Vertebrae and development

Question 1

regions of vertebral column

Answer 1

7 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 fused sacral 
3-5 fused coccyx

Question 2

why a curved spine

Answer 2

resists compressive loads better

increases flexibility

Question 3

thoracic and sacral curvature

Answer 3

primary (fetal)

kyphosis

Question 4

lumbar and cervical curvature

Answer 4

secondary (after birth)

lordosis

Question 5

atlantooccipital joint

Answer 5

c1 and occipital condyles
no ivd
primarily flexion

Question 6

uncovertebral joints

Answer 6

uncinate processes of c3-c7 and body superior
common sites of bone spurs
may compress nerve and artery

Question 7

zygapophyseal joints

Answer 7

articular facet orientation determne range of motion

Question 8

zygapophyseal joint cervial

Answer 8

promotes flextion/extension
limits rotation - no owl
most mobile region
sloped/near horizontal orientation

Question 9

zygopophyseal joint thoracic

Answer 9

vertical orientation
promotes rotation
limits flexion
spinous processes restrct each other

Question 10

zygopophyseal joint lumbar

Answer 10

wrapped orientation
promotes flexion/extension
limits rotation
short spinous processes

Question 11

intervertebral discs

Answer 11

link adjacent vertebral bodies
increase range of motion
transmits loads from 1 segment to another
cushioning

Question 12

annulous fibrosis

Answer 12

outer layer of ivd
alternating fiber pattern
limits rotation between bodies
increases joint strength

Question 13

nucleus pulposus

Answer 13

core of ivd
gelatinous
adds flexibility and resilience
avascular
remnant of embryonic notochord

Question 14

intervertebral foramen

Answer 14

spinal nerve exits

Question 15

where do cervial nerves exit in the vertebral column

Answer 15

exit superior to vertebrae

Question 16

where do thoracic and lumbar nerves exit in vertebral column

Answer 16

exit inferior to vertebrae

Question 17

herniation of intervertebral disc

Answer 17

protrusion of nucleus propulsus into annulus fibrosus

may herniate into vertebral canal and compress spinal cord or nerve roots

Question 18

posterior herniation

Answer 18

compresses spinal cord

Question 19

posteriorlateral herniation

Answer 19

compresses nerve roots

Question 20

what can a herniation cuase if it impinges on spinal nerves

Answer 20

severe local back pain
sensitivity to associated dermatome
associated muscle weakness

Question 21

what does the sclerotome later become

Answer 21

vertebra and rib bones

Question 22

describe vertebral column development

Answer 22

mesoderm becomes mesechymal and organizes into segments called somitomeres
paired somitomeres surround neural tube and notochord and further develop into somites
somites migrate around neural tube and notochord to fuse with cells on opposite side

Question 23

what does the dorsomedial and ventrolateral regions give rise to

Answer 23

muscles

Question 24

describe the process of resegmentation

Answer 24

each centrum develops from 2 adjacent sclerotomes

portion of caudal cells moves down to fuse with cranial portion of subadjacent sclerotome. to form centrum

Question 25

hermivertebra

Answer 25

defect in resegmentation or formation.

can result n congenital scoliosis, kyphosis, or lordosis. may also be asymptomatic

Question 26

what causes mermaid syndrome

Answer 26

the sclerotome don’t migrate down

Question 27

what is klippel feil syndrome

Answer 27

fusion of 2 or more cervical vertebrae

reduced cervical mobility

Question 28

spina bifida

Answer 28

failed to fuse posteriorly

Question 29

spina bifida occulta

Answer 29

just affects the bone. asymptomatic

Question 30

spina bifida cystica

Answer 30

have neurological defects

Question 31

spinda bifida meningocele

Answer 31

meningeal cyst. csf protrudes but no spinal cord involvement

Question 32

spina bifida meningomyelocele

Answer 32

involves and protrudes the spinal cord out

Question 33

myeloschisis and rachischisis

Answer 33

spinal cord exposed

usually fatal

Question 34

c1 / atlas features

Answer 34

no body and spinous process

Question 35

typical cervical vertebrae features

Answer 35

transverse foramina for vertebral arteries and veins
spinous processes of c3-c6 are short and usually bifid
spinour processes of c7 is long
smallest bodies - limited load bearing
relatively large vertebral foramina - cervical enlargement

Question 36

typical thoracic vertebra features

Answer 36

costal facets for ribs
intermediate body and vertebral canal size
long spinous processes

Question 37

typical lumbar vertebra

Answer 37

largest body
narrow vert canal
lacks transverse foramina and costal facets.