The Back, Vertebral Column & Spinal Cord

Question 1

What are the functions of the back?

Answer 1

Maintenance of posture

Movement of limbs and trunk

Question 2

Answer 2

Question 3

What are the three parts of the trapezius muscle?

Answer 3

Descending (superior)

Transverse (middle)

Ascending (inferior)

Question 4

List the extrinsic back muscles

Answer 4

Levator scapulae

Rhomboids

Trapezius

Latissimus dorsi

Question 5

List the intrinsic back muscles

Answer 5

Erector spinae (superficial)

Transversospinalis (deep)

Question 6

Where do the erector spinae muscles attach to inferiorly?

Answer 6

Common tendon attaches to the sacrum and iliac crest

Question 7

Where do the erector spinae muscles attach superiorly?

Answer 7

rib (between angles and tubercles)

transverse process of a vertebra

spinous process of a vertebra

Question 8

Where is the transversospinalis located?

Answer 8

Between the transverse and spinous processes

Question 9

Where do individual muscle fibres of the transversospinalis attach between?

Answer 9

a vertebrae and the skull

a vertebrae and a rib

one vertebra and another vertebra

the sacrum and a vertebra

Question 10

Describe the nerve supply of the intrinsic back muscles

Answer 10

Segmental nerve supply as per the dermatome/myotome pattern

Question 11

Answer 11

Question 12

The adult vertebral colum has __ vertebrae in total;

• _ cervical (__-__)
• __ thoracic (__-___)
• _ lumbar (__-__)
• _ sacral (_____ to form _ sacrum)
• _ coccygeal (_____ to form _ coccyx)

Answer 12

The adult vertebral colum has 33 vertebrae in total;

• 7 cervical (C1-C7)
• 12 thoracic (T1-T12)
• 5 lumbar (L1-L5)
• 5 sacral (Fused to form 1 sacrum)
• 4 coccygeal (fused to form 1 coccyx)

Question 13

What is the function of the adult vertebral column?

Answer 13

Support head and trunk when upright

Protect the spinal cord (& spinal nerves)

Allow movements of the head on the neck & movements of the trunk

Question 14

What are the primary curvatures of the spine?

Answer 14

Thoracic Kyphosis

Sacral kyphosis

Question 15

What are the secondary curvatures of the spine?

Answer 15

Cervical lordosis

Lumbar lordosis

Question 16

Answer 16

Question 17

describe intervertebral foramen

Answer 17

form between adjacent vertebrae

spinal nerves found here

Question 18

Describe facet joints

Answer 18

Between articular processes of adjacent vertebrae

Can be affected by arthritis

Question 19

Describe intervertebral discs

Answer 19

Between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae

Strong attachment

Can herniate

Question 20

Which part of the spinal column lacks intervertebral discs?

Answer 20

None between C1-C2 and the fused sacrum/coccyx

Question 21

What is the structure of an intervertebral discs?

Answer 21

Outer fibrous ring- annulus fibrosus

Inner soft pulp- nucleus pulposus

Question 22

What are the ligaments of the spinal column?

Answer 22

Ligamentum flavum

Posterior longitudinal ligament

Anterior longitudinal ligament

Supraspinous ligament

Interspinous ligament

Question 23

What is the role of the ligamentum flavum?

Answer 23

Connect adjacent laminae posterior to spinal cord

Question 24

What is the role of the posterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 24

to prevent overflexion of the spine

Question 25

What is the role of the anterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 25

Prevents over-extension of the spine

Question 26

What is the role of the supraspinous ligament?

Answer 26

To connect tips of spinous processes

Question 27

What is the role of the interspinous ligament?

Answer 27

Connect superior and inferior surfaces of adjacent spinous processes

Question 28

What are the common typical features of a cervical vertebrae?

Answer 28

Transverse foramen

Bifid spinous process

Triangular shaped vertebral foramen

Question 29

What is unique to the atlas?

Answer 29

Does not have a body or a spinous process

It has a posterior arch and anterior arch

Question 30

What is unique to the axis?

Answer 30

Ondontoid process

Projects superiorly from body

Question 31

What is unique to C7 vertebrae?

Answer 31

It is the first palpable spinous process in 70% of people

Question 32

What type of joints are the atlanto-occipital joints?

Answer 32

Synovial joints with loose capsule

Question 33

What are the movements of the atlanto-occipital joints?

Answer 33

Flexion and extension of the neck

A little lateral flexoin and rotation

Question 34

What kind of joints are the atlanto-axial joints?

Answer 34

3 articulations, all synovial

Question 35

What are the articulations of the atlanto-axial joints?

Answer 35

2 between the inferior articular facets of the atlas and the superior articular facets of the axis

1 Between the anterior arch of the atlas and the ondontoid process of the axis

Question 36

What are the 4 stages of cervical vertebrae dislocation?

Answer 36

Stage I- flexion sprain

Stage II- anterior subluxation, 25% translation

Stage III- 50% translation

Stage IV- complete dislocation

Question 37

Answer 37

Question 38

In ____ anaesthesia local anesthetic is injected into the sacral ______ to anaesthetise the ____ ____ _____ ____ of the ____ ______

Answer 38

In caudal anaesthesia local anesthetic is injected into the sacral hiatus to anaesthetise the sacral spinal nerve roots of the cauda equina

Question 39

Where does the spinal cord begin and end?

Answer 39

Begins at foramen magnum, ends at vertebral level L1/L2

Question 40

What is the cauda equina?

Answer 40

All the spinal nerve roots from L2 to CO that have to descend to their numbered vertebrae where their spinal nerve is located within the intervertebral foramen

Question 41

What surrounds the spinal cord?

Answer 41

3 layers of meninges

epidural fat

Question 42

What is a laminectomy used for?

Answer 42

• To access the spinal canal, posterior exposure of the spinal cord and/or spinal roots
• relieve pressure on spinal cord or nerve roots

Question 43

What can cause pressure on spinal cord or nerve roots?

Answer 43

Tumour, herniated disc, bone hypertrophy