

Question 32

Which 5 broad areas do the major segmental arteries supply?

Answer 32

posterior intercostal, subcostal, lumbar, iliolumbar, and sacral

Question 33

which component of the intervertebral disc is jelly-like?

Answer 33

nucleus pulposus

Question 34

How does the vertebral artery wind through the cervical spine?

Answer 34

enters the transverse foramen at C6, ascends through each transverse foramen from C6 to C1, and travels across the posterior arch of the atlas (C1) to enter the foramen magnum

Question 35

Discontinuous Ligaments of the Spine (2)

Answer 35

Ligamentum Flavum, Interspinous Ligament

Question 36

How many thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 36

12

Question 37

What spinal ligaments could be damaged due to extreme hyperextension of the spine?

Answer 37

the anterior longitudinal ligament

Question 38

What is the strength of anterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 38

strong and broad

Question 39

What property is unique of the axis bone?

Answer 39

has Dens that articulates with the facet for dens on the anterior arch of the atlas, HAS a vertebral body AND spinous process

Question 40

how many (fused) sacral vertebrae?

Answer 40

5

Question 41

which curves of the back are secondary curves?

Answer 41

lordotic curve of the cervical spine, lordotic curve of the lumbar spine

Question 42

What does the radicular/segmental medullary branch of the segmental artery supply nutrients to? (2)

Answer 42

nervous tissue: spinal roots and spinal cord

Question 43

What is the clinical significance of the location of the zygapophyseal joints?

Answer 43

since the joint is proximal to the intervertebral foramina, if this joint is injured or develops osteoarthritis, it could affect spinal nerves

Question 44

What actions do the atlanto axial joint allow?

Answer 44

rotation of the head in the transverse plane ("no" motion)

Question 45

What is characteristic about ligamentum flavum?

Answer 45

it is yellow colored

Question 46

How far does the posterior longitudinal ligament stretch"

Answer 46

C2 to sacrum

Question 47

Answer 47

thoracic vertebra

Question 48

What actions does the atlanto occipital joint allow?

Answer 48

flexion/extension of the head

Question 49

Where is the supraspinous ligament located?

Answer 49

posteriorly to spinous processes, attaches the tips of spinous processes

Question 50

What does the spinal branch of the segmental artery supply nutrients to? (4)

Answer 50

bone, periosteum, ligaments, meninges

Question 51

which conditions could cause lordosis of the lumbar spine?

Answer 51

pregnancy, obesity

Question 52

Where are the ligamentum flavum located?

Answer 52

between laminae of adjacent vertebrae

Question 53

What is the ligamentum flavum attached to?

Answer 53

connects lamina

Question 54

Which conditions could cause EXCESSIVE kyphosis of the thoracic spine?

Answer 54

spinal osteoporosis

Question 55

What action does the interspinous ligament limit?

Answer 55

flexion