spine LOs COPY

Question 1

structural components of a typical vertebrae and the function

Answer 1

• anterior
  
  • vertebral body: supports body weight, articulates with head of rib
• posterior
  
  • spinous and transverse processes: muscle attachment and movement
  • vertebral arch: protection of spinal cord
    
    • pedicle: articulates with tubercle of rib and other vertebrae
    • lamina
  • superior and inferior articular processes: restriction of movement

Question 2

discuss the changes in vertebrae with advancing age

Answer 2

• decrease in bone density
• articular surfaces (of vertebral body) bow inward
• compression/increased pressure at periphery
• osteophytes form (bony spurs)

Question 3

development of spinal curvatures

Answer 3

• primary curvatures
  
  • kyphotic: anterior flexion
  • thoracic and sacral
  • in fetal development
• secondary curvatures
  
  • lordotic: posterior extension
  • cervical and lumbar
    
    • cervical due to stabilizing head (infancy)
    • lumbar due to stabilizing body weight (toddler)

Question 4

abnormal curvature of spine

Answer 4

• excessive kyphosis: thoracic spine has more flexion
  
  • Dowager hump: osteoporosis
• excessive lordosis: excess lumbar extension
• scoliosis: bends to side, abnormal lateral curvature

Question 5

components of intervertebral disc

Answer 5

• nucleus pulposus: center, gelatinous core, cartilaginous
• anulus fibrosis: fibrous rings around center
  
  • cross fiber system like finger trap

Question 6

posterolateral herniation of intervertebral disc

Answer 6

• nucleus pulposus leaks out posterior next to spinal cord
• compresses nerve below level of herniation
  
  • L5 n. compressed by L4-5 intervertebral disc herniation

Question 7

ligaments of spine

Answer 7

• anterior longitudinal ligament
• posterior longitudinal ligament
• supraspinous ligament
• interspinous ligaments
• ligamentum flavum
• intertransverse ligaments

Question 8

anterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 8

• anterior vertebral body and intervertebral discs
• stabilizes vertebral column
• prevents hyperextension

Question 9

posterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 9

• posterior vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs
• prevents hyperflexion of vertebral column

Question 10

supraspinous ligament

Answer 10

• connects tips of spinous processes from C7 to sacrum

Question 11

interspinous ligaments

Answer 11

• connect adjoining spinous procsses, root to apex of each process

Question 12

ligamentum flavum

Answer 12

• connect laminae of adjacent vertebral arches
  
  • connect laminae above to laminae below

Question 13

intertransverse ligaments

Answer 13

• connect adjacent transverse processes

Question 14

ligamentum nuchae

Answer 14

• median fibroelastic septum from external occipital protuberance to C7
  
  • wall between left and right posterior neck
• attachment for cervical nerves: because of shortness and depth of C3-5 spinous processes
  
  • splenius capitis

Question 15

primary movements of spine

Answer 15

• extension/flexion
  
  • most in cervical, second in lumbar, least in thoracic
• lateral flexion/lateral extension
  
  • most cervical, less in lumbar, least in thoracic
• rotation of head and neck/rotation of neck
  
  • most in cervical, less in thoracic, least in lumbar

Question 16

meningeal coverings of spinal cord

Answer 16

• dura mater: outermost covering
• arachnoid mater: bonded to inner dura in vivo, delicate, avascular, encloses CSF-filled subarachnoid space
• pia mater: denticulate ligaments, innermost, covers roots of spinal nerves
  
  • denticulate ligaments: sheet of pia extending midway between anterior and posterior nerve roots from lateral surface of spinal cords

Question 17

structural changes and clinical findings of spinal stenosis

Answer 17

• narrowing of vertebral canals (at any level of vertebral column)
• may cause compression of one or more spinal nerve roots occupying inferior vertebral canal