Atypical Lumbar Vertebra L5/Misc. Lumbar Questions

Question 1

What is the appearance of the fifth lumbar vertebral body from the lateral view?

Answer 1

Anterior height is greater than posterior height by several millimeters; it appears to form a wedge on a lateral X-ray view

Question 2

How many synovial joint surfaces are present at the fifth lumbar vertebral body?

Answer 2

none

Question 3

How many fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis joint surfaces are present on the L5 vertebral body?

Answer 3

four

Question 4

Identify the fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis joint surfaces present on the L5 vertebral body?

Answer 4

superior and inferior anterior longitudinal ligament attachment sites; superior and inferior posterior longitudinal ligament attachment sitrs

Question 5

How many joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of the fifth lumbar?

Answer 5

six

Question 6

How many cartilaginous (amphiarthorsis) syndesmosis joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of L5?

Answer 6

two

Question 7

What muscle(s) attach to the fifth lumbar vertebral body?

Answer 7

psoas major

Question 8

What are the attachment sites of the superior corporotransverse ligaments at the L4-L5 intervertebral foramen?

Answer 8

L4 vertebral body and L4-L5 intervertebral disc to the transverse process of L5

Question 9

What are the attachment sites of the inferior corporotransverse ligaments at the L4-L5 intervertebral foramen?

Answer 9

L5 vertebral body and L5-S1 intervertebral disc to the transverse process of L5

Question 10

What characteristic of the L1-L4 pedicle may be used to differentiate it from the L5 segment? Be specific and complete as the difference(s) on a segment from each group.

Answer 10

On cranial view, the lateral surface of the pedicle is apparent on a L1-L4 segment. At L5 the transverse process originates from the vertebral body, pedicle and lamina-pedicle region.

Question 11

What is the generic direction and length of the fifth lumbar transverse process?

Answer 11

it is directed straight lateral and is the shortest of all lumbar transverse processes

Question 12

What accounts for the shortness of the L5 transverse process?

Answer 12

the hip/innominate bones diminish the available space in the transverse plane

Question 13

What parts of the lumbar transverse are homologous to the cervical transverse process parts?

Answer 13

L transverse tubercle = C anterior tubercle; L transverse process = C costal element
L accessory process = C posterior tubercle
L transverse process origin = C true transverse process

Question 14

What muscles may attach to the transverse process of the fifth thoracic vertebra?

Answer 14

psoas major, quadratus lumborum, longissimus thoracis, rotator brevis, rotator longus and intertransversarii

Question 15

What ligaments traditionally attach to the transverse process of the fifth lumbar vertebra?

Answer 15

lumbosacral, iliolumbar, and mamillo-accessory ligaments

Question 16

What is the orientation of the fifth lumbar superior articular facet?

Answer 16

backward, upward, medial (BUM); typically concave

Question 17

What is the orientation of the fifth lumbar inferior articular facet?

Answer 17

forward, lateral, downward (FoLD); significant convexity

Question 18

What is the name given to the congenital condition in which the fifth lumbar spinous process is elongated, the sacrum exhibits spina bifida, and dorsiflexion produces pain?

Answer 18

knife clasp syndrome

Question 19

What muscles will attach to the fifth lumbar spinous process?

Answer 19

latissimus dorsi, iliocostalis lumborum, longissimus thoracis, multifidus, rotator longus, rotator, brevis, and interspinalis

Question 20

How many synovial joints are maximally observed at each lumbar vertebra?

Answer 20

L1-L5 = four each

Question 21

How many joints are traditionally observed at each lumbar vertebral body?

Answer 21

L1-L5 = six each

Question 22

What is the inferior articular facet orientation at each lumbar vertebra?

Answer 22

L1-L5 = forward, downward, lateral (FoLD)