The Vertebral Column and Spinal Cord

Question 1

How many cervical vertebrae does the vertebral column have?

Answer 1

7, Labelled C1-C7

Question 2

How many thoracic vertebra does the vertebral column have?

Answer 2

12, Labelled T1-T12

Question 3

How many lumbar vertebra does the vertebral column have?

Answer 3

5, Labelled L1-L5

Question 4

What does the sacrum consist of?

Answer 4

5 fused vertebrae and the coccyx formed by the fusion of 4 or more redimentary vertebrae

Question 5

Compare the body of cervical, thoracic and lumbar

Answer 5

Cervical- small and oval, C1 lacks a body, C2 has rhe dens on the superior surface of its body

Thoracic-larger and heart-shaped, contrain costal facets

Lumbar-largest and kidney shaped

Question 6

Compare the vertebral foramen shape between cervical, thoracic and lumbar

Answer 6

Cervical- Tringular

Thoracic- Circular

Lumbar- Flattened triangular

Question 7

Compare the transverse processes between cervical, thoracic and lumbar

Answer 7

Cervical- contain transverse foramina

Thoracic- Long, contain articular facets for ribs

Lumbar- short with no facets or foramina

Question 8

Compare the spinous processes between cervical, thoracic and lumbar

Answer 8

Cervical-most are fork-shaped, C1 lacks a spinous process

Thoracic- Long, point inferiorly

Lumbar- Thick, point posteriorly

Question 9

Location of the cervical vertebrae

Answer 9

In the neck area, just below the skull

Question 10

Location of the thoracic vertebra

Answer 10

Bears the rib cage

Question 11

Location of the lumbar vertebra

Answer 11

Constitutes the spine and lower back

Question 12

What is the primary role of the vertebral column?

Answer 12

Weight bearing, locomotion & protection of the spinal cord

Question 13

What are the three curvatures of the vertebral column?

Answer 13

Cervical- bends forwards
Thoracic- bends backwards
Lumbar- bends forwards

Question 14

What is the intervertebral disk?

Answer 14

A secondary cartilage joint formed from a composite of two types of cartilage, but the majoirty of the disc is formed by fibro-cartilage whihc has an internal strucutre - the centre of it is liquid (the nucleus pulposis) and around the edge are concentric circles of fibrous cartilage (the annulus fibrosis)

Question 15

Spinous ligaments are connected by what?

Answer 15

Interspoinous ligament

Question 16

Tips of spinous processes are connected by what?

Answer 16

Supraspinous ligament

Question 17

What elastic tissue is yellow?

Answer 17

Ligamentum flavum

Question 18

What happens with arthritis of the facet joints?

Answer 18

There is a narrowing of the intervertebral foramen which causes nerve root compression

Question 19

What happens if there are bony irregularities in the pedicle or vertebral body?

Answer 19

It can narrow the intervertebral foramen and cause nerve root compression

Question 20

What is radiculopathy

Answer 20

The pinching of a nerve root in the spinal column. The pinched nerve can occur at different areas along the spine.

Symptoms of radiculopathy vary by location but frequently include pain, weakness, numbness and tingling.

Commonly caused by compression due to prolapsed intervertebral disc and most commonly occurs at L5/S1 in the lumbar region, or C6/7 in the neck

Question 21

What causes sciatica?

Answer 21

Compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve

Symptoms/signs:
Pain radiating down the buttock, into the leg down to the calf
Weakness in dorsiflexion causes foot drop
Abnormal gait

Question 22

What is the epidural space?

Answer 22

The space between the vertebrae and the dura mater or the spinal cord. It contains small arteries whihc supplies the spinal cord and the vertebral venous plexuses

Question 23

What is the difference between a vertebral level and a spinal cord level?

Answer 23

Spinal cord segmental levels are defined by their roots but are not always situated at the corresponding vertebral levels

Question 24

What is cauda equina syndrome?

Answer 24

Compression of nerve roota below the level of the spinal cord termination (L1-S5).

It is mostly commonly caused by disc prolapse at L4/5 or L5/S1

Signs/Symptoms:
Low back pain
Perineal paraesthesia (saddle distribution)
Decreased anal tone
Bladder dysfunction
Faecal incontinence
Sciatica
Lower extremity motor and sensory loss
Sexual dysfunction

Question 25

How many pairs of spinal nerves does the spinal cord have?

Answer 25

31 pairs of nerves

Question 26

What fibres does the dorsal root of the spinal nerve carry ?

Answer 26

Sensory fibres

Question 27

What is the conus medullaris?

Answer 27

The tapering end of the cord

Question 28

What is the filum terminale?

Answer 28

A fibrous strand extending from the conus medullaris to the coccyx

Question 29

What is the cauda equina?

Answer 29

Horses tail- nerves from the lower part of the cord, the lumbar and sacral nerves, hanging obliquely downwards

Question 30

What are dorsal root ganglion?

Answer 30

Cells of origin of the dorsal root fibres, they relay the sensory nerve impulses from the periphery to the peripheral nervous system and transmit sensory messages of pain and touch