Verterbral Column and Spinal cord

Question 1

How many cervical vertebrae are there?

Answer 1

7

Question 2

How many thoracic vertebrae are there

Answer 2

12

Question 3

How many lumbar vertebrae are there?

Answer 3

5

Question 4

How many sacral fused vertebrae are there?

Answer 4

5

Question 5

What structure is responcible for transmitting body weight on to the lower limbs?

Answer 5

Sacroiliac joints

Question 6

What 2 structures does the vertebral canal carries?

Answer 6

Spinal cord and its coverings

Spinal nerves

Question 7

What is the ‘Vertebra prominent’?

Answer 7

The upper most spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebrae that is palpable

Question 8

Why is the vertebra prominent most palpable?

Answer 8

It has a long and non-bifid spine

Question 9

What is the name of the upper most spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebrae that is palpable?

Answer 9

Vertebrae prominent

Question 10

What is the highest point of the iliac crest in line with?

Answer 10

L3/L4 spines

Question 11

What type of joints are the intervertebral discs?

Answer 11

secondary cartilaginous joints

bone 
hyaline cartilage 
fibrocartilage 
hyaline cartilage 
bone

Question 12

What is the name of the shape of the vertebrae that is formed after birth

Answer 12

Sinusodial shape

Question 13

What is the shape of the foetus vertebral column?

Answer 13

C shaped with concavity forcing anteriorly.

Question 14

When does convexity of the cervical and lumbar region of the vertebrae develop and why?

Answer 14

When the child holds up its legs

When the legs start weight bearing

Question 15

Which region of the vertebrae has maximum rotation?

Answer 15

Thoracic region

Question 16

Which region of the vertebrae has very limited rotation?

Answer 16

Lumbar region

Question 17

Which regions of the vertebrae has limited flexion and extension and why?

Answer 17

Thoracic region due to the presence of the rib cage

Question 18

What are the 2 parts to the intervertebral discs and describe the strcuture?

Answer 18

Nucleus pulposus
Annulus fibrosus

the nucleus pulposus is surrounded by an annulus fibrosis

Question 19

What is the annulus fibrosis attached to?

Answer 19

To the vertebral bodies and to the posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 20

Give an example of a condition that can narrow the intervertebral disc and cause compression of the nerve root?

Answer 20

Herniation of the intervertebral discs

Question 21

What happens to the annulus fibrosis in herniation and what happens as a result?

Answer 21

The annulus fibrosis no longer contains the nucleus polposus and bulges into the intervertebral foramen

Question 22

In which region of the vertebrae does herniation often occur?

Answer 22

Lumbar region

Question 23

What is sciatica?

Answer 23

Compression/irritation of the sciatic nerve (L5)

Question 24

What 2 symptoms are experienced in sciatica?

Answer 24

pain radiating down to the buttock and down the claf of the leg

foot drop

Question 25

What is radiculopathy?

Answer 25

Nerve root pathology due to compression due to prolapsed intervertebral disc

Question 26

At what 2 locations does radiculopathy commonly occur?

Answer 26

L5/S1 in the lumbar region

C6/7 in the neck

Question 27

What is a spinal cord segment?

Answer 27

An area of the spinal cord from which a pair of spinal nerves are given off

Question 28

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?

Answer 28

31 pairs of spinal nerves