Anatomy of the back

Question 1

What type of joint is a ZYGAPOPHYSEAL JOINT?

Answer 1

Facet joints
sinovial, plane joints
sits between articulate processes of adjacent vertebrae

innervated by RECURRENT MENINGEAL NERVES

Question 2

What type of joint is an INTERVERTEBRAL JOINT?

Answer 2

lies between adjacent vertebrae in vertebral column

acts as a ligament holding the vertebrae together

Question 3

What type of joint is a COSTOVERTEBRAL JOINT?

Answer 3

connect the rib to the vertebral column

ARTICULATION: connects head of rib to bodies of thoracic spinal column

Question 4

What is the coccyx formed of?

Answer 4

vestigial vertebrae that are fused together

most commonly contains 2-3 segments

Question 5

What is Luschka’s joint?

Answer 5

Located at C3-C7
Type of uncovertebral joint
common point for bone spurs and degeneration

Question 6

What are articular processes?

Answer 6

= zygapophyses

projections of vertebra that fit with adjacent vertebra

Question 7

What is a lamina?

Answer 7

plate or layer

Question 8

What is a pedicle?

Answer 8

a bone which connects lamina to the vertebral body

Connection is known as a ‘vertebral arch’

Question 9

What is the spinal canal?

Answer 9

cavity which contains the spinal cord within the vertebral column

Question 10

What is a spinous process?

Answer 10

bony projection off of the posterior vertebra

This the site of attachment for muscles and ligaments

Question 11

What is a transverse foramen?

Answer 11

Present in cervical vertebrae

cavity through which the vertebra and artery pass

Question 12

What is an uncinate process?

Answer 12

hook-shaped

on posterolateral borders of superior surface for C3-C7

Question 13

What is a transverse process?

Answer 13

lateral process of vertebra

Question 14

What is the vertebral body?

Answer 14

thick, oval segment of bone

forms the centrum

Question 15

What is the centrum?

Answer 15

front face of vertebra

Question 16

What is the primary curvature (of spine)

Answer 16

Thoracic and Sacral

forms during foetal development

Question 17

What is the secondary curvature (of spine)?

Answer 17

Cervical and lumbar
develops after birth
Cervical develops as infant begins to hold up their own head

Question 18

What are the main vertebral levels?

Answer 18

C1 atlas
C2 axis
C3-C6
C7 - prominent spinous process
T1-T12 thoracic
L1-L5 lumbar
Sacrum
Coccyx

Question 19

What are the main distinguishing features of cervical vertebrae?

Answer 19

BODY: smaller
SPINOUS PROCESS: bifid = bifurcates at its distal end
TRANSVERSE PROCESS: transverse foramina through which vertebral arteries travel to brain
ARTICULAR FACETS: cup-shaped or planar
VERTEBRAL CANAL: triangular

Question 20

What is different about the spinous processes of C1 and C7?

Answer 20

C1: no spinous processes

C7: longer spinous process and may not bifurcate

Question 21

What are the main distinguishing features of thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 21

BODY: medium sized
SPINOUS PROCESS: orientated obliquely, inferiorly and posteriorly
TRANSVERSE PROCESS: costal facets articulates with shaft of 1st rib
ARTICULAR FACETS: demi-facets
VEREBRAL CANAL: circular

Question 22

What are the main distinguishing features of lumbar vertebra?

Answer 22

BODY: largest and kidney shaped
SPINOUS PROCESS: shorter than that of thoracic vertebra
TRANSVERSE PROCESS: no transverse foramina
ARTICULAR FACETS: no costal facets
VERTEBRAL CANAL: triangular

Question 23

What is kyphosis?

Answer 23

abnormal excessive CONVEX THORACIC + SACRAL curvature

Question 24

What is Lordosis?

Answer 24

abnormal inward CONCAVE lordotic curving

Question 25

What is Scoliosis?

Answer 25

sideways curvature of spine

Question 26

Where does rotation mainly occur in the spine?

Answer 26

cervical | upper thoracic spine

Question 27

What actions are mediated mainly by C1-2?

Answer 27

nodding rotation of head

Question 28

Where does flexion and extension mainly occur in the spine?

Answer 28

cervical and lumbar spine

Question 29

Where does lateral flexion mainly occur in the spine?

Answer 29

all regions | but more cervical and lumbar

Question 30

What is the vertebra prominens

Answer 30

@ C7: prominent spinal process which can be palpated at base of neck function: supports skull, enabling rotation and nodding movements also protects spinal cord

Question 31

What is the significance of the transverse foramina of cervical vertebrae?

Answer 31

occupies in C1-C6 not C7 (even though it contains spinous process) 8 cranial nerves

Question 32

What is the composition of the sacrum?

Answer 32

5 fused vertebra

Question 33

What is the median sacral crest?

Answer 33

fused sacral spinous processes

Question 34

What is the blood supply to the venous column?

Answer 34

single anterior spinal artery (ASA) ASA comes from vertebral arteries (from subclavian). It travels caudally down the spinal cord via the anterior sulcus. ASA supplies anterior 2/3 of spinal cord 2x posterior spinal arteries (PSA) PSA is a branch o the posterior inferior cerebellar artery or pre-atlantal vertebral arteries which travel down via the (2x) posterior sulci. PSA supplies posterior 1/3 of spinal cord

Question 35

What is the venous drainage of the spinal cord?

Answer 35

1x anterior spinal vein and 1x posterior vein becomes internal vertebral venous plexus -> external plexus -> azygos vein -> IVC Same drainage as lung, breast and prostate (hence risk of mets)

Question 36

What is the function of the cruciform ligament?

Answer 36

holds posterior 'dens' of C2 in articulation @ atlanto-axial joint

Question 37

What is the function of the Alar ligaments?

Answer 37

limits the amount of rotation in the head | Also attaches the skull to the axis (C1)

Question 38

Why is the Ligamentum Flava yellowish in colour? What does it connect?

Answer 38

high [elastin] connects 2 adjacent vertebrae via laminae and fuses with the facet joint capsules provides sheath covering over spinal cord

Question 39

Where are the vertebral end-plates located?

Answer 39

this is a thin plate of cartilage | covers the lower and upper surfaces of the vertebral bodies

Question 40

What proportion of the length of the spine is made up of discs?

Answer 40

25% | height of discs declines with age

Question 41

What is the function of the nucleus pulposus?

Answer 41

= inner core of vertebral disc made up of a jelly-like inner structure (elastin , loose collagen) allows vertebral disc to withstand forces of compression and torsion

Question 42

Which disc is most commonly affected in disc herniation?

Answer 42

95% are at either L4-5 or L5-S1 | caused by disc regeneration

Question 43

What is the function of the erector spinae muscle?

Answer 43

straighten and rotate spine

Question 44

What is the function of the latissimus dorsi muscle?

Answer 44

extension, adduction, transverse extension, flexion

Question 45

What is the function of the trapezius muscle?

Answer 45

tilt/tuen head, shrug, twist arms

Question 46

What are the attachments of the erector spinae muscles?

Answer 46

medial crest of sacrum and spinous processes of lumbar, T11-12, supraspinous ligament

Question 47

What is the innervation of the erector spinae muscles?

Answer 47

DORSAL RAMI: posterior divisions of spinal nerves | between C1-L5

Question 48

At what vertebral level does the spinal cord terminate (in adult)?

Answer 48

L1-L2

Question 49

Which vertebral level is implied if there is a delayed ankle reflex?

Answer 49

L5-S1 Also most common place for disk herniation and disk regeneration