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T1 & T2 Anatomy > The Spine > Flashcards

The Spine Flashcards

1
Q

How many total vertebrae are there, and how many are movable?

A

33 total; 24 moveable

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2
Q

What are the segments of the spine, and how many vertebrae are in each segment?

A 
cervical - 7
thoracic - 12
lumbar - 5
sacrum - 5 fused
coccyx - 4 fused (actually between 3-5, but we say 4)
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3
Q

What kind of discs are intervertebral discs? i.e. what are they made of?

A

fibrocartilagenous discs

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4
Q

What’s the key function of intervertebral discs?

A

weight bearing (not much to do with movement)

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5
Q

What’s the naming convention for each disc?

A

named for the 2 vertebrae that it sits between

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6
Q

Are there discs between all vertebrae?

A

no disc between C1 and C2

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7
Q

What’s the name of the outer layer of the disc?

A

annulus fibrosis

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8
Q

Approximately how much of the total length of the vertebral column is made up of discs?

A

about 25%

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9
Q

What’s the jelly-like inner substance of the disc called?

A

nucleus pulposus

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10
Q

Does the disc have a nerve or blood supply?

A
  • aneural except in the peripheral 1/3rd

- avascular

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11
Q

What are the terms that describe each section of curvature in the spine?

A

cervical - lordotic (lordos = curve forward)
thoracic - kyphotic (kyphos = humpback)
lumbar - lordotic
sacral - kyphotic

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12
Q

If there is an excessive forward curve in a section of the spine, the term would be…

A
  • hyperlordotic for excessive forward curve

- hyperkyphotic for excessive humpback curve

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13
Q

Which spinal sections are termed primary and secondary and why?

A
  • thoracic and sacral curves are termed primary because they develop during the fetal period
  • cervical and lumbar are termed secondary because they don’t start until the baby lifts its head, then further when the child starts walking
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14
Q

What’s the aka for intervertebral joints?

A

zygapophysial joints

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15
Q

The arch of a vertebra is formed anteriorly by the:

A

pedicles (project posteriorly from both sides of the superior part of the vertebral body)

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16
Q

The area between the superior and inferior articular processes:

A

pars interarticularis

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17
Q

The aka for C1 vertebra

A

atlas

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18
Q

The aka for C2 vertebra

A

axis

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19
Q

The most common fracture site of a typical vertebra

A

pars interarticularis

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20
Q

The transverse foramen of the atlas allows for passage of the:

A

vertebral artery

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21
Q

The vertebral artery passes superiorly through the transverse foramen, then medially past the ___ before reaching the skull

A

groove for the vertebral artery (in the atlas)

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22
Q

What’s the aka for the dens?

A

odontoid process

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23
Q

On which vertebra would you find the dens?

A

C2 (axis)

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24
Q

Which vertebrae are considered upper and lower cervical spine?

A

upper: C1, C2
lower: C3-C7

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25
Q

Which vertebrae are “atypical”?

A

C1 and C2

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26
Q

What makes C1 vertebra atypical?

A
  • no vertebral body
  • no spinous process
  • anterior arch
  • posterior arch
  • articular facet for the dens
  • tubercles for transverse ligament of the atlas
  • 2 lateral masses (TVPs are projections from the lateral masses)
  • transverse foramen allows passage of the vertebral artery
  • groove for the vertebral artery
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27
Q

What makes C2 vertebra atypical?

A
  • dens (aka odontoid process)
  • anterior articular facet (on the dens)
  • posterior articular facet (on the dens – for the transverse ligament of the atlas)
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28
Q

What special features do vertebrae C2-C6 have in common?

A

their SPs are bifid

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29
Q

The aka for the SP of C7

A

vertebra prominens

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30
Q

What are the upward bony projections on the posterolateral rims of the vertebral bodies of the lower cervical spine?

A

uncinate processes

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31
Q

What are the joints at the vertebral bodies of the lower cervical spine called?

A

uncovertebral joints aka joints of Lushka

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32
Q

What do uncinate processes do?

A

prevent excessive glide that could damage the vertebral artery

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33
Q

What’s the anterior tubercle of C6 called?

A

carotid tubercle (carotid artery passes through here)

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34
Q

A horizontal line drawn between the tops of the iliac crest landmarks which SP?

35
Q

This is the most prominent point on the anterior base of the sacrum

A

promontory

36
Q

These are for the ventral and dorsal divisions of sacral nerves (passageway)

A

anterior and posterior sacral foramina

37
Q

This is the continuation of the vertebral canal through the sacrum

A

sacral canal

38
Q

This is the inferior opening of the sacred canal (nerves exit here)

A

sacral hiatus

39
Q

The inferior processes of S5 projecting on either side of the sacral hiatus are called

A

sacral cornu (horn)

40
Q

The fused remnants of SPs in the sacrum

A

median sacral crest

41
Q

The fused remnants of TVPs in the sacrum

A

lateral sacral crest

42
Q

The surfaces that join the SI joint

A

auricular surfaces of the sacrum and illium

43
Q

What kind of joint is the lumbosacral joint?

A

cartilaginous

44
Q

Where do the iliolumbar ligaments attach and what do they do?

A
  • attaches to TVPs of L4 and L5 to posterior iliac crest
  • key stabilizer of L5
  • limits lateral flexion
45
Q

What kind of joints are the sacroiliac joints and what movements are available?

A
  • synovial plane

- limited gliding and rotational movements

46
Q

Which are the ligaments that connect the ilium to the sacrum?

A
  • anterior and posterior sacroiliac ligaments
  • interosseous sacroiliac ligaments (lies just anterior/deep to the posterior SI ligs)
  • sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligs are accessory SI joint ligs)
47
Q

Which superior vertebral joints don’t have IVDs?

A

atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial joints

48
Q

What articulates with the articular occipital condyles?

A

superior articular facets on the lateral masses of C1

49
Q

What kind of joint is the atlanto-occipital?

A

synovial condyloid

50
Q

What are the available movements of the atlanto-occipital joint?

A

-flexion and extension of head on neck

51
Q

What are the ligaments of the atlanto-occipital joint?

A

atlanto-occipital membrane

52
Q

What kind of joint is the atlanto-axial joint?

A

synovial pivot

53
Q

What are the movements of the atlanto-axial joint?

A

about 70 degrees of rotation

54
Q

What, specifically, articulates in the atlanto-axial joint?

A

the articular facet (for the dens) of C1 articulates with the dens (anterior) of C2

55
Q

What are the ligaments of the atlanto-axial joint and what do they do?

A
  • transverse ligament of the atlas (holds the dens of C2 against the anterior arch of C1)
  • cruciate/cruciform ligament
  • alar ligaments (prevent excessive rotation)
  • apical ligament
56
Q

Where is the cruciate/cruciform ligament?

A

band travels from transverse ligament superiorly to the occipital bone and inferiorly to the body of C2

57
Q

Where are the alar ligaments?

A

dens to lateral margins of foramen magnum

58
Q

Where’s the apical ligament?

A

dens to anterior margin of foramen magnum

59
Q

Where’s the posterior longitudinal ligament?

A

located right against vertebral bodies and IVDs from sacrum to C2

60
Q

Where is the tectorial membrane?

A

the most superior part of the posterior longitudinal ligament (C2-occiput)

61
Q

Which direction would be most common for disc herniation?

A

posterolateral

62
Q

What does the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) do?

A
  • checks hyperflexion of the spine

- prevents posterior protrusion of the IVDs

63
Q

What does the anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) do?

A
  • checks hyperextension of the spine

- stabilizes intervertebral joints

64
Q

Where’s the anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL)?

A

travels/is anchored to the anterior aspect of vertebral bodies and IVDs from sacrum to occiput

65
Q

What kind of joints are the vertebral facet joints?

A

synovial plane

66
Q

What’s the orientation of the facet joints of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, and what does their various orientation allow?

A
  • cervical: oblique (higher anteriorly) (allows more rotation)
  • thoracic: more in frontal plane (allows more lateral flexion)
  • lumbar: more in sagittal plane (allows more flexion/extension)
67
Q

What are the available movements of the spine?

A
  • rotation
  • flexion
  • extension
  • lateral flexion
68
Q

Where are the ligamentum flava and what do they do?

A
  • lamina to lamina from sacrum to C1
  • help preserve normal curves
  • help return spine to normal position after flexion
69
Q

Where are the interspinous ligaments and what do they do?

A
  • between SPs

- limit flexion

70
Q

Where are the supraspinous ligaments and what do they do?

A
  • posteriorly along tips of SPs from C7 to sacrum

- limits flexion

71
Q

Where is the ligamentum nuchae?

A
  • from C7 to back of skull

- thickening of interspinous/supraspinous ligaments

72
Q

Where exactly does the sternoclavicular (S-C) joint attach?

A
  • clavicle articulates with manubrium and costal cartilage of rib 1
  • it’s a shock absorber for forces along clavicle
73
Q

What kind of joint is the sternoclavicular?

A
  • synovial saddle

- joint surfaces separated by a fibrocartilagenous articular disc

74
Q

What are the available movements of the sternoclavicular joint?

A
  • elevation/depression
  • protraction/retraction
  • rotation
75
Q

What/where are the ligaments of the sternoclavicular joint?

A
  • costoclavicular (first rib to sternal end of clavicle) (checks all movements of clavicle except inferior)
  • interclavicular ligament (connects the 2 SC joints across the manubrium)
  • sternoclavicular ligament (anterior and posterior)
76
Q

What kind of joint is the manubriosternal joint and what movements are available?

A
  • cartilaginous

- some movement during respiration

77
Q

What kind of joint is the xiphisternal?

A

cartilaginous

78
Q

What, exactly, articulates in the chondrosternal joints and what kind of joints are they?

A
  • cartilages of first 7 ribs and costal notches of lateral borders of sternum
  • rib 1 and manubrium: cartilagenous
  • ribs 2-7 synovial (atypical, so not plane, ball and socket…)
79
Q

What are the chondrosternal ligaments called?

A

radiate sternocostal ligaments (at articulations)

80
Q

What kind of joints are costochondral and what exactly articulates?

A
  • cartilaginous

- lateral end of each costal cartilage fits into a cup-shaped anterior end of its associated rib

81
Q

There are no ligaments at the costochondral joints. What are they supported by?

A

supported/bound together by periosteum

82
Q

What exactly articulates at the interchondral joints and what kind of joints are they?

A
  • adjacent borders of costal cartilages articulate
  • synovial (not typical)
  • (supported by interchondral ligaments)
83
Q

What kind of joints are the costovertebral?

A

synovial plane

84
Q

Where do radiate ligaments of the costovertebral joints attach?

A

head of rib to the 2 vertebral bodies and disc in between

T1 & T2 Anatomy (28 decks)

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