Palmer Biomechanics Module 3

Front 1

What is a biomechanical function of the curvatures in the spine?

Back 1

to absorb shock (dissipates sharp spinal loads)

Front 2

What cervical vertebrae are considered atypical?

Back 2

C1 and C2

Front 3

Describe the curvature of the superior surface of typical (C1 - C6) vertebrae.

Back 3

concave from left to right and convex from A to P_
(reversed on the inferior surface)

Front 4

What is the name of the joint that is sometimes formed between an uncinate process of one vertebra and the inferior edge of the body of the vertebra above?

Back 4

joint of Von Luschka

Front 5

What is the biomechanical significance of the compact bone of the vertebral body being continuous with the conpact bone of the pedicles?

Back 5

allows loads on the anterior column (vertebral bodies) to be transferred to the posterior columns (articular pillars)

Front 6

The vertebral artery passes up through the transverse foramen of which cervical vertebrae?

Back 6

C6 up through C1

Front 7

How does the angle of the zygapophyseal joints vary throughout the cervical spine?

Back 7

The angle gets steeper the lower you go in the cervical spine

Front 8

What is the highest vertebral level with an intervertebral foramen?

Back 8

Between C3 and C2_
(There is not one between C2 and C1)

Front 9

What two anatomical features are missing on C1 that are present on the other cervicals?

Back 9

vertebral body and spinous process

Front 10

Which vertebra is the most distinctly palpable at the base of the neck (the vertebra prominens)?

Back 10

usually C7 (sometimes T1, and ocassionaly although rarely C6)

Front 11

What are the articulations of the upper (atypical) cervicals?

Back 11

atlantooccipitals (left and right)_
lateral atlantoaxials (left and right)_
median atlantoaxial

Front 12

When an IVD is referred to by specifying a single vertebra, where is that vertebra in relation to the IVD?

Back 12

above it (so the C5 IVD is the one between C5 and C6)

Front 13

At what approximate age does the IVD reach its peak level of hydration?

Back 13

about 30

Front 14

What cervical joint allows the most rotation? flexion/extension?

Back 14

C1/C2 and occiput/C1

Front 15

What is meant by coupled motion?

Back 15

Two types of motion that are forced to occur together because of the geometry of the articulating surfaces._
(i.e. atlas rising up, axial translation, as it rotates on axis because of the angle of the facet surfaces)

Front 16

The vertebral artery passes though the transverse foramen of what cervical vertebrae?

Back 16

C6 through C1

Front 17

The normal range of motion consists of what two zones?

Back 17

neutral zone and elastic zone

Front 18

What is the difference between the neutal zone and the elastic zone?

Back 18

In the neutral zone the collagen fibers of the supporting structures (like ligaments) are lax and offer very little resistance to movement._
In the elastic zone, the collagen fibers are taut and are stretched (giving significant resistance) as more movement occurs.

Front 19

How many degrees of freedom are there for an object that is not restrained in any way?

Back 19

6 (3 translational and 3 rotational)_
That means it takes 3 numbers to specify the location of an object in 3 dimensional space and_
3 more numbers to specify how it is oriented at that position.

Front 20

If a 3-D Cartesian coordinate system is oriented in the standard way on a vertebral body, which way is the positive X axis? the positive Y axis? the positive Z axis?

Back 20

positive X: out to the left_
positive Y: caudal to cephalic_
positive Z: posterior to anterior

Front 21

In a 3-D Cartesian coordinate system in standard orientation, which two axes define a frontal plane?

Back 21

X and Y

Front 22

In a 3-D Cartesian coordinate system in standard orientation, which two axes define a transverse plane?

Back 22

X and Z

Front 23

In regards to attempting to move an object resting on a surface, how is the coefficient of friction defined?

Back 23

the amount of tangential force required to move the object divided by the amount of normal (perpendicular) force pushing the object down on the surface

Front 24

What kind of fluid has the same viscosity no matter how much shear force is applied to it?

Back 24

Newtonian (like water)

Front 25

What kind of fluid has increased viscosity when shear force is applied to it?

Back 25

dilatant (like Silly Putty)

Front 26

What kind of fluid has decreased viscosity when shear force is applied to it?

Back 26

thixotropic (like ketchup)

Front 27

Relative to how the viscosity of a fluid varies according to how much shear stress is applied to it, what kind of fluid is synovial fluid?

Back 27

thixotropic

Front 28

When looking a stress/strain plots of biomaterials, what is the toe region?

Back 28

The region of considerable strain for little increase in stress at the beginning of the curve._
(meaning it doesn't resist very much at all when you first start stretching it)

Front 29

Does the stress/strain plot of ligaments or tendons have a longer toe region?_
What it is about the anatomy of the structure that causes it to have longer toe region?

Back 29

ligaments_
the collagen fibers are not as well lined up in ligaments, so it takes more stretching before the tensile strength of those fibers comes to bear.

Front 30

What is the biomechanical significance of ligaments providing less resistance when they are first starting to be stretched as opposed to tendons?

Back 30

Since ligaments attach rigid bone to bone, and are lax until the joint reaches the end of the range of motion, if they didn't give a little at first there would be quite a jerk when the joint arrives there suddenly._
(that would make the attachment sites of the ligaments more susceptible to avulsion fractures)

Front 31

What possible explanation does our author give for why the severity of an accident doesn't always correlate very well with the severity of the symptoms that result from it?

Back 31

He proposes that at least one significant factor could be the exact position of the person at the time of the accident.

Front 32

What symptoms are often associated with occipitalization (fusion of C1 to occiput)?

Back 32

ataxia, numbness with pain in limbs, hyper-reflexia and spasticity, neurological symptoms similar to MS (often misdiagnosed as MS)

Front 33

What is the Arnold-Chirari malformation?

Back 33

displacement of cerebellar tonsils down through the foramen magnum into the upper part of the cervical spinal canal

Front 34

What symptoms are commonly associated with an Arnold-Chirari malformation?

Back 34

headaches and neck pain (often brought on by a sneeze or cough)_
vertigo_
syncope (temporary loss of consciousness due to reduced cerebral blood flow)

Front 35

What is the Kippel-Feil syndrome?

Back 35

congenital fusion of 2 or more cervical vertebrae_
(no really distinctive symptoms)

Front 36

What term is used to describe a general situation of some sort of disease of cervical vertebrae along with some related problem with the spinal cord?

Back 36

cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM)

Front 37

What is the most common pathological condition associated with a degenerative spine?

Back 37

degenerative joint disease (DJD)

Front 38

Is it overuse or lack of use that can lead to degeneration of the spine?

Back 38

either one can do so

Front 39

How much spinal manipulation is appropriate for a spine with anomalies or traumatic injuries?

Back 39

That depends on who you talk to. There is no hard and fast set of rules to determine just how much adjusting is appropriate, especially in those kinds of cases.