The Back

Question 1

What is the function of the spine? 4W

Answer 1

1. Protects the spinal cord.
2. Supports body weight superior to the level of the pelvis.
3. Provides a partly rigid and flexible axis for the body and an extended base on which the head is placed and pivots.
4. Posture and locomotion.

Question 2

What is the function of the Extrinsic back muscles and the Intrinsic back muscle?

Answer 2

Extrinsic–Move the upper limbs and ribs.

Intrinsic–Maintain posture and move the vertebral column.

Question 3

What are the total number of vertebrae? FUsed and unfused.

Name the 5 different regions of the spine and the number of vertebrae associated with each.

Answer 3

33 total
24 unfused
8 or 9 fused.
7 Cervical 
12 Thoracic
5 Lumbar
5 Sacral
3 or 4 Coccyx

Question 4

Name the functions of the following vertebral structures:

1. Spinous process
2. Transverse process
3. Articular processes
4. Vertebral arch
5. Vertebral body

Answer 4

1. Muscle attachment and muscle movement
2. Muscle attachment and muscle movement
3. Restriction of movement between vertebrae.
4. Protection of spinal cord.
5. Support of body weight.

Question 5

Name the 11 components of a vertebra and the 3 combined parts that some create.

Answer 5

Spinous process
Lamina (vertebral arch)
Pedicle (vertebral arch)
Vertebral foramen
Epiphysial rim
Vertebral body
Superior articular process and facet (zygapophysial joint)
Inferior articular process and facet (zygapophysial joint)
Transverse process
Superior vertebral notch (Intervertebral foramen)
Inferior vertebral notch (Intervertebral foramen)

Question 6

What characterizes a typical cervical vertebra?

Answer 6

They are small in size and contain a foramen in each transverse process (transverse foramen).
Bifid spinous process
Triangular vertebral foramen.

Question 7

What characterizes a typical Thoracic vertebra?

Answer 7

Articulation with ribs through the upper and lower costal facets and transverse costal facet.

Question 8

What characterizes a typical Lumbar vertebra?

Answer 8

Large size and support posterior abdominal wall.

Question 9

What causes Spina Bifida?

Answer 9

When the two sides of vertebral arches, usually lower vertebrae, don’t fuse during development. This exposes the vertebral canal.

Question 10

Name and describe the 2 types of spina bifida.

Answer 10

1. Spina bifida occulta–most commen. 10% of individuals. posterior arch fails to fuse in the midline. Patient is usually asymptomatic (may have a tuft of hair over the spinous processes.)
2. Failure of fusion of the posterior arch at the lumbosacral junction with the meninges pouching out of the vertebra. This outpouching may contain spinal fluid (meningocele) or the spinal cord (myelomeningocele). May have neuroligical deficits including walking and bladder function.

Question 11

Vertebroplasty. Describe

Answer 11

Used to treat wedge fractures and vertebral body collapse and pain. The vertebra is filled with bone cement. The cement strengthens the bone to prevent height loss and heat is generated to hopefully alleviate pain.

Question 12

Define Scoliosis

Answer 12

Abnormal lateral curvature of the vertebral column. Not only left and right curvature, but also a rotational element of one vertebra upon another.

Question 13

What can cause scoliosis?

Answer 13

Most common type…no one knows. Not present at birth, occurs in infantile, juvenile, or adolescent age groups. The bone is normal in these patients.

Congenital Scoliosis–present from birth, association with other developmental disabilities. Assoc abnormalities include chest wall, genitourinary tract, and heart disease.

Abnormal muscle such as that from Muscular dystrophy. The muscle cannot retain the normal alignment.

Question 14

What are Kyphosis and Lordosis?

Answer 14

Kyphosis is the abnormal curvature of the thoracic spinal region creating the “hunchback” deformity.

Lordosis is abnormal curvature of the lumbar spine producing a swayback deformity.

Question 15

Why might there be variation in vertebral numbers in the
Cervical vertebrae?
What vertebrae variation happens at LV.

Answer 15

Often fusion is associated with diseases and other abnormalities. Fusions can include C1 and C2 or C5 and C6. associated with high-riding scapula (Sprengel’s shoulder) and cardiac abnormalities.

Partial fusion of L5 to Sacrum = sacralization of lumbar vertebra.
Partial separation of S1 from sacrum = lumbarization of first sacral vertebra.

Question 16

Vertebra and cancer.

What does cancer do to the vertebra? 3

Answer 16

metastatic disease (secondary cancer spread).
Cancer cells grow within vertebral bodies an posterior elements
They destroy the bones mechanical properties. (Fragility)
**Extensive metastatic disease may push fragments of tumor into vertebral canal compressing nerves and spinal cord.

Question 17

What are typical complications of osteoporosis?

When does osteoporosis occur in men and women?

Answer 17

Crush vertebral body fractures.
Distal fractures of the radius.
Hip fractures.

Women 50’s and 60’s.
Men 70’s.

Question 18

How many synovial joints and symphyses joints are there for 1 vertebra?

Answer 18

4 synovial joints (2 above 2 below)
2 symphyses (1 above 1 below)

Question 19

What are the components of the Intervertebral Disc?

Answer 19

Anulus Fibrosus–Outer ring of collagen and a lamellar fibrocartilage. Limits rotation.
Nucleus Pulposus-gelatinous center of disc, compression force absorption

Question 20

What is the common cause of Back Pain?

Answer 20

Related to mechanical problems or disc protrusion impinging on a nerve.