The Spine

Question 1

Which regions of the spine have the greatest variation in number of vertebrae?

Answer 1

The coccygeal region and in horses the thoracic region has many more than in the other species.

Question 2

What are the components of the intervertebral disks, what feature makes them good at cussioning?

Answer 2

The nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus. The nucleus pulposus is contained under high pressure within the fibrocatrilagenous annulus fibrosus..

Question 3

What is the problem in degeneration of the nucleus pulposus?

Answer 3

Loss of water which makes it less good at resisting compresion.

Question 4

Why are chondrodystrophic dogs at risk of disk prolapse?

Answer 4

They have been bred to retain a lot of cartilage. This means that their disks are prone to being replaced by hyaline cartilage.

Question 5

What are the two types of prolapse?

Answer 5

Type 1 - nucleus pulposus extrusion

Type 2 - protrusion of the annulus fibrosus.

Question 6

Which regions of the spine are most flexible?

Answer 6

The Cervicothoracic and lumbosacral regions

Question 7

What are some uses of the tail?

Answer 7

Balance, as a rudder and for expression

Question 8

Explain bow and string theory

Answer 8

Pelvic/thoracolumbar region - spine is bow and hypaxial/abdominal muculature are the string while the epaxial muscle straigtens the bow.

Cervical bow - The opposite is true, the nuchal ligament also works to keep the head upright.