Week 21 - The Spine

Question 1

what are the different types of vertebrae in the spine ?

Answer 1

• cervical
• thoracic
• lumbar
• sacrum
• coccyx

Question 2

how many cervical vertebrae do we have ?

Answer 2

7

Question 3

how many thoracic vertebrae do we have ?

Answer 3

12

Question 4

how many lumbar vertebrae do we have ?

Answer 4

5

Question 5

how many sacral vertebrae do we have ?

Answer 5

5 fused sacral vertebrae

Question 6

what is the coccyx made up of ?

Answer 6

3-5 fused vertebrae

Question 7

how many spinal curves do we have ?

Answer 7

4

Question 8

what are the 4 spinal curves ?

Answer 8

2 primary: thoracic and sacro-coccygeal

2 secondary: cervical and lumbar

Question 9

what do thoracic and sacro-coccygeal curves form ?

Answer 9

a kyphosis

Question 10

what do lumbar and cervical curves form ?

Answer 10

lordosis

Question 11

what is scoliosis ?

Answer 11

lateral curve of the spine

Question 12

describe the cervical vertebrae

Answer 12

• smallest and lightest

- C3-C7 oval body, short processes

Question 13

what are the names of C1 and C2 ?

Answer 13

• atlas

- axis

Question 14

describe the atlas (c1)

Answer 14

• no body

- no spinous process

Question 15

describe the axis (C2)

Answer 15

• body
• spine
• vertebral arches
• process projects superiorly from body

Question 16

describe the thoracic vertebrae

Answer 16

• articulate with ribs
• heart shaped body
• circular foramen
• transverse processes
• long spinous processes

Question 17

describe the lumbar vertebrae

Answer 17

• short, thick pedicles
• triangular foramen
• flat spinous processes
• facets lock to provide stability

Question 18

describe the sacral vertebrae

Answer 18

articulate with the innominates to form pelvic girdle

Question 19

describe the coccyx

Answer 19

3-5 fused vertebrae

Question 20

what are the 2 types of intervertebral joints ?

Answer 20

• vertebral body articulations

- vertebral facet articulations

Question 21

describe vertebral body articulations

Answer 21

bodies of vertebrae are united by a fibrocartilaginous interverbal disc

Question 22

describe vertebral facet articulations

Answer 22

• joint between articular facets of vertebral arch

- non axial diarthodial joints

Question 23

describe intervertebral discs

Answer 23

• annulus fibrosus: outer fibrous ring
• nucleus pulposus: inner ball of firmly compressed elastic material
• 80-90% water

Question 24

what are the 7 vertebral ligaments ?

Answer 24

• supraspinous (limits F)
• interspinous (limits F)
• facet capsulary
• ligamentum flavum (limits F)
• intertransverse (limits LF)
• posterior longitudinal (limits F)
• anterior longitudinal (limits E)

Question 25

what is the role of the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments ?

Answer 25

connects vertebral bodies

Question 26

what is the role of the ligamentum flavum ?

Answer 26

connects the laminae from the axis to the sacrum

Question 27

what is the role of the interspinous ligament ?

Answer 27

connects spinous processes

Question 28

what is the role of the supraspinous ligament ?

Answer 28

connects apices of the spinous poricesses

Question 29

what is the role of the intertransverse ligament ?

Answer 29

connects transverse processes

Question 30

what are the movement of the spine ?

Answer 30

• flexion
• extension
• lateral flexion (right / left)
• rotation
• circumduction

Question 31

what are the anterior muscles of the spine ?

Answer 31

• external abdominal oblique
• internal abdominal oblique
• rectus abdominis
• transverse abdominis
• transversus abdominis

Question 32

what are the posterior muscles of the spine ?

Answer 32

• splenius capitis & cervicis
• erector spinae
• semispinalis

Question 33

what are the three branches of the erector spinae ?

Answer 33

• iliocostalis
• longissimus
• spinalis

Question 34

what are the lateral muscles of the spine ?

Answer 34

• scalenus
• sternocleidomastoid
• levator scapulae
• quadratus lumborum
• psoas major