Vertebral column and spinal cord

Question 1

function of the spinal cord

Answer 1

protects the spinal cord and transfers loads from the head, trunk, and upper limb to the pelvis

Question 2

Cervical vertebrae characteristics

Answer 2

small, wide body
short, bifid spinous processes
triangular shaped vertebral foramen
inferior and superior articular processes directed superoposteriorly

Question 3

thoracic vertebrae characteristics

Answer 3

articulate with ribs
heart shaped body with costal facets
spinous processes are long and sharp, project inferiorly
vertebral foramina are circular
transverse processes serve as facets for ribs (except T1 and T12)

Question 4

thoracic vertebrae movements

Answer 4

rotation
lateral flexion is limited
flexion and extension are prevented

Question 5

lumbar vertebrae characteristics

Answer 5

massive body
short, blunt, rectangular shaped, posteriorly projecting spinous process
triangular vertebral foramen
thin and tapered transverse process

Question 6

lumbar vertebrae movements

Answer 6

flexion and extension
some lateral flexion
NO ROTATION

Question 7

Sacrum characteristics

Answer 7

5 fused vertebrae
provides strength and stability to the pelvis
attached to inferior end is coccyx (tail bone)

Question 8

transverse foramina are unique to

Answer 8

cervical vertebrae

provide space for vertebral a to course up neck into head

Question 9

bifid spinous processes are unique to

Answer 9

cervical vertebrae

Question 10

movements of cervical vertebrae

Answer 10

flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation

Question 11

thoracic outlet syndrome

Answer 11

impingment of neurovascular structures in neck
cervical ribs can cause impingement (as well as fractured clavicle, extra muscle/scar tissue in scalene area, poor posture of neck and shoulder regions)

Question 12

thoracolumbar fascia

Answer 12

general arrangement of musculature and fascial components

posterior, middle, anterior lamina

Question 13

three structures contributing stability to vertebral column

Answer 13

IV discs
ligaments
musculature surrounding column

Question 14

IV disc characteristics

Answer 14

fibrocartilage positioned between adjacent vertebrae
symphysis (fibrocartilaginous joint)
Allow slight movement of vertebrae
acts as a ligament to hold the vertebrae together

Question 15

IV joint characteristics

Answer 15

Joints between vertebral bodies 
maintained by 3 ligamentous structures 
annulus fibrosis (fibrous outer layer) 
Anterior longitudinal ligament - prevents hyperextension 
Posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 16

other ligaments of vertebral column (5)

Answer 16

nuchal ligament (attaches to external occipital protuberance)
supraspinous (connects adjacent spinous processes)
interspinous (deeper supraspinous, same thing)
ligamentum flava ( contact lamina of vertebrae)
intertransverse ligaments (connections between transverse processes)
all limit extreme movements

Question 17

ligament that attaches to external occipital protuberance

Answer 17

nuchal ligament

Question 18

2 ligaments that connect adjacent spinous processes

Answer 18

supraspinous (more superficial)

interspinous

Question 19

ligament that connects lamina of adjacent vertebrae

Answer 19

ligamentum flava

Question 20

ligament that connects transverse processes of adjacent vertebrae

Answer 20

intertransverse ligaments

Question 21

herniated IV discs

Answer 21

portion of disc squeezes out and impinges/presses upon spinal cord (or potentially spinal nerves)
typically occurs in posterolateral direction (posterior ligament is not as strong)
typically occurs in lumbar region

Question 22

spinal meninges

Answer 22

dura mater
arachnoid mater
pia mater

Question 23

dura mater

Answer 23

tough mother, epidural space
most superficial layer
blends and spreads out with spinal nerves

Question 24

arachnoid mater

Answer 24

spider web, contains subarachnoid space (houses CSF - filtrate that will wash over brain)
middle layer

Question 25

pia mater

Answer 25

soft mother, denticulate ligaments - connects pia mater to other layers of meninges deepest layer - same outer layering of spinal cord itself,

Question 26

thoracic region disc herniations

Answer 26

usually a result of wear and tear or disc degeneration | sudden and forceful twisting of midback region

Question 27

lumbar region disc herniation

Answer 27

most common region frequent bending, twisting, lifting increases risk pain/dysfunction radiation region will provide information where herniation impingment may be occur

Question 28

vasculature of vertebral column

Answer 28

cervical - vertebral and cervical a thoracic - posterior intercostal a lumbar - subcostal and lumbar a sacral - iliolumbar a, medial and lateral sacral a

Question 29

venous drainage of vertebral column

Answer 29

``` venous plexus around and inside vertebral column internal vertebral venous plexus external vertebral venous plexus basivertebral veins intervertebral veins ```

Question 30

spinal cord begins to end as a cluster of nerves not associated with meninges around

Answer 30

L1

Question 31

cervical enlargement

Answer 31

enlargement that represents nerves exiting to the upper extremities

Question 32

lumbosacral enlargement

Answer 32

lower extremity nerve exit point

Question 33

conus medullaris

Answer 33

where the spinal cord comes to an end

Question 34

filum terminale

Answer 34

extends from pia mater of spinal cord to inferior most portion of vertebrae - bony attachment of spinal cord

Question 35

cauda equina

Answer 35

all nerves are bundled up together but are not bound together as a discrete structure (aka spinal cord) after spinal cord has ended allows us to give spinal block

Question 36

why do we have cauda equina

Answer 36

vertebral column grows faster, keeps growing after nervous system -

Question 37

lumbar puncture

Answer 37

between L3-L4 vertebrae because needle introduced to the dural sac (lumbar cistern) generally slips past the spinal nerve roots without injuring the spinal cord or nerves allows us to avoid conus medullaris

Question 38

spondylolysis

Answer 38

broken vertebrae trauma or degenerative disease common cause of spondylolisthesis

Question 39

spondylolisthises

Answer 39

anterior/ventral displacement of one vertebrae on adjacent one common progression from spondylolysis can be congenital

Question 40

pars interarticularis fractures

Answer 40

between inferior and superior articular facets, between lamina and pedicles of vertebrae fractures associated with spondylolysis looks like a scottie dog and fracture is at dogs collar

Question 41

compression fractures

Answer 41

collapse of bone of vertebral body | can be caused by trauma or degenerative disease

Question 42

osteopenia

Answer 42

process of thinning or decrease in bone mass

Question 43

osteoporosis

Answer 43

the condition of having diminished bone density making bones prone to fracture - degenerative

Question 44

curvature abnormalities

Answer 44

scoliosis - excessive lateral curvature of head kyphosis - excessive thoracic curvature (convexity) Lordosis - excessive lumbar curvature (concavity) caused by developmental abnormalities, trauma, degenerative disease