Vertebral Column/Spinal Column (General Organization of a Vertebra)

Question 1

What are the three basic osseous parts of a vertebra?

Answer 1

The vertebral body, vertebral arch, adn the apophyseal regions

Question 2

What is the general shape of the vertebral body at each region of the spine?

Answer 2

Cervical-rectangular; thoracic-triangular; lumbar-reniform

Question 3

What is the name given to the compact bone at the superior and inferior surfaces of the vertebral body?

Answer 3

Superior epiphyseal rim, inferior epiphyseal rim

Question 4

What larege opening is usually observed at the back of the vertebral body?

Answer 4

The basivertebral venous foramen

Question 5

What is the name given to the anterior part of the vertebral arch?

Answer 5

The pedicle

Question 6

What is the name given to the posterior part of the vertebral arch?

Answer 6

The lamina

Question 7

What is the name given to the intermediate part of the vertebral arch where the transverse process and articular processes attach?

Answer 7

The lamina-pedicle junction

Question 8

What is the name given to the feature located at the upper and lower surfaces of the pedicle?

Answer 8

The superior vertebral notch or superior vertebral incisure; the inferior vertebral notch or inferior vertebral incisure

Question 9

What is the generic orientation of the pedicle at each region of the spine?

Answer 9

Cervical- posterolateral
Thoracic- posterior, slight lateral
Lumbar- posterior

Question 10

What ligament will attach to the lamina?

Answer 10

The ligamentum flavum

Question 11

What is the name given to abnormal bone at the attachment site of the ligamentum flavum?

Answer 11

Para-articular porocess

Question 12

What classification of bone will para-articular processes represent?

Answer 12

Accessory bone

Question 13

What is the name given to the overlap of laminae seen on X-ray?

Answer 13

Shingling

Question 14

What is the name give tot eh lamina-pedicle junction at each region of the spine?

Answer 14

Cervical-articular pillar; thoracic and lumbar-pars interarticularis

Question 15

What is the name given to the junction of the vertebral arch-spinous process on lateral X-ray?

Answer 15

The spinolaminar junction

Question 16

What is the name given to the tubular bone growth regions of the vertebral arch?

Answer 16

The apophyseal regions

Question 17

What names may be given to each apophysis of the spine?

Answer 17

The transverse apophysis or transverse process; articular apophysis or articular process; spinous apophysis or spinous process

Question 18

What is the generic orientation of the transverse process or transverse apophysis at each region of the spine?

Answer 18

Cervical-anterolateral; thoracic-posterolateral; lumbar- lateral

Question 19

All non-rib-bearing vertebra of the spine retain what equivalent feature?

Answer 19

The costal element

Question 20

What is the name given to the rounded elevation at the end of the transverse apophysis or transverse process?

Answer 20

The transverse tubercle

Question 21

What will cause the transverse process/ transverse apophysis to alter its initial direction in the cervical region?

Answer 21

Cervical spinal nerves are pulled forward to form the cervical and brachial nerve plexuses thus remodeling the transverse process to accommodate their new position

Question 22

What will cause the transverse process/transverse apophysis to alter its initial direction in the thoracic region?

Answer 22

The growth of the lungs remodel the shape of the ribs which in turn push the transverse processes backwards

Question 23

What is the name given to the joint formed between articular facets of a vertebral couple?

Answer 23

The zygaphophysis

Question 24

What is the name given to the bone surface at the front of a zygapophysis?

Answer 24

The superior articular facet

Question 25

What is the name given to the bone surface at the back of a zygapophysis?

Answer 25

The inferior articular facet

Question 26

What names are given to the part of the vertebra which support s the front of the zygapophysis?

Answer 26

The superior articular apophysis, the superior articular process, or the pre-zygapophysis

Question 27

What names are given to the part of the vertebra which supports the back of the zygapophysis?

Answer 27

The inferior articular apophysis, the inferior articular process, or the post-zygapophysis

Question 28

What will form the posterior boundary of a typical intervertebral foramen?

Answer 28

The inferior articular process/ post-zygaophopysis, the superior articular process/ pre-zygapophysis, the capsular ligament, and the ligamentum flavum

Question 29

What will form the superior boundary of a typical intervertebral foramen?

Answer 29

The inferior vertebral notch or inferior vertebral incisure

Question 30

What will form the inferior boundary of a typical interverterbral foramen?

Answer 30

The superior vertebral notch or superior vertebral incisure

Question 31

What will form the anterior boundary of a typical intervertebral foramen?

Answer 31

The vertebral body of the segment above the vertebral body of the segment below, the intervetebral disc, and the posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 32

What is the method of calculating the angle of the spinous process/spinous apophysis?

Answer 32

Calculate the angle formed between the undersurface of the spinous process/spinous apophysis and the horizontal plane

Question 33

What is the name given to the normal overlap of spinous processes or spinous apophyses as seen on X-ray?

Answer 33

Imbrication

Question 34

What is the name given to the rounded elevation at the tip of the spinous process/spinous apophysis?

Answer 34

The spinous tubercle

Question 35

What is the orientation of the spinous process/spinous apophysis at each region of the spine?

Answer 35

Cervical- slight angle inferiorly
Thoracic- noticeable angle inferiorly
Lumbar- no inferior angle