Spine Clinical Anatomy

Question 1

Outline the organisation of the vertebrae

Answer 1

7 cervical 
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
4 coccygeal

Question 2

What are the names of C1 and C2?

Answer 2

C1 - atlas

C2 - axis

Question 3

What kind of joints are facet?

Answer 3

Synovial

Question 4

What causes spondylosis?

Answer 4

Intervertebral discs lose water content

Discs get smaller

Question 5

Where does intervertebral disc degeneration most frequently occur?

Answer 5

L4-S1

Question 6

A patient with a bulging disc on MRI must be symptomatic. True/false?

Answer 6

False

Question 7

In the spine, motor neurons originate anteriorly/dorsally and sensory neurons originate anteriorly/dorsally

Answer 7

In the spine, motor neurones originate anteriorly and sensory neurones originate dorsally

Question 8

Where is the cauda equina region?

Answer 8

L1 and below

Question 9

In a disc prolapse, the exiting/traversing nerve root is more commonly affected

Answer 9

Traversing

Question 10

A nerve root compression can cause what?

Answer 10

Radiculopathy

Question 11

What is sciatica?

Answer 11

Nerve root compression in the lower leg (L4-S3)

Question 12

What occurs in spinal stenosis?

Answer 12

Nerve roots are compressed by osteophytes and hypertrophied ligmaents

Question 13

What is the classic symptom of spinal stenosis?

Answer 13

Easier to walk uphill than downhill

Question 14

What causes cauda equina syndrome?

Answer 14

Pressure on all lumbosacral nerve roots

Question 15

What is the most important symptom of cauda equina syndrome?

Answer 15

Bowel and bladder control

Question 16

What are the three most important erector spinae muscles?

Answer 16

Iliocostalis
Longissimus thoracis
Spinalis thoracis

Question 17

Where should a lumbar puncture be done?

Answer 17

Cauda equina region