Typical Lumbars L1-L4 Flashcards
What accounts for the direction of the lumbar curve?
the vertebral body and intervertebral disc have a greater anterior height that posterior height
What is the effect of aging on the vertebral body of a lumbar vertebra?
Decrease in height, increase circumference
How many joint surfaces are present of the vertebral body of a typical lumbar?
six
What muscles may attach to a typical lumbar vertebral body?
psoas major and psoas minor
Psoas minor will only attach to the vertebral body of which segments?
T12, L1
What ligaments attach the vertebral body to the transverse process?
corporotransverse ligaments
Hofmann ligaments are identified in which regions along the vertebral column?
Cervical- upper thoracic region and lumbar region
Cervical - upper thoracic Hofmann ligaments will attach what structures together?
dura mater to segments above
What is the highest level know to demonstrate Hofmann ligaments?
C6
What is the proposed function of the cervical -upper thoracic Hofmann ligaments?
resist caudal movement of the dural sac; rests gravitational forces on the dura and cord
Lumbar Hofmann ligaments will attach what structures together?
dura mater to lower segmental levels
What is the proposed function of the lumbar Hofmann ligaments?
rests cranial movement of the dural sac during flexion
What is the proposed function of the proximal root sleeve ligaments?
rests displacement of the peripheral nerve system in the intervertebral foramen
What osseous conditions of lumbar vertebrae facilitate a spinal tap in this region?
overlap of the laminae, shingling, diminishes; overlap of spinous processes, imbrication, diminishes
What is the outline of the vertebral foramen of a typical lumbar vertebra?
triangular
Which is the greatest diameter of the vertebral foramen of typical lumbars?
trasverse
What part of the central nerve system is present in the lumbar spine?
the conus medullar is is typically present in the vertebral foramen of L1
What part of the peripheral nerve system is present in the lumbar spine?
the cauda equina is typically present in the vertebral foramina of L2-L4
Beginning with the L1 transverse process, what is the generic direction and relative length of each succeeding lumbar transverse process?
each transverse process is directed straight lateral and increases in length from L1-L3; L4 then begins to decrease in length
What is the name of the elevation near the origin of the lumbar transverse process?
accessory process
A styloid process occurs with what frequency and as a result of what condition?
7% occurrence as a result of congenital elongation of the lumbar accessory process
What parts of a vertebra are attached via the mammillo-accessory ligament?
the mammillary process and accessory process of the same segment
What was believed to be entrapped by the mammillo-accessory ligament?
the medial branch of the dorsal ramus of a lumbar spinal nerve
What muscles attach to the lumbar accessory process?
longissimus thoraces and intertransversarii
What muscles may attach to the transverse process of a typical lumbar vertebra?
psoas major, quadratus lumborum, longissimus thoracis, rotator brevis, rotator longus, and intertranversarii
What are the posterior elements of the vertebra?
zygapophysis, lamina and spinous process
What are the anterior elements of the vertebra?
vertebral body and pedicle
What is the orientation of the typical lumbar superior articular facet?
backward, upward, medial (BUM); typically concave
What is the orientation of the typical lumbar inferior articular facet?
forward, lateral, downward (FoLD); significant convexity
What is the name given to the projection on the lumbar superior articular process?
mammillary process
What muscles will attach to the mammilllay process?
multifidis and intertransverarii
What ligament will attach to the lumbar superior articular process and transverse process?
mammillo-accessory ligament
What is the position of the lumbar zygapophysis in adults?
the zygapophysis lies in the sagittal plane for L1/L2, L2/L3, and L3/L4; the zygapophysis lies in the coronal plane for L4/L5 and L5/S1
What name is given to zygapophyses between vertebral couples that lie in the same plane?
joint symmetry
What names are given to the condition in which one zygpophysis of a vertebral couple lies in the coronal plane and the other zygapophysis lies i the sagittal plane?
joint asymmetry or joint tropism
Define or describe joint tropism
the condition in which one zygapophysis of a vertebral couple lies in the coronal plane and the other zygapophysis lies in the sagittal plane
What is the names of the condition in which the typical lumbar spinous process increases in length due to the aging process?
Baastrup’s syndrome or “kissing spines”
What is Baastrup’s syndrome?
elongation of the lumbar spinous process as a result of aging?
What muscles will attach to the typical lumbar spinous process?
latissimus dorsi, serratus posterior inferior, iliocotalis lumborum, longissimus thoracis, spinalis thoracis, multifids, rotator longus, rotator brevis, and interspinalsi
What is the appearance of the fifth lumbar vertebral body from the lateral view?
anterior height is greater that posterior height by several millimeters; it appears to form a wedge on a lateral X-ray view
How many joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of the fifth lumbar?
six
What joint classification will be observed at the vertebral body of the fifth lumbar?
cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis and fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis
What muscles attach to the fifth lumbar vertebral body?
psoas major
What is the name given to ligaments that attach the vertebral body to articular process?
transforaminal ligaments
What ligaments attach the vertebral body to the transverse process?
corporotransverse ligaments
What characteristic of L1-L4 pedicle may be used to differentiate it from the L5 segment? Be specific and complete as the differences on a segment from each group?
On cranial view, the lateral surface of the pedicle is apparent on a L1-L4 segment. At L5 the transverse process originates from the vertebral body, pedicle and lamina-pedicle region
What muscles may attach to the transverse process of the fifth thoracic vertebra?
psoas major, quadratus lumborum, longissimus thoracis, rotator brevis, rotator longus, and intertransversarii
What ligaments traditionally attach to the transverse process of the fifth lumbar vertebra?
lumbosacral, iliolumbar and mammillo-accessory ligaments
What is the reported angulation and X-ray appearance of the fifth lumbar articular facets?
they lie in the vertical plane and are coronal facets
What is the orientation of the fifth lumbar super articular facet?
backward, upward, medial (BUM); typically concave
What is the orientation of the fifth lumbar inferior articular facet?
forward, lateral, downward (FoLD); significant convexity
What is the names of the condition in which L5 spinous process increases in length due to aging?
Baastrup’s syndrome or “kissing spines”
What is Knife Clasp syndrome?
The congenital condition in which the L5 spinous process is elongated, the carom exhibits spina bifida and dorsiflexion produces pain
What muscles will attach to the fifth lumbar spinous process?
latissimus dorsi, iliocostalis lumborum, longissimus thoracis, multifids, rotator longus, rotator brevis and interspinalis
