Back Osteology Flashcards

1
Q

How many cervical vertebrae are there?

A

7

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How many thoracic vertebrae are there?

A

12

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How many lumbar vertebrae are there?

A

5

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How many sacrum vertebrae are there?

A

5 that are fused

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How many coccyx vertebrae are there?

A

3-5 fused

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What curvatures have kyphosis of the spine?

A

thoracic, sacral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What curvatures have lordosis of the spine?

A

cervical, lumbar

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what is scoliosis?

A

lateral curvature of the spine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

primary curvature of the spine?

A

thoracic, sacral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a burst fracture?

A

Life threatening due to injury to spinal cord (any fracture above C4 will likely result in loss of signal to lungs)

If the transverse L is ruptured, the odontoid process may injure the spinal cord

Most likely occur due to trauma to the posterior portion of the neck or a blow to the top of the head

Divers in shallow water hitting their head, football player tackling someone with their head down, STRONG rotations etc.

Fracture of one or both arches of the atlas (c1)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what is a Hangman’s Fracture?

A

Fracture to C2 (Axis) vertebra

  • vertebral arch fracture
  • Most likely due to hyperextension of the neck, with distraction (pulling away from the rest of the c-spine), not whiplash

-Possibly from falls in elderly adults, motor vehicle accidents like when a chin strikes the wheel causing neck to hyperextend.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what is spina bifida occulta?

A

birth defect where there is an incomplete closing of the spine and the membranes around the spinal cord.

SBO is the mildest form, with some hair growth or a dimple or a birthmark at site of lesion

vertebral lamina fail to fuse and close off vertebral canal
Occurs at L5 and S1, often undetected

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?

A

spinal canal narrows and compresses the nerves at the level of the lumbar vertebrae, due to common occurrence of spinal degeneration that comes with aging.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Coccyx Fracture?

A

Tailbone fracture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what happens if odontoid fracture fractures?

A

breaks at its base it will not likely heal because transverse L is holding it away from its blood supply.

A more inferior break will most likely heal.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what is the body of the vertebra?

A

short cylinder which supports all the weight, bound together by intervertebral joints, which form cartilaginous joints

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what are costal facets?

A

(processes on thoracic vertebrae): articulate with ribs below

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what is the vertebral arch?

A
  • paired pedicles laterally and laminae posteriorally
  • forms VERTEBRAL FORAMEN with body
  • Protects spinal cord and structures
  • anterior portion of the vertebrae
  • Composed of cancellous bone and encircled by a protective layer of compact bone
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what is the vertebral lamina?

A

“plate” or “layer” that encloses the spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what is the spinous process?

A
  • bony projection off the posterior of each vertebra laminae
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what is the transverse process?

A
  • the lateral protrusions that usually flank the spinous process
  • articulate with ribs 1-10 in thorax
    - contain transverse foramina
22
Q

what is the articulating process?

A

location where the vertebrae come in contact with each other , form plane synovial joints

superior and inferior

23
Q

superior articulating process?

A

attaches to the inferior articular process of the vertebrae above

24
Q

inferior articulating process?

A

attaches to the superior articular process of the vertebrae below

25
Q

Zygapophysial Joints, what are they?

A

the articulations (connections) between articular processes

26
Q

what are the intervertebral foramina?

A

between inferior and superior surfaces of pedicles of vertebrae
- transmit spinal nerves and vessels

27
Q

what is a pedicle?

A

strong, bridge-like feature between the ventral body and the posterior process

28
Q

transverse foramen?

A

Transverse processes of cervical vertebra

Transmit vertebral artery, veins and autonomic nerves

29
Q

what is the vertebral foramen?

A

the opening formed by the vertebral arches and body where the spinal cord passes

30
Q

what is the vertebral notch?

A

concave formation superior and inferior to the pedicle, where innervation from spinal cord exits the spine

inferior and superior

31
Q

Maxillary Processes?

A

tubercles on super articular processes of lumbar vertebra

32
Q

Accessory processes?

A

project back from transverse process

33
Q

whats so special about the atlas?

A

C1

supports skull!
Widest cervical vertebra
No body and no spine, 2 lateral masses that support skull
Form atlantooccipital joints with occipita condyles
Form atlantoaxial joints with axis

34
Q

whats so special about the axis?

A

C2

has DENS!
Smallest transverse process
Supported by cruciform, apical, alar ligaments

35
Q

what is so special about the C7 vertebra?

A

Vertebra prominens, long spinous process that is horizontal

Attachment site for ligamentum nuchae, supraspinous ligaments and back muscles

36
Q

what are the unique features of cervical vertebrae?

A

vertebral foramen

“Bifid” spinous process

A/P tubercles on transverse process

Uncinate Processes

Transverse foramen

Costotransverse Bar

37
Q

whats so special about thoracic vertebrae?

A

Small round vertebral foramen

“Heart” shaped vertebral body

Superior/inferior costal facets

Transverse costal facet

Transverse process articulates with tubercle of corresponding rib

Well pronounced lamina

Strongly inferiorly directed spinous process

38
Q

whats so special about lumbar vertebrae?

A

Large oval shaped vertebral foramen

Mammillary process (spike in between transverse and spinous process)

Accessory process

No costal facets!

Large “kidney” shaped vertebral body

Long slender transverse process

Short sturdy “hatchet” shaped spinous process

39
Q

whats so special about the sacrum?

A

FOUR FORAMINA,FIVE FUSED SACRAL VERTEBRAE

Enlarged left transverse process of last presacral vertebrae forms joint with lateral mass of sacrum

Complete bony fusion on left

STRENGTH AND STABILITY TO PELVIS

40
Q

whats so special about the coccyx?

A

Single bone comprised of three main sections

Formed by four coccygeal verebrae

41
Q

spina bifida cystica?

A

spina bifida occulta with incorporated neural tissue and meninges

42
Q

Explain cervical dislocation and why the spinal cord may not be injured

A

Articulating facets of cervical vertebrae are more horizontal than other vertebra, less force needed to dislocate cervical vertebra

They have large vertebral foramen, so it doesnt injury spinal cord

43
Q

how do thoracic vertebrae articulate with ribs

A
  • Head of each rib articulates with inferior costal facet of thoracic vertebra above it
  • superior costal facet of vertebra of same number

Costal articulating facet of tubercle articulates with thoracic vertebral segment at same level

44
Q

what is Spondylolisothesis?

A

forward displacement of one vertebra over another

Fifth lumbar over sacrum or

Fourth lumbar over the fifth

Lower back pain, stiffness, ciatica, tightened muscles

45
Q

what is Spondylosis?

A

osteoarthiritis of joint, calcification of vertebral body, causes degeneration

Pressure on nerves, pain and muscle weakness, stiffness

46
Q

what is Spondylolysis?

A

separation of vertebral arch from vertebral body

47
Q

what is vertebral stenosis and what can happen?

A

(narrowing of lumbar region) can cause compression of spinal nerve roots

Can be compounded by intervertebral disc bulging, arthritis, degeneration of ligaments, vertebral canal more compromised

48
Q

what can cause potential trauma to the coccyx?

A

Abrupt falls on the lower back, difficult childbirth can result in bruising and dislocation of the coccyx

Coccygodonia can follow trauma, painful, difficult to treat

49
Q

what is sacrilization?

A

partial or complete incorporation of L5 into sacrum, causes back pain

50
Q

Explain where lumbar puncture procedures are safest to administer and why

A

Safest between L4 & L5

CSF is drawn there because below L1 or L2 the spinal cord terminates (conus medularis)

nerves continue down the spine below this but in loose bundles of nerve fibers called cauda equina.

Done at the L4/L5 site because the loose fibers move out of the way of the needle without being damaged.

51
Q

what is punctured during lumbar puncture?

A

Ligamentum Flavum