VERTEBRAL COLUMN AND SPINAL CORD

Question 1

What is lateral flexion and which regions of the vertebral column does it use?

Answer 1

Lateral flexion is bending your body, mainly torso and neck to the side. It uses all regions but mainly lumbar and cervical

Question 2

Which part of the vertebral column is able to move the most during rotation?

Answer 2

Thoracic region

Question 3

Give 4 gross functions of the vertebral column

Answer 3

• Center of gravity
• Attachments for trunk muscles and bones
• Passage of the spinal cord
• Segmental innervation of the body

Question 4

Explain what a slipped disk is and what effects it has

Answer 4

• The nucleus pulposus pushes through the annulus fibrosus rupturing it and forming a hernia
• This compresses against spinal nerves and can result in spinal nerve compression which prevents blood flow to the nerves altering their function
• ## It can also compress the spinal cord which can cause paralysis

Question 5

What is scoliosis and how is it identified

Answer 5

Abnormal twisting and curvature of the spine. Can be seen as a visibly curved spine or one shoulder being higher than the other

Question 6

Describe the curvatures of the spine

Answer 6

There are 4 curvatures
- 2 Anterior - continuous of the primary curvatures formed in the womb
- 2 Posterior - secondary curvatures in response to development

Forms an s shape

Cervical- secondary
Thoracic - Primary
Lumbar - secondary
Sacral - primary

Question 7

What are the potential sites for disk herniations and why

Answer 7

C1 & C2
C7 & T1
T12 & L1
L5 & S1

These are weak points in the vertebral column and are the points that the centre of gravity passes through

Question 8

What happens to the curvature of the spine with age?

Answer 8

Begins to go into the C shape of foetal curvature and loses secondary curvature. This makes it harder to maintain posture

Question 9

Which structures provide the blood supply for the vertebral column?

Answer 9

Segmental arteries

Question 10

What is the venous drainage of the vertebral column?

Answer 10

Drained via spinal veins into vertebral venous plexuses

Question 11

Nerve supply?

Answer 11

Meningeal branches of the spinal nerves

Question 12

How to examine the spine?

Answer 12

Observe rotation of the head (cervical flexion and rotation) rotation and flexion (bending forward) of the spine, lateral flexion, extension (bending backwards)

Question 13

What structure does the spinal cord flow through?

Answer 13

Vertebral canal in the vertebral foramen

Question 14

What level does the spinal cord end at and why ?

Answer 14

L2/L3 - this is because the vertebral column continues to grow as we grow however the spinal cord stops growing after a couple of years

Question 15

What region are sacral and lumbar segments of the spinal cord found at?

Answer 15

T9-L1

Question 16

Where do spinal nerves exit from

Answer 16

Intervertebral foramen

Question 17

What is the Cauda equina?

Answer 17

This is where the spinal nerves continue to exit the vertebral canal past the end of the spinal cord. This is because the nerves continue to grow with the vertebral column

Question 18

What is the name of the end of the spinal cord?

Answer 18

Conus Medullaris

Question 19

What is the FILUM TERMINALE and what is the purpose of it?

Answer 19

This is a part of the Pia mater that is found within the cauda equina. It helps to anchor the conus medullaris to the coccyx.

Question 20

What is the role of the dura mater in the spinal cord?

Answer 20

It surrounds the spinal nerves and extends between vertebrae

Question 21

What is the cervical region of the spinal cord a continuation of?

Answer 21

The medulla

Question 22

What is the sacral plexus?

Answer 22

A plexus is a connection of nerves. This plexus provides motor and sensory nerves for the posterior thigh, most of the lower leg, the entire foot and the pelvis

Question 23

Which regions of the spinal cord have the largest diameter?

Answer 23

Cervical and lumbar regions

Question 24

What is the central canal?

Answer 24

This is central region of the spinal cord where the CSF flows through. It is a continuation of the forth ventricle in the brain

Question 25

What type of information do the dorsal roots and nerves transmit?

Answer 25

sensory

Question 26

What type of information do the ventral roots and nerves transmit?

Answer 26

motor

Question 27

Purpose of the lateral horn

Answer 27

Where cell bodies of the autonomic motor neurones are found

Question 28

How many spinal nerves are there?

Answer 28

31 spinal nerves

Question 29

What are spinal segmental nerves?

Answer 29

Corresponding spinal nerves to spinal segment

Question 30

Which spinal level are the cervical nerves found at?

Answer 30

8 cervical nerves found in the region C1-C7

Question 31

Where is the cervical plexus found and what does it supply?

Answer 31

• C1 - C5
• ## Supplies the posterior head and neck and the diaphragm

Question 32

Where is the brachial plexus found and what does it supply?

Answer 32

• C6 - T1
• Supplies nerves to the arm

Question 33

Where is the lumbar plexus found and what does it supply?

Answer 33

• L1 - L5
• Anterior leg

Question 34

Where is the sacral plexus found?

Answer 34

• S1 - S5

Question 35

What is a myelogram?

Answer 35

X-ray imaging that involves injecting dye into the spinal canal to better view and assess the nerve roots, spinal cord and other soft tissues