The Spinal Cord Flashcards
What are the names of the C1 and C2 spinal segments?
The altas and the axis
What are the characteristic features of the cervical spine?
Triangular vertebral forman bifid spinous process, and transverse foramen which give passage to the vertebra artery and the sympathetic nerves
What is the feature of the atlas vertebrae?
Has no vertebral body and spinous process, and has a anterior facet which articulates with the dens of the axis
What are the features of the axis vertebrae?
Has a dens or onotid proccess, which articulates with the articular facet of the atlas and creates the medial altano axial joint
What are some of the different joints that are present in the vertebral chain.?
Adjacent vertebral discs are jointed by the intervertebral discs which are made of fibrocartilage, and between arches where are synovial joint is formed between the superior and inferior articular processes of the adjacent vertebrae.
What are the ligaments present throughout the vertebral column?
The ligamentum falvum connects the laminae of adjacent vertebrae, the interspinous ligament connects the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae. And the supraspinous liagment connects the adjacent spinous proccesses
What ligmament is unique to the cervical spine?
The nuchal ligmaent, which is a continuation of the supraspinous ligament, and is the. Tips of the spinous proccess, from C1-C7 and the transverse ligament of the atlas, which connects the lateral masses of the atlas and holds the dens in place.
How would you describe a Jefferson fracture of the atlas?
It is seen after a vertical fall onto a extended neck, and is found between the occipital condyles of the axis, and if it occurs with enough force the ranverse ligament of the altas may be ruptured.
What are some of the features of a whiplash injury?
The anterior ligament of the spine may be ruptured which is acutely painful for the paitent, and can fracture any of the vertebrate, or if discloation or subluxation of the vertebrae occurs this can lead to death, which often happens at the C2 level.
What are some of the features of a hangmans fracture?
Fracture of the pas articulars, a bony column between the superior and inferior articular facets. Likely to be lethal as the fragments formed can impinge on the spinal cord.
What are some of the features of a fracture of the dens?
Make up around 40% of these fractures and are commonly caused by traffic collisions or falls, can be unstbable and at a high risk of avascular nercrosis
What are some of the characteristic features of the thoraci spine?
Vertebral body is heart shaped, demi facets are present and costal facets are also present which articulate with the tubercules of the ribs, Spinous proccesses are long and move inferiorly.
Which are the joints that are unique to the thoraic spine?
Costovertebraal joint consists of the head of rib articulating with the superior costal facet of the corresponding vertebra
What are the ligaments which are exclusive to the thoracic spine?
The radiate ligament of the head of rib, the costranverse ligament, the lateral transerve lgiament, superior costal transverse ligament,.
What is throaic kyphosis?
An excessive curvature of the thoriac spine, which can appear for anumber of reasons such as poor posture
