Applied Anatomy of the Spine I

Question 1

Vertebral body

Answer 1

• Anterior

- Weight bearing

Question 2

Vertebral arch

Answer 2

• Posterior
• Formed by right/left pedicles and the laminae
• Protects spinal cord

Question 3

Vertebral foramen

Answer 3

• Space behind the vertebral body

Question 4

Vertebral canal

Answer 4

• Succession of vertebral foraminae

- Houses spinal cord, meninges

Question 5

Pedicles

Answer 5

• Join vertebral arch to vertebral body

Question 6

Laminae

Answer 6

• Project from pedicle and unite in posterior midline

Question 7

Intervertebral Foramen

Answer 7

• Formed by superior and inferior vertebral notches

Question 8

Seven processes from vertebral arch

Answer 8

• Spinous process (1)
• Transverse process (2)
• Articular process (4)

Question 9

Intervertebral disc

Answer 9

• Annulus Fibrosus (outer layer, fibroelastic mesh)

- Nucleus Pulposus (gel-like substance, mucopolysaccharidies)

Question 10

Five sections of the spine

Answer 10

• Cervical or neck (7)
• Thoracic (12, all have ribs attached)
• Lumbar (5)
• Sacral (5 fused)
  Coccygeal (4-5)

Question 11

Two types of spinal curves

Answer 11

• Kypthotic (concavity is anterior, thoracic and sacral)

- Lordotic (concavity is posterior, cervical and lumbar)

Question 12

Abnormal spinal curves

Answer 12

• Kyphosis

- Lordosis

Question 13

Scoliosis

Answer 13

• Lateral curvature of spine

Question 14

Four functions of the spine

Answer 14

• Support for ligaments, muscles, tendons
• Protection for CNS
• Weight bearing
• Cushioning effect

Question 15

Planes of motion

Answer 15

• Sagittal plane (divides body into left/right, flexion/extension)
• Coronal plane (divides body into front/back, side bending)
• Horizontal/transverse (divides body into superior/inferior, rotation)

Question 16

Four basic motions of the spine

Answer 16

• Flexion (straight forward, sagittal)
• Extension (straight backward, sagittal)
• Side bending (lateral, coronal)
• Rotation (horizontal/transverse)

Question 17

Flexion loads ______, stretches ______

Answer 17

• Anterior elements

- Posterior elements

Question 18

Extension loads ______, stretches ______

Answer 18

• Posterior elements

- Anterior elementes

Question 19

Sidebending loads the ______, opens the ______, stretches the ______

Answer 19

• facets on one side
• facets on the other side
• elements on the opposite side

Question 20

Naming rotation

Answer 20

• Where the anterior aspect is turning

Question 21

Vertebral unit

Answer 21

• Two adjacent vertebra with their associated intervertebral disc
• Described in relation to the vertebra below