Anatomy of Back, Spine and Spinal Cord Flashcards

1
Q

What do the dimples at the bottom of the back indicate the position of?

A

Posterior superior iliac spines

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2
Q

What may ‘low back pain’ be due to?

A

Erector spinae strain

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3
Q

Where do extrinsic back muscles attach to?

A

Pectoral girdle

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4
Q

What are the rhomboids responsible for?

A

Retraction of the scapulae - pull the scapulae medially

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5
Q

What are extrinsic back muscles responsible for?

A

Movement of the upper limb

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6
Q

What do intrinsic back muscles act to do? (2)

A

Maintain posture

Move spine

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7
Q

Name the 2 groups of intrinsic back muscles and mention which ones are superficial and deep.

A
Erector spinae (superficial)
Transversospinalis (deep)
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8
Q

What are the erector spinae muscles?

A

3 VERTICAL muscles groups located lateral to the spine

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9
Q

What do the erector spinae muscles attach to inferiorly?

A

SACRUM + ILIAC CREST via a common tendon

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10
Q

Name the 3 erector spinae muscles (from lateral to medial).

A

Iliocostalis
Longissimus
Spinalis

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11
Q

Where does the illiocostalis muscle attach to?

A

A rib

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12
Q

Where does the longissimus attach to?

A

A transverse process

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13
Q

Where does the spinals attach to?

A

A spinous process

think ‘s’ for spinous process

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14
Q

Where is the transversospinalis muscle located?

A

Between a transverse and spinous process of each vertebrae

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15
Q

Outline the nerve supply to the intrinsic back muscles.

A

Segmental - myotome

Posterior rami branches - cervical, thoracic, lumbar

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16
Q

Name the muscles of the anterolateral abdominal wall starting from superficial to deep.

A

Extrinsic oblique
Intrinsic oblique
Transvers abdominas

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17
Q

What muscles flex the spine?

A

Psoas major

Rectus abdominas

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18
Q

What muscles EXTEND the spine?

A

Erector spinae

Transversospinalis

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19
Q

Erector spinae muscles contract bilaterally. What happens if they contract unilaterally?

A

Lateral flexion

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20
Q

How many vertebrae are there?

A

33

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21
Q

How many cervical vertebrae are there?

A

7

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22
Q

How many thoracic vertebrae are there?

A

12

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23
Q

How many lumbar vertebrae are there?

A

5

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24
Q

How many sacral vertebrae are there?

A

5 - fused to form 1

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25
Q

How many coccygeal vertebrae are there?

A

5 - fused to form 1

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26
Q

What happens to vertebrae as you go from superior to inferior?

A

They get larger as you bear more weight

They then get smaller again as weight is transferred to the hips

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27
Q

Primary curvatures are…

A

Concave anteriorly

28
Q

Secondary curvatures are…

A

Concave posteriorly

29
Q

What may pregnancy lead to?

A

An exaggerated lumbar lordosis

30
Q

What does the pedicle connect?

A

The arch to the body behind it

31
Q

What does the lamina do?

A

Connect the transverse process to the spinous process

32
Q

What do spinous processes provide?

A

A site for muscle and ligament attachment

33
Q

What do the superior and inferior articular processes facilitate?

A

Mobility with adjacent spinal vertebra via synovial facet joints

34
Q

What type of joint is found in vertebrae? Where is it found?

A

Synovial FACET joints

Between articular processes of adjacent joints

35
Q

What is the function of the vertebral arch and what does it consist of?

A

Protect the spinal cord
2 x lamina
2 x pedicle

36
Q

What does the vertebral foramina allow?

A

The spinal cord to pass through

37
Q

Where do intervertebral foramen form? What do they allow?

A

Between adjacent vertebrae

Allow spinal nerves to pass through

38
Q

What do spinal nerves become once they pass through the intervertebral foramen?

A

Anterior or posterior rami

39
Q

What can the facet joints be affected by?

A

Arthritis

40
Q

Where are intervertebral discs found?

A

Between bodies of adjacent vertebrae

41
Q

Where in the spine is there no IVD’s?

A

C1-C2

Sacral and coccyx when fused

42
Q

What are IVD’s important for?

A

Weight and strength

43
Q

What are IVD’s made of?

A

Fibrous cartilage which will never ossify

44
Q

Name the outer and inner part of IVD’s.

A
Annulus fibrosus (OUT)
Nucleus pulposus (IN)
45
Q

What does the ligamentum flavum connect?

A

Adjacent laminae, posterior to the spinal cord

46
Q

The ligamentum flavum is LONG

A

FALSE

Short

47
Q

Describe the posterior longitudinal ligament. State its function.

A

Narrow + weak

Prevent over-flexion of the spine

48
Q

Describe the anterior longitudinal ligament. State its function.

A

Broad + thick

Prevents over-extension of the spine

49
Q

What does the supraspinous ligament do?

A

Connects the ends of all the spinous processes

50
Q

What does the interspinous ligament do?

A

Connects superior and inferior surfaces of adjacent spinous processes

51
Q

What are the common typical features of cervical vertebrae?

A

Transverse foramen

Bifid spinous process

52
Q

What does the transverse foramen transmit?

A

Vertebral arteries

53
Q

What vertebrae does not have a body or spinous process?

A

C1

54
Q

What vertebral level has an odontoid process?

A

C2

55
Q

What is the first palpable spinous process in most people?

A

C7

56
Q

Where are atlanto-occipital joints located?

A

Between the occipital condyles

57
Q

What type of joints are atlanto-occipital joints?

A

Synovial joints with a loose capsule

58
Q

What movements do the atlanto-occipital joints facilitate?

A

Flexion and extension of the neck

‘YES’ joint

59
Q

What is the main movement of atlanto-axial joints?

A

Rotation

60
Q

What does the caudal equina consist of?

A

Spinal roots of L2-C1

61
Q

What does the sacral hiatus form due to?

A

Non fusion of the 2 parts of the sacrum

62
Q

In caudal anaesthesia, where is local anaesthesia injected into?

A

Sacral hiatus

63
Q

What is caudal anaesthesia used for?

A

To anaesthetise the sacral spinal nerve roots of the caudal equina

64
Q

At what level does the spinal cord begin and end?

A

Begins at foramen magnum (C1) via the medulla and continues to L1/L2 to the conus medullaris

65
Q

What is laminectomy used to access?

A

Spinal canal, posterior exposure of the spinal cord and/or spinal roots

66
Q

What is laminectomy used for? Give examples.

A

Relieving pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots
Tumour
Herniated disc
Bone hypertrophy

67
Q

What does laminectomy involve?

A

Removal of one or more spinous process and the adjacent lamina