Spine, Intrinsic muscles, and vertebral canal

Question 1

What is a distinguishing feature of cervical vertebrae? What do they do?

Answer 1

The transverse foramen. They transmit the vertebral a. and v.

Also the vertebral foramina are triangular

Question 2

What are the distinguishing features of C1 and C2?

Answer 2

C1 (Atlas) lacks a vertebral body.

C2 (Axis) has the dens aka odontoid process

Question 3

What is the joint b/w the superior articular facets of C1 and the occipital condyles of the skull?

What is special about C1’s superior articular facets?

Answer 3

The superior articular facets of Atlas are concave and kidney-shaped. The joint is called Atlanto-occipital joints and allows nodding

Question 4

What is the joint b/w C1 and C2? What movement does this allow?

Answer 4

The Atlantoaxial joints allow pivoting (ie lateral rotation) of the head

Question 5

What is a distinguishing feature of thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 5

The vertebral foramina are circular, and the spinous processes are long, slender and directed downward.

Primary distinguishing feature is the costal facets for articulation with ribs

Question 6

What is a distinguishing feature of lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 6

Vertebral bodies are large and kidney shaped, they lack costal facets.

Question 7

What are the 2 components of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 7

Anulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus

Question 8

What and where is the conus medullaris?

Answer 8

It is the termination of the spinal cord, located b/w T12 and L2

Question 9

Where are the cervical and lumbrosacral enlargements and to what areas do they innervate?

Answer 9

Cervical enlargement: C4-T1, nerve supply to upper extremities

Lumbar enlargement: T11- L1, nerve supply to lower extremities

Question 10

Rotatores are mainly located in ___.

Multifidi are located in ____.

Answer 10

The thorax region;

The sacral and lumbar regions.

Question 11

What are the 3 erector spinae muscles medial to lateral?

Answer 11

Spinalis, longissimus, iliocostalis m.’s

Question 12

What are the 4 m.’s in the suboccipital triangle?

What nerve innervates these 4 m.’s and what a. supplies blood?

Answer 12

1. Rectus capitis posterior major m.
2. Rectus capitis posterior minor m.
3. Oblique capitis inferior m.
4. Oblique capitis superior m.

The dorsal rami of C1 innervates and ascending branches of subclavian a. supplies blood.

Question 13

What are the contents of the suboccipital triangle?

Answer 13

1. Suboccipital n.
2. Vertebral a.
3. Posterior arch of C1 (atlas)
4. Spine of C2 (axis)

Question 14

What n.’s innervate the intrinsic (deep) and extrinsic (superficial) m.’s of the back?

Answer 14

Intrinsic m.’s innervated by posterior primary rami of spinal n.’s;

Extrinsic m.’s innervated by anterior primary rami of spinal n.’s