The Lumbar Spine and Sacrum Flashcards

1
Q

How many vertebrae are in the Lumbar spine?

A
  1. L1 - L5 and are the largest and strongest in the body
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2
Q

What type of curve dose the lumbar spine create?

A

A lordotic curve

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3
Q

Are the 5 vertebrae similar in size?

A

Yep

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4
Q

What is at the base of each transverse process?

A

A small prominence of bone called the accessory or mamillary process

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5
Q

What is the junction of the lamina to the pedicle called in the lumbar spine?

A

The pars interarticularis

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6
Q

Where does the spinal cord end?

A

Between L1 and L2

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7
Q

How many vertebra does the sacrum consist of ?

A

5 vertebrae and they are fused

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8
Q

What type curve does the sacrum have?

A

Kyphotic=

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9
Q

What shape is the sacrum?

A

It is wedge shaped and forms the posterior walls of the pelvis

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10
Q

What does the sacrum articulate with?

A

The L5 above, the coccyx below, and laterally with the articular surfaces of the iliac bones of the hip

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11
Q

What is the sacro-iliac joint?

A

The joint between the pelvis and the sacram.

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12
Q

What is distal to S5?

A

A triangular bone, the coccyx, consisting of 3-5 fused vertebrae.

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13
Q

What are sacral foramina or pelvic foramina?

A

Foramina that lie at the lateral ends of the lines across the sacrum that represent the fused vertebrae

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14
Q

What is the area lateral to the sacral foramina known as?

A

The pars lateralis

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15
Q

What is the pars lateralis at S1 more commonly known as?

A

Ala

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16
Q

What is the projecting edge of the first sacral vertebra called?

A

The sacral promontory

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17
Q

What is the sacral promontory used for?

A

A landmark for sacral screw insertion

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18
Q

What does the total pelvis or pelvic girdle consist of?

A

Two hop bones (ossa coxae), the sacrum and the coccyx.

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19
Q

What does the ossa coxae articulate with?

A

The sacrum and the coccyx

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20
Q

What forms the ossa coxae?

A

the fused ilium, ischium and pubis

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21
Q

What type of joint is the sacro-iliac joint?

A

A true synovial joint, with capsule and cartilage

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22
Q

What are the two main ligaments in the lumbar spine?

A

the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments

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23
Q

What role do the ALL and PLL play?

A

A key role in the maintenance of spinal balance and protecting the discs

24
Q

Describe the ALL.

A

Stretches as a long dense band from the basi occiput to the sacrum
Runs along the anterior aspect of the vertebral bodies
Long fibers that run full length
Short fibers that attach to the vertebra

25
Q

Describe the PLL.

A

Stretches from the basi occiput to the sacral canal.

Does not attach to the posterior edge of the vertebral bodies.

26
Q

Describe the segmental ligaments.

A

They join the vertebral arches adn the ligamentum flavum which is its thickest in the lumbar spine
Joins each lamina

27
Q

What joins the spinous processes?

A

The interspinous ligamnet.

28
Q

What attaches to the tips of the spinous processes?

A

The supraspinous ligament

29
Q

What runs between the transverse processes?

A

The intertransverse ligament

30
Q

Describe the lumbo-sacral ligament

A

Very thick and extends from the anterior-inferior aspect of the L5 transverse process to the lateral aspect of the sacrum.

31
Q

What is the Lumbo-sacral ligament also known as?

A

The sickle ligament.

32
Q

Where does the Iliolumbar ligament attach?

A

Extends from the transverse process of L5 laterally and superiorly to the iliac crest

33
Q

What is considered a near immovable part of the pelvis and why?

A

The sacro-iliac joint because it is so tightly bound and interlocked with ligaments.

34
Q

What shape is the articular surface of the iliac bone?

A

cresent shaped, concave postero-superiorly

35
Q

What are the ligaments attached to the sacro-iliac joint?

A

The ilio-lumbar ligaments
sacro-iliac ligaments
sacrospinous ligaments
sacro-tuberous ligaments

36
Q

What is the superficial plane of the lumbar muscles made of?

A

The latissimus dorsi which arises from the lumbar aponeurosis

37
Q

What is the intermediate plane of the lumber muscles made of?

A

The serratus posterior inferior

38
Q

Name the deep muscles of the lumbar spine.

A

Transversospinalis - Runs from L1 inferiorly and laterally to the transverse processes of the underlying 4 vertebrae

Interspinalis - on either side of the midline connecting adjoining spinous processes

Spinalis - Lies on either side of the interspinalis and posterior to the transversospinalis

Longissimus - lies lateral to the spinalis in the posterior wall of the thorax and inserts into the lower 10 ribs

Iliocstalis - a thick mass forming part of the wall of the thorax

39
Q

What is the lumbar muscles vital role?

A

Maintaining an upright posture

Maintains the lumbar lordosis

40
Q

What are the two main anterior lateral muscles in the lumbar spine?

A

Quadratus lumborum - runs between the last rib, the iliac crest and the vertebral column

Psoas - originates from the transverse process and posterolateral aspect of the vertebral bodies from T12 to L5, its fibres run inferiorly and laterally to blend with the fibres of the iliacus muscle.

41
Q

What is the inferior region of the spinal cord?

A

Conus medullaris and usually lies between the T12 and L1.

42
Q

Where is the termination of the spinal cord proper?

A

The conus medullaris

43
Q

At the point of the conus medullaris the spinal cord becomes a tapering band of tissues called?

A

Filum terminale

44
Q

What is the name of the spinal nerve roots that emerge from around the filum terminale?

A

The cauda equina

45
Q

How many pairs of lumbar spinal nerves are there?

A

5 pairs of sacral and 1 pair of coccygeal

46
Q

What is each nerve a combination of?

A

Motor and sensory fibres

47
Q

Where does the L4 nerve root exit?

A

L4/5 lateral foramen near the L4 pedicle.

48
Q

What are nerve fibers collected together called?

A

Rami

49
Q

What are groups of rami called?

A

Plexuses

50
Q

What types of plexuses are there in the lumbar spine?

A

Lumbar plexus

Sacral plexus

51
Q

What comprises the lumbar plexus?

A

The ventral rami of L1-L4 nerves

52
Q

What comprises the sacral plexus?

A

Fibres from the ventral rami of the nerves at L4, L5 and S1-S3.

53
Q

What comes off of the abdominal aorta?

A

Lumbar arteries which run beneath the psoas muscle adherent to the vertebral bodies.

54
Q

What comes off of the lumbar arteries?

A

Posterior and abdominal brances

55
Q

What comes off of the posterior artery?

A

The spinal artery

56
Q

Which level does the abdominal aorta bifurcate?

A

L4