Vertebral Column and Spinal Cord Flashcards
What are some distinctive features of cervical vertebrae? What movements do they permit?
- bifid spinous processes
- small wide body0
- big transverse foramen for vertebral artery
- flexion/extension and rotation
What are some distinctive features of thoracic vertebrae?
What movements do they permit?
-heart shaped body
-long inferiorly pointing spinous processes
-transverse processes has facet for ribs
-superior facet faces posteriorly
-inferior facet faces anteriorly
permits mostly rotation, limited lateral flexion and extension
What are some distinctive features of lumbar vertebrae?
What movements do they permit?
-large kidney shaped body
-triangular vertebral foramen
-short stubby spinous process
permits flexion and extension, lateral flexion, limited rotation
What are intervertebral discs?
fibrocartilage between vertebrae that hold vertebrae together and provide stability and slight movement
What are the 3 meninge layers from superficial to deep?
Between which two layers would you find CSF?
Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater
between arachnoid and pia mater in subarachnoid space
What artery supplies blood to the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral vertebrae?
cervical-vertebral artery and cervical a.
thoracic-dorsal intercostal vessles
lumbar-lumbar a. subcostal a
sacral-iliosacral a
Describe the curvature of a normal spinal column
cervical lordosis
thoracic kyphosis
lumbar lordosis
sacral kyphosis
How does the curvature of the spinal column develop during growth?
you start off full fetus mode so youre all curled up and have primary thoracic and sacral kyphosis secondary curvature (the lordosis ones) develops later on when youre able to stand upright and walk
What issues can arise from spinal curvature?
too much thoracic kyphosis (from degenerative diseases) or too much lumbar lordisis (from being fat or pregnant)
also scolios which is lateral deviation of spinal curvature
What is the cauda equina and why is it there?
the space after L1 where the spinal cord terminates and becomes a bunch of nerves. its there because the vertebral column outgrows the spinal cord
What are components of an intervertebral disc?
annulus fibrosis (outer layer) nucleus propulsus (inner layer derived from notochord)
What are some ligaments that articulate on the spinal cord and provide stability?
intervertebral discs
anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments
What are some other ligaments of the spinal cord?
nuchal l. ligamentum flava interspinous ligaments intertransverse ligaments supraspinatous ligaments
What is the cause of thoracic outlet syndrome? What issues arise form this condition?
cervical ribs, injury, clavicle fracture
issues arise because the subclavian artery and brachial plexus are being compressed
What occurs when a disc is herniated? Why does it occur in the direction that it does?
nucleus pulposis protrudes through annulus fibrosis usually on the posterolateral side and compress nerves
because annulus fibrosis is thin posteriorly and the posterior longitudinal ligament is a little bitch
Where are disc herniations most common? what type of pain often occurs with herniated discs?
in the lumbar region between L4-L5 or L5-S1, referred dermatome map type pain
What can cause nerve impingement in the cervical region?
central stenosis, foraminal stenosis, herniated disc
What causes thoracic disc herniation?
wear and tear/degeneration
sudden abrupt twisting
What causes lumbar disc herniation?
bending, lifting heavy loads with bad mechanics
What is spondylolysis? what can this lead to?
broken vertebrae due to trauma or disease
can lead to spondylolisthesis
what is spondylolisthesis?
anterior displacement of vertebrae (probably most likely to happen in cervical region cause they have shit articulations
Where does a pars interarticularis fracture occur? what does it look like on X ray?
between the superior and inferior articular facets between lamina and pedicles
looks like scottie dog
What causes a compression fracture?
degenerated body of vertebrae usually from osteoperosis
When does osteopenia become osteoporosis?
when a fracture occurs due to the thinning/decreasing mass of the bone
Where is a LP safest? Why here?
between L3 and L4 in cauda equina subarachnoid space. because the spinal cord has already terminated at the conus medullaris at L1 so you dont damage anything
