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MSK > Vertebral Column and Spinal Cord > Flashcards

Vertebral Column and Spinal Cord Flashcards

1
Q

What is the name of the hole in the vertebrae through which the spinal cord travels

A

Vertebral foramen

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2
Q

Where do spinal nerves leave the spinal canal

A

Intervertebral foramina

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3
Q

How does the naming of spinal nerves relate to the vertebral levels?

A

In the cervical spine the spinal nerves emerge superior to their corresponding vertebral levels, hence C8
In the rest of the spine the spinal nerves issue inferior to their corresponding vertebral levels

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4
Q

Give 5 functions of the vertebral column

A
  1. Provides centre of gravity
  2. Attachments for bones
  3. Attachments for trunk muscles
  4. Protection and passage of the spinal cord
  5. Segmental innervation of the body
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5
Q

How does the curvature of the spine change with age

A

Foetus - Single curvature, C-shaped, primary curvature, faces anteriorly
Adult- 4 curvatures: thoracic and sacral kyphoses and cervical and lumbar lordoses
Cervical develops as baby begins to raise its head. Lumbar lordosis develops as walking

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6
Q

How does the curvature of the spine change with age

A

Foetus - Single curvature, C-shaped, primary curvature, faces anteriorly
Adult- 4 curvatures: thoracic and sacral kyphoses and cervical and lumbar lordoses
Cervical develops as baby begins to raise its head. Lumbar lordosis develops as walking
In old age the secondary curvature begins to disappear

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7
Q

What is the vertebral body lined with

A

Hyaline cartilage

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8
Q

How are vertebral bodies linked to each other?

A

Via intervertebral discs

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9
Q

What are the feature of the vertebral arch?

A
  • Spinous process
  • 2x transverse processes
  • pedicle
  • lamina
  • Articular processes X4
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10
Q

Where is the spinous process

A

Posterior midline

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11
Q

Where are the transverse processes and what is their function?

A

Found laterally one on each side

Provide attachment for deep back muscles and serve as levers

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12
Q

What is the pedicle?

A

Part of the neural arch between the body and the transverse process

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13
Q

What is the lamina

A

Part of the neural arch between the transverse processes and the spinous processes

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14
Q

Where are the articular processes found and what are their functions?

A

Facets at the junction between the lamina and the pedicle
2 each side 1 above and 1 below, lined with cartilage
Form facet joints which determine movement permitted
Strengthened by ligament flavum

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15
Q

Where are the articular processes found and what are their functions?

A

Facets at the junction between the lamina and the pedicle
2 each side 1 above and 1 below, lined with cartilage
Form facet joints which determine movement permitted
Strengthened by ligament flavum
Also keep the column aligned

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16
Q

What are the 2 regions of the IVD called?

A

Central region - nucleus pulposus

Peripheral region - Annulus fibrosus

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17
Q

Describe the structure of the annulus fibrosis

A

Series of annular bands with varying orientations

Outer bands are collagenous, inner bands are fibre-cartilaginous

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18
Q

Describe the structure of the nucleus pulposus

A

Jelly like, high osmotic pressure, changes in size throughout the day depending on water distribution
Centrally located in infant but posterior in adult
Can herniate through annulus fibrosis –> slipped disc

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19
Q

How does the nucleus pulposus change with age?

A

Dehydrates –> decreased height of IV disc –> altered stresses so reactive marginal osteophytes develop
Can also lead to osteoarthritis

20
Q

What is degenerative annular disease?

A

Degeneration of the annulus fibrosus which leads to marginal oesteophytosis at the end plates
Seen in thoracolumbar spine of people over 50

21
Q

What are the symptoms of a posterior herniation of a disc

A

Pain if compression of spinal nerves

Paralysis if compression of spinal cord

22
Q

What is the anterior longitudinal ligament?

A

Strong fibrous band that covers and connects the anterolateral aspects of the vertebral bodies and the IV discs. It is attached to the periosteum of the vertebral bodies but free over the IV discs
It is much stronger than the posterior longitudinal ligament
Extends from the anterior tubercle o atlas to the front part of the upper sacrum
Limits extension

23
Q

What is the posterior longitudinal ligament?

A

Extends from the back of the body of the axis to the canal of the sacrum
Becomes narrower as it passes downwards
Has serrated margins which are broadest over the IV discs which they are firmly untied to

24
Q

Where do you find the ligamentum flavum and what is its action?

A

Join the laminae of adjacent vertebrae

25
Q

Where do you find the ligamentum flavum and what is its action?

A

Join the laminae of adjacent vertebrae. Attached to the front of the upper lamina and the back of the lower lamina
They get thicker as you go down the spine
They are stretched when the spine is flexed

26
Q

Where do you find the supraspinous ligaments and what do they do?

A

Connects the tips of the spinous processes from C7 to the sacrum and merge superiorly with the nuchal ligaments at the back of the neck

27
Q

Where do you find the interspinous ligaments?

A

They unite the spinous processes along their adjacent boarders
They are thin and relatively weak, they are only well developed in the lumbar region

28
Q

Where will you find the ligament nuchae?

A

Attaches to the occipital protuberance and the thoracic spinal ligaments as well as all the spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae

29
Q

Where will you find the ligament nuchae?

A

Attaches to the occipital protuberance and the thoracic spinal ligaments as well as all the spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae
Maintains the secondary curvature of the cervical spine. Helps the cervical spine support the head. Is also a site of attachment for trunk muscles

30
Q

Where do you find intertransverse ligaments

A

They connect the adjacent transverse processes. They are scattered fibres in the cervical region, fibrous cords in the thoracic region and thin and membranous in the lumbar region

31
Q

What are the 2 distinguishing features of cervical vertebrae

A
  1. Bifid spinous processes

2. Oval transverse foramen in the transverse process

32
Q

What pass through the transverse foramina?

A

The vertebral arteries and their accompanying veins except for C7 which transmit only small accessory veins, as they are smaller and sometimes absent in C7

33
Q

What is the size and shape of the vertebral foramen in the cervical vertebrae?

A

Large and triangular

34
Q

What are the distinctive features of the thoracic vertebrae?

A
  • Costal facets for articulation with the head ribs
  • The vertebral foramen is circular and smaller than that of the cervical and the lumbar vertebrae
  • The transverse processes are long and strong and have facets for articulation with the tubercle of ribs
35
Q

What are the distinctive features of the lumbar vertebrae?

A
  • Have the largest vertebral bodies, kidney-shaped
  • Lack costal facets on the side of the body
  • Small, triangular vertebral foramen - larger than thoracic
36
Q

Which vertebrae is known as the axis?

A

C2

37
Q

Which vertebrae is known as the atlas?

A

C1

38
Q

What is the articulation of the atlas?

A

It articulates with the skull (occipital condyles with the superior articular surfaces) above (atlanto-occipital joint) and the axis below (atlanto-axial joint)

39
Q

What are the structural features of the atlas?

A

Lacks a body
Lacks spinous process
Is the widest cervical vertebrae

40
Q

What is the dens on C2

A

The displaced body of the atlas

41
Q

What are the features of the axis

A
  • The dens/odontoid process
  • Rugged lateral Mass
  • Large spinous process

It is the strongest of all the cervical vertebrae

42
Q

What is the dens held in place by?

A

The transverse ligament of the atlas

43
Q

What is referred to as a hangman’s fracture?

A

Fracture and dislocation of the atlas

44
Q

What injuries is the cervical spine susceptible to?

A

Whiplash

Sports e.g. rugby scrums

45
Q

What injuries is the lumbar spine susceptible to?

A

Herniation of the L4/5 or the L5/S1 discs

46
Q

What is referred to as a scoliosis and why might this occur?

A

A scoliosis is a side to side curvature of the spine

This may be caused by unbalanced muscle tone between the trunk muscles of the left and right of the spine

47
Q

Which vertebrae is referred to as the vertebra prominens?

A

C7 as in 70% of people it has the longest spinous process which can be felt in the back of the neck

MSK (4 decks)

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