Anatomy of the Spine

Question 1

Classification of Vertebrae from top to bottom.

Answer 1

Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral (tail bone) Coccygeal

Question 2

Which sets of vertebrae fuse together to form one vertebrae in adults

Answer 2

Sacral (tailbone) forms the sacrum Coccygeal form the coccyx

Question 3

There are _ Cerivcal Vertebrae _ Thoracic Vertebrae _ Lumbar Vertebrae _ Sacral (unfused) Vertebrae _ Coccygeal (unfused) Vertebrae

Answer 3

7 12 5 5 4

Question 4

How many vertebrae do we have total?

Answer 4

33

Question 5

What is another name for the C1 Vertebra?

Answer 5

Atlas

Question 6

Why is the opening of the C1 Vertebra so large?

Answer 6

Because the spinal cord is wider where it exits the brain and skull

Question 7

Memorize this diagram

Answer 7

Question 8

What is another name for the C2 Vertebra?

Answer 8

Axis

Question 9

What is the most distinguishable feature in the C2 Vertebra that lets you notice it in scans?

Answer 9

The Dens

Question 10

What is the dens? What is its purpose?

Answer 10

Large bony knob at top of C2. Points up and fits through a hole in the axis (connective).

Question 11

Memorize this diagram of the components of a vertebrae

Answer 11

Question 12

Name of the bony knob that projects out at the point where two lamina bones join together (at back of spine)

Answer 12

Spinous Process

Question 13

The cervical vertebrae in specific have a hole that passes down through each transverse process. What is it called and why is it useful?

Answer 13

Transverse foramen

Makes a passageway for ateries that run up each side of the neck to supply back of the brain.

Question 14

What part of the vertebrae is lateral to the superior articular facet and serves as a point for muscle attachment?

Answer 14

Transverse Process

Question 15

What are the joints that connect the vertebrae? How many does each vertebrae have?

Answer 15

Facet Joints

Besides the very top and very bototm spinal column, all vertebra have 2 facets (one on each side)

Question 16

Name for opening on each side of the spine between two vetebral bodies where nerves leaving the spine go

Answer 16

Neural Foramen

Question 17

What types of cells make up the intervertebral discs?

Answer 17

Collagen cells

Question 18

Remember this diagram

Answer 18

Question 19

Remember these types of disc problems

Answer 19

Question 20

What are the 5 types of ligaments in the spine and briefly describe their function. Remember SILPA

Answer 20

Supraspinous - Run between and connect spinous process

Interspinous - Run between and connect spinous process

Ligamentum Flavum - connects to front surface of lamina bones

Posterior Longitudinal - Attaches on back of vertebral bodies

Anterior longitudinal - down the front of vertebral bodies

Question 21

Layers of spinal meninges

Answer 21

Pia Mater - Lines spinal cord and nerve roots

Arachnoid mater

Dura mater - dense outermost layer

Question 22

Spaces of the spinal meninges

Answer 22

Subarachnoid - between pia and arachnoid

Subdural - Potential space between arachnoid and dura

Epidural - Potential space external to dura mater

Question 23

Remember this nice cross section view of the spinal meninges

Answer 23

Question 24

How many total spinal nerves are there?

Answer 24

30

Question 25

Where does the C1 spinal nerve arise?

Answer 25

Superior to the C1 Vertebral body

Question 26

General rule for spinal nerves in the cervical region of the spinal cord

Answer 26

The spinal nerve for a vertebra lies ABOVE the vertebra. Ex. C4 spinal nerve is between C3 and C4 BUT, there's also the C8 nerve which is actually just between the C7 and T1 Vertebra

Question 27

Rules for naming spinal nerves OUTSIDE OF the Cervical section

Answer 27

Named after the superior vertebra. Example, L1-L2 foramen -\> L1 nerve

Question 28

Approximately where does the spinal cord end?

Answer 28

Between the L1 and L2

Question 29

What distinguishes the C1 spinal nerve from the others?

Answer 29

C1 is the only nevre to carry ONLY motor fibres. The others carry sensory and moto

Question 30

What are the lines often shown in radiographs to show the alignment of the cervical vertebra

Answer 30

Anterior Cervical line Posterior Cervical line Spinolaminal line

Question 31

What is a jefferson fracture and how does it form?

Answer 31

Burst fracture of the ring of C1 Compressibe downward force that is transmitted evenly through the skull