Flashcards in Anatomy of the vertebral column Deck (102)
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1
Q
What does the back include? (7)
A
1. Skin
2.Subcutaneous tissue
3. Vertebral column
4. Spinal cord and meninges
5. Ribs
6.Nerves and vessels
7. Muscles
2.Subcutaneous tissue
3. Vertebral column
4. Spinal cord and meninges
5. Ribs
6.Nerves and vessels
7. Muscles
2
Q
How many cervical vertebrae are there?
A
7 (C1-C7)
3
Q
How many thoracic vertebrae are there?
A
12 (T1-T12)
4
Q
How many lumbar vertebrae are there?
A
5 (L1-L5)
5
Q
How many sacral vertebrae are there?
A
5 (S1-S5)
6
Q
How many bones are there in the coccygeal/coccyx region?
A
4 (small tightly fused bones)
7
Q
Why do you become shorter when you are older?
A
-the intervertebral disks shrink as they become dehydrated
8
Q
What is involved in the general structure of a vertebra? (5)
A
1. body
2. vertebral arch --> pedicles and laminae
3. articular facets --> superior (x2) and inferior (x2)
4. Processes - transverse (x2) and spinous
5. vertebral foramen
2. vertebral arch --> pedicles and laminae
3. articular facets --> superior (x2) and inferior (x2)
4. Processes - transverse (x2) and spinous
5. vertebral foramen
9
Q
What part of the vertebra is the weight bearing portion?
A
body
10
Q
How many superior facets are there?
A
2
11
Q
How many inferior facets are there?
A
2
12
Q
How many transverse processes are there?
A
2
13
Q
What runs through the vertebral foramen? (3)
A
1. spinal cord
2. meninges
3. CSF
2. meninges
3. CSF
14
Q
What is the vertebral arch made up of? (2)
A
1. pedicles
2. Laminae
2. Laminae
15
Q
What are the 2 main types of processes in vertebra?
A
1. transverse
2. spinous
2. spinous
16
Q
What runs through the intervertebral foramen?
A
- spinal nerve
17
Q
Where are the vertebral notches?
A
-superior and inferior to the pedicles
18
Q
What forms the intervertebral foramen? (2)
A
1. superior and inferior vertebral notches of adjacent vertebrae
2. intervertebral disc
2. intervertebral disc
19
Q
What is the body of a cervical vertebra like? (2)
A
1. small
2. with elevated uncus
2. with elevated uncus
20
Q
What are the transverse process and pedicles like in cervical vertebra?
A
- have tubercles anterior and posteriorly
21
Q
What foramina are involved in cervical vertebrae?
A
- transverse foramina
22
Q
What is the uncus of the body of the cervical vertebra?
A
- edges which unite vertebral bodies together
23
Q
What is the spinous process of cervical vertebra like?
A
-BIFID (splits into 2)
24
Q
Why is the body of cervical vertebra thin and small?
A
- for fine positioning and movement of the head
25
Q
What passes through transverse foramina?
A
- vertebral arteries and veins
26
Q
What is the cervical function of the foramina transversaria?
A
- allows passage of vertebral artery and vein to the brain
27
Q
Which cervical level do the vertebral arteries and veins not pass through?
A
C7
28
Q
Why is dislocation of the cervical vertebrae likely?
A
- as the articular facets are FLAT
- hence here is not much bony congruity
- hence here is not much bony congruity
29
Q
What is the varying severity of dislocation of cervical vertebra?
A
1. Flexion sprain
2. 25% subluxation
3. 50% sublaxation
4. Complete dislocation - facet jumping
2. 25% subluxation
3. 50% sublaxation
4. Complete dislocation - facet jumping
30
Q
What is complete dislocation also known as?
A
facet jumping
31
Q
Why might sublaxation in cervical vertebra not compress the spinal cord?
A
as vertebral foramen is relatively wide
32
Q
What are the 2 atypical cervical vertebrae?
A
- C1 - Atlas
- C2 - Axis
- C2 - Axis
33
Q
What does the atlas (C1) not have? (2)
A
1. spinous process
2. Body
2. Body
34
Q
What arches does Atlas (C1) contain?
A
- anterior and posterior arches
35
Q
What do the anterior and posterior arches on the atlas have?
A
- tubercle
-lateral mass
-lateral mass
36
Q
What is the tubercles on the medial surface of the lateral mass for?
A
- transverse ligament
37
Q
What does the transverse ligament do?
A
- holds in place the dens of the axis
38
Q
What does the atlas (C1) articulate with?
A
- the base of the skull
39
Q
How many large surfaces does the axis (C2) have?
A
2
40
Q
What does the atlas rotate upon on the axis?
A
- superior articular facets
41
Q
What is the distinguishing feature of the axis?
A
dens
42
Q
What is the dens also known as?
A
odontoid process
43
Q
Why does the transverse ligament of the atlas hold the dens in place?
A
to prevent horizontal displacement of the atlas
44
Q
What does the dens do?
A
- allows the atlas to act as pivot
- allows the atlas to attach the head and enable it to move from side to side
- allows the atlas to attach the head and enable it to move from side to side
45
Q
Why is the dens prone to fracture?
A
the bone of the dens is less dense
46
Q
What causes fracture of the dens? (2)
A
- hyperextension
- hyperflexion
- hyperflexion
47
Q
Why is the spinal cord not usually affected in the fracture of the dens?
A
- as the dens is held in place via the transverse ligament of the atlas
48
Q
What percentage of dens fractures results in non-union?
A
30-50%
49
Q
What is the treatment for non-union dens fractures?
A
-atlantoaxis arthrodesis
-using bone graft from iliac crest
-using bone graft from iliac crest
50
Q
What is the vertebral body of thoracic vertebra like? (2)
A
- heart shaped
-superior and inferior costal demi-facets
-superior and inferior costal demi-facets
51
Q
In thoracic vertebra what do the superior and inferior costal demi facets articulate with?
A
-head of rib
52
Q
What is the spinous process of thoracic vertebra like?
A
- long
- extends postero-inferiorly
- extends postero-inferiorly
53
Q
In thoracic vertebra what does the transverse process articulate with?
A
tubercle of the rib
54
Q
How does the superior articular facet face in thoracic veterbra?
A
posteriorly
55
Q
How does the inferior articular facet face in thoracic vertebra?
A
anteriorly
56
Q
Explain the costovertebral joints (ribs and demifacets articulations)?
A
- head of rib articulates with the superior demi facet of the corresponding (same number) vertebra
-and articulates with the inferior dmeifacet of the vertebra above
-and articulates with the inferior dmeifacet of the vertebra above
57
Q
What is the vertebral body like in the lumbar region?
A
-large
58
Q
Which way do the superior articular facets face in the lumbar vertebrae?
A
medially
59
Q
Which way does the inferior articular facets face in the lumbar vertebrae?
A
laterally
60
Q
What is the spinous process like in the lumbar vertebrae?
A
short and sturdy
61
Q
What are the transverse processes like in the lumbar region and why are they like that?
A
not big - as they don;t have to articulate with something like the rib
62
Q
What is the vertebra of the sacrum like?
A
fused
63
Q
What passes through foramina of the sacrum?
A
spinal nerves
64
Q
Where do the foramina in the sacrum lie?
A
anteriorly and posteriorly
65
Q
What is the vertebrae held together by? (3)
A
1. zygapophysial joints
2. intervertebral discs
3. intervertebral ligaments
2. intervertebral discs
3. intervertebral ligaments
66
Q
Where does the zygapophysial joints occur?
A
between superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae
67
Q
What is the movement like in zygapophysial joints and what does it allow to do?
A
-limited
- lateral extension and flexion
- lateral extension and flexion
68
Q
What does orientation of articular facets determine?
A
- types of movements that are possible
69
Q
Where do the intervertebral discs lie?
A
between vertebral bodies
70
Q
What is the intervertebral disc made up of? (2)
A
1. annulus fibrosis
2.nucleus pulposus
2.nucleus pulposus
71
Q
What is the annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral disc?
A
-a fibrocartilage ring attached to epiphyseal rim of the vertebral body - very tough
- it is the outer ring
- it is the outer ring
72
Q
What is the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc?
A
gelatinous substance that acts as shock absorber
73
Q
What is the nucleus pulpous rich in and what does do and act as?
A
-water
-acts as a rubber bouncy board
-shock absorber
-enables the vertebra to tilt
- allows slight movement only
-acts as a rubber bouncy board
-shock absorber
-enables the vertebra to tilt
- allows slight movement only
74
Q
What does the thickness of the intervertebral disc determine?
A
flexibility of the veterbra
- the thicker the vertebral discs the more movement of the vertebra as more compression of the intervertebral disc is allowed.
- the thicker the vertebral discs the more movement of the vertebra as more compression of the intervertebral disc is allowed.
75
Q
What are the ligaments of the vertebral column? (6)
A
1. ligamentum flavum
2.Posterior longitudinal ligament
3. Anterior longitudinal ligament
4. Interspinous ligament
5. Supraspinous ligament
6. Intertransverse ligament
2.Posterior longitudinal ligament
3. Anterior longitudinal ligament
4. Interspinous ligament
5. Supraspinous ligament
6. Intertransverse ligament
76
Q
What do the ligaments of the vertebral column allow resistance to?
A
-hyperflexion and hyperextension of the vertebral column
77
Q
What does the ligamentum flavum of the vertebral column bind to?
A
lamina of adjacent vertebra
78
Q
What does the posterior longitudinal ligament bind to and what is it's function in the vertebral column?
A
- C2 to sacrum
- prevents posterior herniation of IV discs
- prevents posterior herniation of IV discs
79
Q
What does the anterior longitudinal ligament of the vertebral column attach to?
A
- occipital bone and C1 to sacrum
80
Q
Which ligament is resistant to hyperextension of vertebral column? (1)
A
Anterior longitudinal ligament
81
Q
Which ligaments are resistant to hyper flexion? (2)
A
all the others apart from anterior longitudinal ligament
82
Q
What happens in whiplash?
A
hyperextension of the cervical neck
83
Q
What is whiplash commonly caused by?
A
- rear end car crashes
-esp if the head rest is too low
-esp if the head rest is too low
84
Q
Which ligament in whiplash is torn/ stretched?
A
anterior longitudinal ligament
85
Q
What can happen in severe cases of whiplash?
A
- part of the vertebral body is avulsed
- hence vertebra can dislocate
- this may cause the compression of the spinal cord
- hence vertebra can dislocate
- this may cause the compression of the spinal cord
86
Q
What are the movements of the vertebral column?
A
1. extension/flexion
2. lateral flexion
3. rotation
2. lateral flexion
3. rotation
87
Q
Why may movements vary in different regions of the vertebra?
A
- due to orientation of zygapophysial joints
- and thickness of intervertebral discs
- and thickness of intervertebral discs
88
Q
What are the curvatures of the vertebral column?
A
- thoracic and sacral kyphosis
- cervical and lumbar lordosis
- cervical and lumbar lordosis
89
Q
When are primary curvatures present?
A
since in foetus - never changes in life
90
Q
Where are secondary curvatures present?
A
develop later - changes shape during life
91
Q
What are the abnormal curvatures? (3)
A
1. Excessive kyphosis (bent too forwards)
2. Excessive lordosis (bend too backwards)
3. Scoliosis (wonky)
2. Excessive lordosis (bend too backwards)
3. Scoliosis (wonky)
92
Q
What group of people is osteoporosis most common in?
A
- post menopausal women
- due to decreased oestrogen - which protects bones
- due to decreased oestrogen - which protects bones
93
Q
What happens in osteoporosis?
A
- loss of trabecular in bones
94
Q
What type of fracture happen as a result of osteoporosis in vertebral column?
A
- compression fracture
95
Q
Why do surgeons sometimes leave ovaries in a hysterectomy?
A
- so that oestrogen is still produced to protect the bones
96
Q
What are the effects of ageing on the vertebrae?
A
- loss of bone density leading to concave vertebral bodies
- osteophytes develop in response to increased for ce on the rims of the vertebrae
- osteophytes develop in response to increased for ce on the rims of the vertebrae
97
Q
What may ageing do to the intervertebral discs?
A
- herniation of nucleus pulpous (slipped discs)
98
Q
What direction does herniation nucleus pulposus usually happen in and between which vertebral levels?
A
- posterolateral
-between L4/5 or L5/S1
-between L4/5 or L5/S1
99
Q
What can compression of spinal nerve roots caused by herniation of nucleus pulposus result in?
A
- lower back pain or sciatica
100
Q
What can happen in severe cases of herniation of nucleus pulposus?
A
- compression of most of the caudal equine
- this is called caudal equine syndrome
- this is called caudal equine syndrome
101
Q
What is sciatica?
A
- compression of the sciatic nerve due to nucleus pulposus/ slipped disc
- this results in numbness which runs til below the knee
- this results in numbness which runs til below the knee
102
Q
Why does ageing cause herniation of nucleus pulposus?
A
- increase pressure on the vertebral column due to dehydration and loss in structure
