Spine Anatomy and Clinical Correlates

Question 1

Muscle usually contracted in torticollis

Answer 1

Sternocleidomastoid

Question 2

“Vertebral prominens” easily palpable landmark of cervical spine

Answer 2

C7 spinous process

Question 3

Common site for autologous bone graft harvest

Answer 3

iliac crest

Question 4

Common site of bone graft harvest for posterior spinal procedures

Answer 4

posterior superior iliac spine

Question 5

Total number of vertebrae in a human body

Answer 5

33

7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral (fused), 4 coccygeal (fused)

Question 6

Largest vertebrae, houses cauda equina

Answer 6

Lumbar vertebra

Question 7

Disease that results from failure of fusion of the vertebral arch

Answer 7

Spina bifida

Question 8

Cervical vertebra with transverse processes containing foramen

Answer 8

C1 (atlas)

Question 9

Cervical vertebrae with bifid spinous process

Answer 9

C2 (axis)

C3-5

Question 10

Largest cervical vertebra

Answer 10

C7

Question 11

Most common site of sacral fractures

Answer 11

Sacral ala

Question 12

First X-ray in all trauma cases with suspected cervical injury

Answer 12

Lateral/Crosstable Xray

Question 13

Dislocations without fracture only occur in ________ vertebra

Answer 13

Cervical - facets inclined horizontally

Question 14

Four ligaments that determine stability of the vertebral column

Answer 14

ALL
PLL
Ligamentum flavum
Interspinous ligament

Question 15

Remnants of the notochord in the spinal cord

Answer 15

Nucleus pulposus

Question 16

Stress fracture of the pars interarticularis, often seen at L4-L5

Answer 16

Spondylolysis

Question 17

Anterior subluxation of the vertebral body

Answer 17

Spondylolisthesis

Question 18

Traumatic spondylolisthesis of C2

Answer 18

Hangman fracture

Question 19

Hyperflexion of the cervical region, leading to avulsion fracture of the cervical body

Answer 19

Teardrop fracture

Question 20

Fracture due to compression of the cervical region

Answer 20

Jefferson fracture

Question 21

Fracture caused by hyperextension of the cervical region

Answer 21

Whiplash injury

Question 22

Hyperflexion of the thoracolumbar region, usually due to seatbelt injury

Answer 22

Chance fracture - classic finding, transverse fracture of the body

Question 23

Spinal cord injury characterized by loss of motor function and position sense on same side and of pain sensation on the other side

Answer 23

Brown Sequard Syndrome

Question 24

Primary stabilizer of the occipitoatlantal joint

Answer 24

Tectorial membrane

Question 25

Inferior continuation of tectorial membrane

Answer 25

Posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 26

Test where hyperextension and flexing of neck ipsilateral to the side of lesion cause radicular pain in neck and down the affected arm

Answer 26

Spurling maneuver

Question 27

Deepest fascial layer, covering ALL and longus colli

Answer 27

Prevertebral fascia

Question 28

Components of erector spinae (sacrospinalis group)

Answer 28

From medial to lateral:

Spinalis
Longissimus
Iliocostalis

Question 29

Location of cell bodies of sensory nerves

Answer 29

Dorsal root ganglion

Question 30

Location of cell bodies of motor nerves

Answer 30

Ventral horn of spinal cord

Question 31

C1 to C3 roots that innervate omohyoid, sternohyoid, and sternothyroid

Answer 31

Ansa cervicalis

Question 32

Nerve that runs along anterior scalene muscles, supplies pericardium and mediastinal pleura

Answer 32

Phrenic nerve (C3-C5)

Question 33

Artery that runs with phrenic nerve on anterior scalene muscle

Answer 33

Right subclavian artery

Question 34

Single midline artery supplying anterior 2/3 of spine

Answer 34

Anterior spinal artery

Question 35

Paired artery supplying posterior 1/3 of spine

Answer 35

Posterior spinal artery