Vertebral Column

Front 1

Spinal nerves, after exiting the vertebral canal, branch into ______ and _______.

Back 1

posterior rami and anterior rami

Front 2

Posterior rami collectively innervate what?

Back 2

deep muscles of the back and the skin of the back

Front 3

Anterior rami collectively innervate what?

Back 3

(larger of the two rami); extrinsic back (superficial and intermediate), upper and lower limbs

Front 4

Describe excessive thoracic kyphosis. What are the contributing factors?

Back 4

hunchback, increase in posterior convexity

postural change with aging and poor postural habit. compression fracture of thoracic vertebral body due to osteoporosis

Front 5

Describe excessive lordosis. What are the contributing factors?

Back 5

sway back, increase in posterior concavity.

weak abdomen muscles, poor postural habit, large abdomen (obesity and pregnancy)

Front 6

Lateral curvature of the spine, coupled with rotation.

Back 6

Scoliosis

Front 7

In scoliosis, the spinous processes point toward the concavity or the convexity of the curvature?

Back 7

concavity

Front 8

What may cause scoliosis?

Back 8

- hemi vertebra (only half of the vertebra develops)
- abnormal muscle tone (cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis)

Front 9

What does idiopathic mean?

Back 9

having an unknown cause

ex: some cases of scoliosis

Front 10

What structures form the intervertebral foramina between adjacent vertebra?

Back 10

superior and inferior vertebral notch

Front 11

Function of articular processes

Back 11

form the zygapophysial joints, for guiding and limiting motion

Front 12

Disorder where vertebral arches fail to fuse during development. Usually in lower vertebrae.

Back 12

Spina bifida

Front 13

Type of spina bifida in which the patient is asymptomatic.

Back 13

spina bifida occulta

Front 14

Three types of joints found in the vertebral column.

Back 14

1. zygapophysial (articular processes)
2. symphysis (discs)
3. uncovertebral (cervical only)

Front 15

Components of the joint capsule found around synovial joints.

Back 15

outer fibrous layer and an inner synovial membrane

Front 16

At synovial joints, what is the function of the synovial membrane?

Back 16

vascular CT, so it produces synovial fluid, lubricating and providing nutrients to articular cartilage.

Front 17

The nucleus pulposus is a remnant of what embryonic tissue?

Back 17

notochord

Front 18

A herniated disc at C5/C6 will likely compress what spinal nerve?

Back 18

C6

Front 19

A herniated disc at L5/S1 will likely compress what spinal nerve?

Back 19

S1

Front 20

Another name for uncovertebral joints

Back 20

Joints of Luschka

Front 21

Where are uncovertebral joints found?

Back 21

C3-C6 vertebrae

Front 22

Where is the ligamentum flavum?

Back 22

connect adjacent laminae

Front 23

What is the special feature of ligamentum flavum and what does it aid?

Back 23

composed of elastic fibers, aids in extension (resists flexion)

Front 24

In which direction are disc herniations most likely to occur?

Back 24

posterolaterally because the posterior longitudinal ligament is narrower than the anterior long. lig., and thus provides less support to the disc

Front 25

What type of joint is a zygapophysial joint? aka facet joint

Back 25

plane joint / synovial joint

Front 26

Degree orientation of facet joints at the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal areas.

Back 26

45 deg cervical

60 deg thoracic

90 deg lumbar

Front 27

What area of the spine exhibits the greatest flexion?

Back 27

cervical

Front 28

What do the occipital condyles articulate with?

Back 28

superior articular facets of the atlas (C1)

Front 29

At the atlantoaxial joint, rotation is the only motion available. What limits rotation?

Back 29

alar ligaments (attaching the dens to the skull)

Front 30

An oblique radiograph of the spine is useful for diagnosing _______.

Back 30

Spondylolysis, and seeing the "Scottie dog"

Front 31

Narrowing of vertebral foramina

Back 31

spinal stenosis

Front 32

Possible contributing factors of spinal stenosis

Back 32

genetics, hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum, arthritic changes to zygapophysial joints

Front 33

Where do you find bifid spinous processes?

Back 33

C3-C6 vertebrae

Front 34

What specializations of the thoracic vertebra allow it to connect to ribs?

Back 34

two demi facets on each side of the vertebral body (for head of rib) and a facet on each transverse process (for the tubercle of rib)

Front 35

T11 and T12 lack these, found normally on other thoracic vertebrae.

Back 35

transverse costal facets

Front 36

Where on the spine might we deliver epidural anesthesia?

Back 36

sacral hiatus