Vertebral Column and spinal cord

Question 1

Suboccipital triangle

Answer 1

Medial: rectus capitis posterior major muscle
Lateral: obliquus capitis superior muscle
Inferior: olbiquus capitis inferior muscle
Contains dorsal ramus of C1 spinal nerve

Question 2

Craniovertebral joints

Answer 2

atlanto-occipital
atlanto-axial

Question 3

Joints of articular processes

Answer 3

zygapophysial

Question 4

Joints of vertebral bodies

Answer 4

uncovertebral
intervertebral

Question 5

Intervertebral discs

Answer 5

Annulus fibrous
Nucleus Pulposus

Question 6

Herniated Nucleus Pulposus

Answer 6

portion of nucelus pulposus is pushed through a weakened portion of the annulus fibrosis
Common at: L4-L5 and L5-S1 no PLL or ALL

Question 7

Ligaments of the vertebral column

Answer 7

Ligamenta flava
Anterior Longitudinal ligament
Posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 8

Ligamental flava

Answer 8

connect adjacent laminae of vertebrae
limits flexion

Question 9

Anterior longitudinal ligament ALL

Answer 9

anterior bodies and IV discs from skull to sacrum
Prevents hyperextension

Question 10

Posterior longitudinal ligament PLL

Answer 10

posterior bodies and IV discs from C2 to sacrum with spinal canal
Prevents hyperflexion

Question 11

Parts of the vertebrae

Answer 11

Body of vertebrae
Pedicle
Tranverse process
Spinous process
Lamina
Vertebral foramen

Question 12

Nuchal ligament

Answer 12

provides attachment site for cervical muscles
Resists flexion

Question 13

Supraspinous ligament

Answer 13

connects tips of spinous processes
Limits hyperflexion

Question 14

Interspinous ligament

Answer 14

connects adjacent spinous processes
Limits hyperflexion

Question 15

Whiplash injury

Answer 15

a strain or muscle injury of the neck due to sudden hyperextension and possible hyperflexion as head rebounds
Possible stretching and tearing of ALL
Possible facet jumping or locking of cervical vertebrae due to arch dislocation

Question 16

Epidural space

Answer 16

between dura mater and inner walls of vertebra
contains fat and blood vessels

Question 17

Dura mater

Answer 17

most external of the meninges
fuses with the epineurium that surrounds the spinal nerves

Question 18

Subdural space

Answer 18

Separates the dura mater from the arachnoid mater
potential space

Question 19

Spinal cord meninges
Superficial to deep

Answer 19

Epidural space
Dura mater
Subdural space
Aracnoid mater
Subarachnoid space - filled with CNF
Pia mater

Question 20

Arachnoid mater

Answer 20

located deep to the dura mater and subdural space

Question 21

Denticulate ligament

Answer 21

suspend and anchor the spinal cord laterally to the dura mater
holds the spinal cord in the arachnoid space

Question 22

Subarachnoid space

Answer 22

Real space
Filled with CSF

Question 23

Pia mater

Answer 23

Adheres directly to the spinal cord
Forms lateral extensions called denticulate ligaments

Question 24

Spinal cord nerves

Answer 24

31 pairs of spinal nerves
Cervical C1-C8 (8)
Thoracic T1-T12 (12)
Lumbar L1-L5 (5)
Sacral S1-S5 (5)
Coccygeal Co1 (1)

Question 25

Sclerotome resegmentation

Answer 25

8 cervical sclerotomes -> 7 cervical vertebrae and 8 cervical spinal nerve pairs

Question 26

Spina cord in cross section

Answer 26

Dorsal root of spinal nerve leads to the dorsal root ganglion leads to the spinal nerve (Sensory) Ventral root of spinal nerve leads to the spinal nerve (motor only) Spinal nerve is both motor and sensory Nerves exit the spinal nerve with the dorsal ramus and the ventral ramus

Question 27

Dorsal (posterior) ramus

Answer 27

Both sensory and motor Deep back Erector spinae carries sensory from the skin of the back

Question 28

Ventral (anterior) ramus

Answer 28

Both sensory and motor Everything else - limbs, trunk, superficial back carries sensory from the associated skin

Question 29

Dorsal root ganglion

Answer 29

contains cell body for sensory neurons

Question 30

Arterial supply

Answer 30

1 anterior spinal artery 2 posterior spinal artery From the aorta, arteries segment off and even pass through the intervertebral foramina and divide into more branches

Question 31

Venous drainage

Answer 31

3 anterior and 3 posterior veins Segmented veins allow for blood to drain into the intervertebral vein which drains to the vertebral veins in the neck and segmental veins in the trunk

Question 32

Termination of the spinal cord

Answer 32

Conus Medullaris Cauda Equina Filum Terminale

Question 33

Conus medullaris

Answer 33

Tapering inferior end of the spinal cord

Question 34

Cauda equina

Answer 34

Bundle of nerve roots running inferior to the spinal cord

Question 35

Filum terminale

Answer 35

thin strand of pia mater that helps anchor the conus medullaris to the coccyx

Question 36

Posterior superior iliac spine PSIS

Answer 36

creates a line that crosses L4 spinous processes at level of L4/L5 IV disc

Question 37

Lumbar puncture

Answer 37

Used to obtain CSF Lumbar puncture enters the subarachnoid space Go between L4 and L5

Question 38

Epidural

Answer 38

injection of anesthetic agent into the epidural space, where there is direct effect on the spinal nerve roots of the cauda equina Enter at the epidural space (fat filled) Go between L4 and L5

Question 39

Lacminectomy

Answer 39

option to relieve spinal stenosis most common cause of narrowed vertebral column is bony outgrowths