The Back

Question 1

normal posture depends on?

Answer 1

balance of forces between back and abdominal muscles

Question 2

hyperlordosis

Answer 2

more pronounced lumbar lordosis

Abnormally strong hip flexors (iliopsoas/psoas major) or puny hamstrings will result in an anterior pelvic tilt (butt sticks out)

lordosis = concave posteriorly

Question 3

hypolordosis

Answer 3

less pronounced lumbar lordosis

Overdeveloped hamstrings can tilt the pelvis posteriorly resulting in “flatback”

Question 4

hyperkyphosis

Answer 4

More pronounced thoracic kyphosis
Two potential causes:

1. congenital: vertebrae fuse together in development instead of segmenting. Or can result if vertebrae succeed in segmenting but fail to develop into the correct shape.
2. “Dowager’s Hump”: Anterior portions of vertebrae can erode over time becoming wedge shaped. Results in the affected individual becoming increasingly stooped. Preferentially affects women.

kyphosis = concave anteriorly (the spine’s “natural” curve)

Question 5

scoliosis

Answer 5

lateral bending of the spine (concave lateral bend)

Question 6

kyphoscoliosis

Answer 6

The so-called “killer combo”* of scoliosis AND kyphosis. Spine is bent concave laterally and displays a more pronounced thoracic kyphosis.

Can be especially bad because the ribs tend to be scrunched together on one side of the body but spread apart on the other, which can make breathing using the intercostal muscles more difficult.

*not really called the “killer combo”

Question 7

spina bifida

Answer 7

incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube.

Question 8

spina bifida: types

Answer 8

1. spina bifida occulta
2. spina bifida cystica with meningocele
3. spina bifida cystica with myelomeningocele

*spina bifida is the only time that being in a cult is good

**As the names get longer the outlook gets worse

cystica from the Greek “kystis” meaning “pouch”

Question 9

spina bifida occulta

Answer 9

split in the vertebrae is so small that neither the spinal cord nor the meninges escapes out of the vertebral canal

No cyst present on the back

Question 10

spina bifida cystica with meningocele

Answer 10

Cyst present on the back

Spinal cord remains within vertebral canal but the meninges (the cord’s surrounding membrane) does escape into the cyst

Question 11

spina bifida cystica with myelomeningocele

Answer 11

Cyst present on the back

Both meninges AND spinal cord tissue escape into cyst.

To remember “myelomeningocele”= myelin in the cele

the suffic -“cele” means “related to a hernia or swelling”

Question 12

spondylolisthesis

Answer 12

anterior slippage of a vertebra relative to its inferior partner.

spondylo meaning spine

listhesis meaning slippage

tons of things can cause this

Question 13

spondylolysis

Answer 13

one particular cause of spondylolisthesis.

A fracture of the pars interarticularis

(the region located between the inferior and superior articular processes)

Question 14

“scottie-dog sign”

Answer 14

On x-ray you can see what looks like a scottish terrier.

If its neck is severed from its body, suspect a fractured pars interarticularis.

Question 15

spondylitis

Answer 15

inflammation of the spine

Question 16

ankylosing spondilitis

Answer 16

chronic, autoimmune, inflammatory disease affecting the joints of the spine.

can eventually cause the spine to fuse

Question 17

“bamboo spine”

Answer 17

Another x-ray sign.

In this case, individuals with fused vertebrae due to Ank Spon will produce x-rays which have a bamboo-like appearance.

Question 18

pott’s disease

Answer 18

Caused when Tb spreads hematogenously (word?) to the spine.

Can cause a psoas abscess (Tb granuloma under the fascial sheath of the psoas major muscle)