Spine and back Flashcards
Other than a fracture, what are the abnormal signs in this radiograph
Identify 1,2, 5
- Abnormal alignment (the distance between the dens and the lateral masses of C1 on both sides is not equal)
- Prevertebral soft tissue swelling due to fracture oedema
What ligaments are attached to the odontoid process?
-Transverse atlantal ligament
-Apical odontoid ligament
-Alar ligament 9
What ligaments are attached to the odontoid process?
-Transverse atlantal ligament
-Apical odontoid ligament
-Alar ligament
What type of joint is the atlanto-axial joint?
-Synovial pivot joint
What ligaments lie between C1 and C2?
-Anterior atlanto-axial ligament
-Posterior atlanto-axial ligament
-Transverse ligament
What is the first spinous process to be felt?
-Spinous process of C7 (has a long spine = vertebral prominence)
Demonstrate C7 on subject?
Why can we not palpate the upper spinous processes?
-As they are short, bifid and attached to the nuchal ligament
What are the atypical cervical vertebrae and the atypical features?
-C1 (atlas): no body, no spine
-C2 (axis): body projects upwards to form the odontoid process
-C7 (vertebra prominens): very long spine, smaller foramen transversarium
How many vertebrae make up the spinal column: how many spinal nerves are there?
-7 cervical, 8 cervical
-12 thoracic, 12 thoracic
-5 lumbar, 5 lumbar
-5 fused sacral, 5 sacral
-3 fused coccygeal, 1 coccygeal
1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 13
1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 13
what are the characteristic features of lumbar vertebrae?
What are the structures passing through the intervertebral foramen?
-Root of each spinal nerve
-Dorsal root ganglion
-Spinal artery of the segmental artery
-Communicating veins between the internal and external plexuses
-Recurrent meningeal (sinuvertebral) nerves)
-Transforaminal ligaments
What level would you carry out a lumbar puncture?
-L4-L5 (supracrestal line)
What layers would you go through for a lumbar puncture?
-Skin, subcut fat, fascia
-Supraspinous ligament
-Interspinous ligament
-Ligamentum flavum
-Epidural space
-Dura mater
-Arachnoid mater
-CSF
What is the anatomy of an intervertebral disc?
-Internal nucleus pulposus surrounded by fibrocartilagenous annulus fibrosus
What type of joint is an intervertebral joint?
-Secondary cartilagenous joint
What type of movement do the lumbar vertebrae allow
Flexion, extension, lateral flexion, lateral rotation
What level does the spinal cord terminate?
-L3 (at birth), L1/2 (adult)
What are the contents of the spinal canal below L2?
Cauda equina
What is the location of the paravertebral venous plexus?
-Anterior external vertebral venous plexus, the small system around the vertebral bodies
-Posterior external vertebral venous plexus, the extensive system around the vertebral processes
-Anterior internal vertebral venous plexus, the system running the length of the vertebral canal anterior to the dura
-Posterior internal vertebral venous plexus, the system running the length of the vertebral canal posterior to the dura
What is the contents of the epidural space?
-Lymphatics
-Spinal nerve roots
-Loose connective tissue
-Fatty tissue
-Small arteries
-Network of internal vertebral venous plexuses
How do spinal metastases happen?q
-Spread from primary tumours is mainly by arterial route
-Retrograde spread through batson plexus
-DIrect invasion through the intervertebral foramina
What is batson’s venous plexus?
-network of veins with no valves that connect deep pelvic veins draining the bladder, prostate and rectum to the internal vertebral venous plexus
What structures are found at C6?
-Termination of the pharynx and beginning of oesophagus
-Termination of the larynx and beginning of the trachea
-Entry of the vertebral artery to the foramen transversum
-Intermediate tendon of the omohyoid cross the carotid sheath
-Middle thyroid vein emerging from the thyroid gland
-Inferior thyroid artery entering thyroid gland
Demonstrate the hyoid bone (C3) and the cricoid cartilage (C6) on a subject?
