U. Intervertebral Foramen

Question 1

What percent of total vertebral column length does “true” intervertebral foramina height from C2-S1 equal?

Answer 1

40%

Question 2

What are the generic contents of the intervertebral foramen?

Answer 2

neural tissue, connective tissue, vascular tissue, lymphatic tissue

Question 3

What are medullary feeder arteries?

Answer 3

enlarged radicular arteries which join the arterial vasa corona to provide blood for the spinal cord

Question 4

What is the name of the largest medullary feeder artery?

Answer 4

the artery of Adamkiewicz or the arteria radicalis magna anterior

Question 5

What are the characteristics of the Artery of Adamkiewicz?

Answer 5

it is a left side, anterior medullary feeder artery, located in the T9/T10 intervertebral foramen, and the primary vascular supply to the lumbar enlargement

Question 6

What is the most likely region of the thoracic spine for herniation?

Answer 6

below T8

Question 7

What venous plexus lies next to the posterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 7

the anterior internal vertebral venous plexus

Question 8

What venous plexus lies next to the ligamentum flavum?

Answer 8

the posterior internal vertebral venous plexus

Question 9

What will the intervertebral veins drain into?

Answer 9

the external vertebral venous plexus or Batson’s plexus

Question 10

What is a unique histological feature of the veins of the vertebral column?

Answer 10

they appear to lack valves