Vertebral Column And Its Joints

Question 1

How many vertebrae are in each region of the vertebral column?

Possible exception?

Answer 1

7 cervical
12 thoracic 
5 lumbar
5 sacral
4 coccyx

Can change the # in one region in expense to another; example: 4 lumbar and 6 sacral
~except 7 cervical is almost always a constant except in Klippel-Feil syndrome

Question 2

Primary curvature vs. secondary curvature?

Answer 2

Primary: develops first in the embroyo; convex posteriorly; thoracic and sacral

Secondary: develops later; concave posteriorly; cervical and lumbar

Question 3

What is another name for kyphosis?

What is kyphosis called in adolescents?

Answer 3

Dowagers Hump

Scheuermann’s disease

Question 4

Two causes of scoliosis?

Answer 4

Myopathic (muscle disease)

hemivertebra (only have half of one vertebra)

Question 5

Check notes app for Vetebra general features (answer on back of this card)

Answer 5

1. Lamina
2. Pedicle
3. Vertebral foreamen
4. Costal facet
5. Superior and inferior costal facet
6. superior articular facet
7. vertebral arch

Question 6

What two things make up one intervertebral foreamen?

Answer 6

A superior vertebral notch of an inferior vertebra and an inferior vertebral notch of a superior vertebra

Question 7

Name two defining distinctions between cervical vertebrae (remember C1 and C2 are different; talking about C3-C7)

Answer 7

Bifid spinous process and cervical transverse processes have a hole in it (transverse foramen)

Question 8

C1 is called?

Has no __ and __

What does it have that is unique? What is it for?

Answer 8

Atlas

No spinous process or vertebral body

Between anterior and posterior arch, theres a chunk of bone called the lateral mass; it has 2 articulate facets where you form the joint with the occipital bone (at the occipital condyles)

Question 9

C2 (axis) has a spinous process and body. What does it have that’s unique ?

Answer 9

A vertical projection called the dens

Question 10

Atlanta-occipital joint allows what movements?

Answer 10

Nodding yes, flexion, and extension

Question 11

There are two Atlanto-axial joint subdivisions, what are they?

Atlanto-axial joint allows for what movement?

Answer 11

lateral and median

Rotation of head (no)

Question 12

What is the most important ligament of the craniovertebral joints?

Location?

Answer 12

Transverse ligament of the axis

Medal surface of one lateral mass of atlas to other lateral mass

Question 13

What is unique about C7 (vertebra prominens)

Answer 13

Long nonbifid spinous process

Transverse foramina are smaller and do not transmit vertebral artery

Question 14

Why do thoracic vertebra have a lot of facets?

Costal facets of the vertebral body are called?

Transverse costal facet is located where?

Answer 14

Because they attach to the ribs

Demifacets (superior and inferior)

On the transverse process (thats why its not called demifacet because it is not located on the body)

Question 15

How can you differentiate lumbar and thoracic vertebra?

What are transverse processes in the lumbar region called?

Where is mammillary process?

Answer 15

Spinous process on lumbar is shorter and wider

Costal processes

On posterior aspect of superior articular processes

Question 16

Difference between spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis?

What spinal level does this usually occur at and what is disrupted?

Function of what is disrupted?

Answer 16

Spondylolysis is fracture in the neck of the Scottie dog
Spondylolithesis is when the head is removed from the body of the Scottie dog (body of vertebra slips forward and carries upper portion of vertebral column with it)

L5 and pars interarticularis (units bases of the superior and inferior articular processes)

Plays key role in supporting weight between L5 and sacrum

Question 17

Describe the ala

What part of the sacrum goes hand in hand with cephalopelvic disproportion

What part of sacrum attaches to the hip bone

Where do ligaments attach

Answer 17

Wing like portion of the sacrum

Promontory

Auricular surface

Sacral tuberosity

Question 18

Two types of spina bifida?

Where does the first type usually occur?

What are the two subsections of the second type? Describe

Answer 18

Spina bifida occulta (often asymptomatic) and spina bifida cystica (more severe)

L5 or S1

Meningocele - spina bifida with a meningeal cyst
Myelomeningocele- spina bifida with the spinal cord

Question 19

Where in the spine are the intervetebral discs the thickest? Why?

2 parts of IVD?

Answer 19

Cervical (except no IVD between C1 and C2) and lumbar regions because thats where the most movement is

Annulus fibrosus (external, fibrocartilagenous part) and nucleus pulposus (central gelatinous core thats 70-90% water)

Question 20

Function of anterior and posterior longitudinal ligament

Where do they run from?

Answer 20

Anterior prevents hyperextension of the vertebral column; posterior prevents hyperflexion

Anterior runs from occipital bone to superior part of the sacrum
Posterior runs from C2 to sacrum

Question 21

What is occurring during herniation?

What direction does herniation usually occur?

Answer 21

Outward pressure of nucleus pulposus is too great, annulus fibrosus ruptures, nucleus pulposus herniated

Posteriorly

Question 22

Where are uncovertebral joints?

What pathology usually occurs at these joints?

Answer 22

Connect uncinate processes of C3-C6 vertebrae to the inferior surface of the vertebral body above

Bone spurs (causing neck pain)

Question 23

Zygapophyseal joints aka _____ are joints between?

What type of joint? Structurally and functionally?

The joint is stabilized by accessory ligaments uniting the ___, ____ and ____

Answer 23

Facet joints; joints between articular processes of adjacent vertebrae (ex: superior articular process of T5 and inferior articular process of T4)

Plane type of joint (gliding/sliding); structurally synovial and functionally amphiarthrosis

Laminae, transverse process, and spinous process

Question 24

Ligamentum flavum connects?

Function?

Color?

Answer 24

Connects laminae of adjacent vertebrae

Keeps laminae from separating during flexion

Yellow

Question 25

Supraspinous ligament vs. interspinous ligament (location and function)

Answer 25

Supra is on the tips of the spinous processes and prevents hyperflexion
Inter is in between spinous processes (lengthwise) and prevents hyperextension

Question 26

Ligamentum nuchae is the same exact thing as ___ except the name just changes to this in the ____

Answer 26

Supraspinous ligament; is only called ligamentum nuchae in the cervical region

Question 27

What is unique about ribs 2-9?

How does this affect articulation? (Give an example)

What attaches to the transverse costal facet?

Answer 27

Ribs 2-9 have two facets on the head

For example, head of rib 7 articulates with the inferior demifacet of T6 and the superior demifacet of T7

The tubercle of the rib