Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

BASIC TRAINING > Spine Basic Anatomy > Flashcards

Spine Basic Anatomy Flashcards

1
Q

The spine contains _____ vertebrae

A

33

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

In the spine the vertebrae is made primarily of what type of bone?

A

Cancellous and Cortical bone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Intervertebral disc provides

A
  1. Movement
  2. Shock absorption
  3. Spacing
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

The intervertebral discs are attached to ______

A

Cartilaginous Endplates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Other name for facets

A

Zygapophyseal joint

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

The posterior aspects of the vertebrae come together to form joints called: _________

A

Facets/Zygapophyseal joint

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

______ attach to the spine to create movement.

A

Muscles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Vertebral Ligaments

A

Connect adjacent vertebrae to prevent extreme motions that could cause injury.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

3 Planes covered in this module:

A

Saggital - Produces AP View

Coronal/Frontal - Produces AP View

Transverse - Produces Axial View

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

The lordotic and kyphotic curves of the spine serve 3 primary functions

A
  1. Shock absorption
  2. Provide balance
  3. Flexibility
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe what a vertebral body is? It’s primary responsibility is ______?

A

Anterior portion of the vertebra. – Primarily responsible for weight bearing.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Vertebral foramen

A

Opening formed by the union of the posterior arch with the vertebral body. – Space through which the spinal cord and cauda equina travel.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Pedicle

A

Bony bridge between the vertebral body and the posterior arch. – Connection between anterior and posterior columns of the spine. – Often utilized for screw fixation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Transverse Process

A

Bony protrusion on either side of the posterior arch of the vertebra, originating from the junction of the lamina and pedicle. – Attachment for muscles and ligaments.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Spinous process

A

Bony protrusion that projects posteriorly from the center of the posterior arch. – Attachment for muscles and ligaments.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Lamina

A

The portion of the posterior arch of the vertebra between the transverse processes and the spinous process. – Completes the bony ring protecting the spinal cord and cauda equina.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Inferior articular process

A

Bony protrusion on the caudal (toward the feet) aspect of the vertebra that articulates with the vertebra below. – Joins with the superior articular process of the vertebra below to form a facet joint.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

The cervical spine allows for _________

A

Flexion, extension, lateral bending and rotation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

C1 is also called __________

A

Atlas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

C1 lacks both a ______ and a _______.

A

Vertebral body and spinous process

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

The rotation of C1 on C2 makes up ____ of the rotation in the cervical spine.

A

50%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

C1 and C2 are the only vertebrae that lack a _____ between them.

A

Disc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

The C1 and C2 complex are less stable than the rest of the spine and use _____ structures to make up for it.

A

Ligamentous structures:

1. Transverse Ligament
2. Longitudinal Fascicles
* *(1 & 2 make up the cruciform ligament)**
3. Alar Ligament
4. Apical Ligament
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Lateral Mass

A

Made up of the superior and inferior articular processes and the transverse process and made up by a column of bone on either side of the vertebral body that provides additional stability for the head.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Transverse Foreamen
Openings in the transverse processes of the cervical spine through which the vertebral arteries travel - usually C1 - C6
26
Uncinate Process
A lip of bone on the lateral aspect of the vertebral body in the cervical spine.
27
Uncovertebral Joint or Joint of Luschka
Name of joint created by the uncinate process in the Cervical spine. It prevents excessive lateral motion of the cervical vertebrae.
28
Why is thoracic spine very rigid?
Because of the rib cage attachments in the thoracic spine.
29
What are the two reasons that we thoracic spine is very rigid?
1. Rib attachments | 2. Orientation of the facets
30
Costal Facets
The joints between the thoracic vertebrae and the ribs.
31
Pars Interarticularis
The region of the lamina between the superior and inferior articular processes.
32
Sacral Ala
Broad flat region of the anterior surface of S1 where it ARTICULATES with the ILLIUM of the pelvis.
33
Sacral Foramen
Openings in the anterior and posterior surface of the sacrum through which nerve roots exit. The typical sacrum has four pairs.
34
Sacral Promontory
The most superior portion of the first sacral vertebra. This region contains very dense bone and can provide good purchase for screws in the sacrum.
35
Intervertebral Disc consists of two components:
1. Annulus Fibrosis | 2. Nucleus Pulposus
36
The Annulus Fibrosis is made up of...?
A tough outer layer of woven cartilage fibers. It is thicker anteriorly where loads are higher.
37
Cartilaginous Endplate
Exists on the inferior and superior aspects of the vertebral body, is made of collagen and anchors the intervertebral discs to its adjacent vertebral bodies above and below.
38
The intervertebral disks serve three main functions:
1. Spacer (intervertebral foramen) 2. Distribute Load 3. Accommodate Movement
39
5 Main ligament structures that prevent extremes of motion that could damage the spine and spinal cord.
1. Anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) – Ligament that runs along the anterior surface of the vertebral bodies beginning at the occiput and extending to the sacrum. Resists excessive extension. 2. Posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) – Ligament that runs along the posterior surface of the vertebral bodies beginning at the occiput and extending to the coccyx. Resists excessive flexion. 3. Supraspinous ligament – Ligament that runs along the tip of each spinous process from C7 to the sacrum*. Resists excessive flexion. 4. Ligamentum flavum – Ligament that connects the lamina of adjacent vertebrae 5. Interspinous ligament – Ligament that connects the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae
40
Continuous Ligament
Ligaments that span the length of the spine
41
Segmental Ligament
Ligaments that only connect adjacent vertebrae
42
What the "continuous ligaments?"
1. ALL 2. PLL 3. Supraspinous Ligament
43
Name the "segmental ligaments"
1. Ligamentum Flavum | 2. Interspinous Ligament
44
Are the facets considered to be "true joints?"
Yes. They have capsular membranes and synovial fluid.
45
The facet’s _______ determines the motion that the spine can achieve.
Orientation
46
Cervical Spine's facet orientation
Oriented axially & tilted 45° cranially
47
What kind of movement does the cervical facet orientation allow for?
1. Rotation 2. Lateral Bending 3. Flexion 4. Extension
48
Thoracic spine's facet orientation?
Oriented in the Coronal Plane & 60° angle. This orientation resists rotation.
49
What is the only significant movement of the thoracic spine?
Arching of the back or "Cat Stretch"
50
Facet's orientation in the lumbar spine?
The facets are oriented in the sagittal plane and at 45° to the frontal plane
51
What is the movement of the lumbar spine?
1. Lateral bending 2. Flexion 3. Extension **No Rotation**
52
Unlike the cervical & thoracic spine, the lumbar spine's facet are _______
Curved
53
The spinal cord extends to the level of ______
L1
54
The level of L1, the spinal cord tapers into ____
the cone-shaped "Conus Medullaris"
55
The spinal cord transitions from the Conus Medullaris, at L2, into the _______
Cauda Equinus
56
The Cauda Equina exits the spine at ________
Lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal spinal nerves.
57
Cauda Equina
Bundle of nerve filaments within a membranous sack
58
What are the membranes that cushion & protect the spinal chord?
1. dura mater 2. arachnoid 3. pia mater.
59
Subdural Membrane
"potential" space between Dura Mater & Arachnoid
60
Subarachnoid Space
Space between the Arachnoid and the Pia Mater. This is where the cerebrospinal fluid is located.
61
The Pia Mater lies directly above the ______
Neural tissue of the Spinal Chord
62
The spinal nerves are created from two nerve roots exiting the spinal cord called ______
1. Ventral Nerves | 2. Dorsal Nerves
63
The dorsal nerve root transmits ______ information.
Sensory
64
The ventral nerve root transmits ______ information.
Motor
65
There are _____ pairs of spinal nerves
31
66
The 31 spinal nerves are broken down as:
``` 8 Cervical 12 Thoracic 5 Lumbar 5 Sacral 1 Coccygeal ```
67
Cervical spinal nerves exit _____ the cervical vertebrae
Above
68
The remaining spinal nerves exit ______ the vertebrae
Below
69
The dorsal rami innervate the ________
Posterior skin and muscles of the back.
70
The ventral rami travel ________ where they join together and reorganize into peripheral nerves of the body.
Anteriorly
71
Nerve Plexus
Network of intersecting and dividing nerves
72
5 nerve plexus in the body:
1. cervical 2. brachial 3. lumbar 4. sacral, 5. coccygeal
73
Complete lesions
``` TOTAL LOSS of -motor -sensory -reflex functions BELOW the level of injury. ```
74
How are complete cord injuries named?
By the LAST FUNCTIONING nerve ROOT (i.e., C4 quadriplegia).
75
Incomplete lesions
Some function below the level of injury.
76
What do Radicular Symptoms indicate?
Indicates impingement of a spinal nerve.
77
Radicular symptoms include:
–Numbness –Tingling –Weakness –Paresthesia (feeling of pins and needles)
78
What are some Myelopathic Symptoms?
– Gait disturbances – Bowel and bladder dysfunction – Generalized weakness

BASIC TRAINING (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions