Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Anatomy of the head, neck and spine > Vertebral column and spinal cord > Flashcards

Vertebral column and spinal cord Flashcards

1
Q

Cervical vertebrae distinctive features

A

Triangular foramen
Vertebral body is square shaped
Foramen in each transverse process (arteries and veins)
Bifid spinous process, except C1 and C7
Atlas and axis are specialised for movement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Thoracic vertebrae distinctive features

A

Circular foramen
Larger and stronger
Facets for rib articulation
Vertebral body is heart shaped

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Lumbar vertebrae distinctive features

A 
Triangular foramen
Large size - body
Rounded upper and lower facets to prevent rotation
Thin long transverse processes
Cylindrical body
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

2 major types of joints

A

Symphyses between vertebral bodies

Synovial joints between articular processes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

A typical vertebrae has a total of…. joints with adjacent vertebrae
How many synovial and how many symphyses

A 
6
4 synovial (2 above 2 below)
2 symphyses (1 above 1 below)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Intervertebral discs consist of

A

Annulus fibrosis

Nucleus pulposus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Annulus fibrosis is

role

A

collagen surrounded by fibrocartilage arranged in a
lamellar configuration

limit rotation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Nucleus pulposus is

role

A

soft gelatinous core

to absorb compressive forces between vertebrae

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What can lead to herniation of the nucleus pulposus

A

Degeneration of the annulus fibrosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Posterolateral herniation can

A

impinge on the roots of the spinal nerves in the intervertebral foramen > sensory deficits or pain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

The synovial joints between superior and inferior articular processes on adjacent vertebrae are known as

A

zygapophysial joints

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Movement in the:
Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar regions

A

Cervical - flexion and extension
Thoracic - rotation
Lumbar - not much movement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Which ligament is attached superiorly to base of skull and extends along the anterior surface of the vertebral bodies to the sacrum

A

Anterior longitudinal ligament

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Which ligament is attached superiorly to base of skull and extends along the posterior surface of the vertebral bodies to the sacrum

A

Posterior longitudinal ligament

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Which ligament passes between the laminae of adjacent vertebrae

A

Ligamentum flavum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Which ligament is a triangular, sheet-like structure that forms the upper part of the supraspinous ligament, attaching from vertebrae C7 to the skull

A

Ligamentum nuchae

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Which ligament passes along and connects the tips of the spinous processes from vertebrae CVII to the sacrum

A

Supraspinous ligaments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Which ligament passes between adjacent vertebral spinous processes; attach from the base to the apex of each spinous process

A

Interspinous ligaments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Which ligament is commonly damaged in whiplash

A

Anterior longitudinal ligament

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

The upper part of the ….. that connects C2 to the base of the skull is termed the

A

Posterior longitudinal ligament

tectorial membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Which ligament resists separation of the laminae in flexion + assist in extension

A

Ligamentum flavum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Which ligament is pierced during lumbar puncture

A

Ligamentum flavum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Which ligament supports the head

A

Ligamentum nuchae

24
Q

Muscles of the back are organised into… they are involved in …..

A

Superficial, middle and deep

Superficial - movements of the upper limbs
Middle - muscles attached to ribs, involved in respiratory movements?
Deep - movements of the vertebral column and head

25
Superficial muscles include
``` trapezius lattisimus dorsi rhomboid major rhomboid minor levator scapulae ```
26
Intermediate muscles include
Serratus posterior superior and inferior
27
The deep muscles of the back extend from
the pelvis to the skull
28
The deep muscles of the back are innervated by
branches of the posterior rami of spinal nerves
29
Deep muscles of the back and what they do
2 spinotransversales - Extensors and rotators of the head and neck erector spinae and traversospinales - Extensors and rotators of the vertebral column interspinales + intertransversarii - stabilisers of the vertebral column
30
Movement in the: Cervical region and why
most flexible - flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation --> articular surfaces between vertebrae almost horizontal so rotation is possible Neck has less surrounding tissue than rest of back so less resistance to flexion and extension
31
Movement in the: Thoracic region and why
T1-6: No flexion/ extension. Some lateral flexion, some rotation. T7-12: Some flexion/ extension. Lateral flexion and rotation. Intervertebral joints are almost vertical which reduces flexion/extension but allows lateral flexion and rotation.
32
Movement in the: Lumbar region and why
Flexion/ extension. Some lateral flexion. No rotation. The lumbar spine's articular surfaces are curled around the articular surfaces of the adjacent superior vertebrae, ensuring no rotation
33
names of C1 and c2
Atlas and axis
34
Describe shape of atlas
Lacks a vertebral body | Ring-shaped, 2 lateral masses interconnected by an anterior + posterior arch
35
Atlas: each lateral mass articulates with
superiorly with an occipital condyle of the skull, and inferiorly wit the superior articular surfaces of C2
36
Which joint allows nodding
Atlanta-occipital joint
37
The dens is held in position by ... and acts as
the transverse ligament of atlas acts as a pivot that allows atlas (and attached head) to rotate on axis
38
The two superolateral surfaces of the dens possess.... that serve as
articular impressions attachment sites for strong alar ligaments
39
Alar ligaments role
connect to the medial occipital condyles and check excessive rotation of the head
40
Landmark at C7
prominent spinous process
41
Landmark at T3
at level of the medial end of the scapular spine
42
Landmark at T7
at level of the inferior angle of the scapula
43
Landmark at L2
level of lowest rib
44
Landmark at L4
Level of the iliac crest
45
epi/extradural space contains
connective tissue, fat and the internal vertebral venous plexus
46
The arachnoid mater is separated from the pia mater by the and ends at the vertebral level
Subarachnoid space S2
47
Vertebral level: end of spinal cord | end of subarachnoid space
SC: L1/2 | Subarachnoid space: S2
48
What do Arachnoid trabeculae do
interconnect the arachnoid and pia mater, and suspend blood vessels within the subarachnoid space
49
What do the denticulate ligaments do?
Medially, denticulate ligaments attach the pia to the spinal cord Laterally, each anchors the pia mater through the arachnoid mater to the dura mater
50
The difference between spinal and cranial meninges
``` no epidural (extradural) space in the cranium two layers of the dura mater in the cranium ```
51
Reasons for carrying out a lumbar puncture
to obtain a sample of CSF for examination (e.g. suspected meningitis) for spinal anaesthesia (agent injected into subarachnoid space)
52
What is an epidural anaesthesia
a liquid agent injected into the epidural space to anaesthetise the spinal nerve roots
53
Lumbar puncture position in adults and children
L3-4 in adults | 2 or 3 vertebral levels lower in children
54
If there is raised intracranial pressure, and a lumbar puncture is carried out what could happen
the sudden release of CSF could cause the brainstem to herniate through the foramen magnum into the vertebra. This is potentially fatal
55
Explain in anatomical terms the most common causes of back pain
The lower spine is subject to increased stresses of weight-bearing and so the lumbar region is most commonly affected lifting heavy objects. Extending the spineunder a heavy load can inflame intervertebral joints or place unequal pressure on the intervertebral disks, leading to local joint pain and referred neurological pain, if there is also pressure on the spinal nerve
56
the most common abnormalities of spinal curvature
Scoliosis – lateral deviation of the vertebral column Kyphosis – excess thoracic curvature, “hump back” Lordosis – excess lumbar curvature, e.g. due to obesity

Anatomy of the head, neck and spine (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions