Arthrology of the Vertebral Column: Intervertebral Disc

Question 1

What is the maximum number of ligaments identified with a vertebral couple?

Answer 1

8

Question 2

What is the reason that nine common ligaments are identified but only eight will be attached at any specific vertebral couple?

Answer 2

the ligamentum nuchae and supraspinous ligaments attach to the spinous tubercles, but only one of these will be identified at a single vertebral couple

Question 3

What is the number of true intervertebral discs identified in the adult?

Answer 3

twenty-three

Question 4

In the adult, which vertebral levels will demonstrate a true intervertebral disc?

Answer 4

Those between C2 and S1 inclusive

Question 5

What is the percent of the intervertebral disc height contribution to the length of each region of the vertebral column?

Answer 5

cervical… 22-25%; thoracic…20%; lumbar…33%

Question 6

What What are the names of the central, peripheral, and horizontal zones of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 6

nucleus pulposus…central; annulus fibrosus…peripheral zone; cartilaginous end plate… horizontal zone

Question 7

what is the water concentration in the lumbar nucleus pulposus at birth and after thirty?

Answer 7

birth… 88%; thirty.. 70%

Question 8

What is the consequence of non-aggregated glycosaminoglycans in the lumbar nucleus pulposus?

Answer 8

the nucleus pulposus will loose water under deformation conditions

Question 9

What cell is associated with the nucleus pulposus till about age eleven?

Answer 9

notochord cells

Question 10

What type of collagen is dominate in the nucleus pulposus?

Answer 10

collagen type II

Question 11

What is the organization pattern for collagen fibers in the nucleus pulposus?

Answer 11

they are irregularly orientated and randomly scattered

Question 12

What is the appearance of the cervical annulus fibrosus?

Answer 12

a horse-shoe with the anterior margin thick and the lateral margins tapering to the uncinate processes; the posterior margin is thin

Question 13

What compensates for the thinness of the posterior part of the cervical annulus fibrosus?

Answer 13

posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 14

What is the organization of the lumbar annulus fibrosus?

Answer 14

it has 12-14 concentric cylindrical lamellae

Question 15

What is the water concentration in the lumbar annulus fibrosus at birth and after thirty?

Answer 15

birth…78%; thirty… 70%

Question 16

What is the organizational pattern for glycosaminoglycans in the lumbar annulus fibrosus?

Answer 16

the typically have a binding site for hyaluronic acid and are thus aggregated

Question 17

Which type of collagen fiber is dominant in the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 17

collagen type I

Question 18

what is the organizational pattern for the collagen fibers in the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 18

they are parallel with on another in a single lamellas and angled

Question 19

What is the organization of collagen fibers between lamellae?

Answer 19

collagen fibers will be angled in the opposite direction such that a spiral– counter spiral organization is observed

Question 20

What is the attachment site for collagen fibers within the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 20

collagen fibers of the outer lamellae will become Sharpey’s fibers and penetrate the epiphyseal rims; collagen fibers of the inner lamellae will attach to the cartilaginous end plate

Question 21

What is the origin for the cells of the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 21

sclerotomites

Question 22

What is the principle type of collagen fiber within the cartilage end plate?

Answer 22

the type II collagen fiber

Question 23

What is the direction of collagen fibers within the cartilage end plate

Answer 23

collagen fibers are aligned anterior to posterior

Question 24

What is the attachment site for collagen fibers of the inner lamellae of the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 24

the cartilaginous end plate

Question 25

What are the types of receptor endings in the intervertebral disc?

Answer 25

nociceptors and proprioceptors

Question 26

What is the relationship between size of the intervertebral disc and receptor endings?

Answer 26

the larger disc, the greater the variety of receptor endings

Question 27

What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated by the recurrent meningeal/ ainu-vertebral/ sinus vertebral nerve?

Answer 27

the outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus the posterior part of the intervertebral disc

Question 28

what forms the anterior neural plexus of the vertebral column?

Answer 28

fibers from the ventral primary ramus

Question 29

what forms the lateral neural plexus of the vertebral column?

Answer 29

fibers from the ventral primary rams, fibers from the white rams communicates, fibers from the paradiscal rams communicans, fibers from the gray rams communicans

Question 30

What is the name given to the white ramus communicans which becomes embedded within the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 30

the paradiscal rams communicans

Question 31

What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated by fibers from paradiscal rams communicans?

Answer 31

the outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus at the lateral part of the intervertebral disc

Question 32

How does the intervertebral disc attach to the vertebral body?

Answer 32

Sharpey's fibers from outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus are firmly embedded into the epiphyseal rims of the adjacent vertebral bodies

Question 33

Based on histology, what is the classification of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 33

a cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis

Question 34

What are the divisions of the embryonic somite?

Answer 34

the sclerotome, myotome, and dermatome

Question 35

What structure is formed following migration of sclerotomes to surround the notochord?

Answer 35

the perichordal blastema

Question 36

What is formed within the perichordal blastema between the sclerotomites?

Answer 36

the intrasclerotomal fissure or fissure of von Ebner

Question 37

What does the intrasclerotomal fissure or fissure of von Ebner become?

Answer 37

the perichordal disc

Question 38

What will the dense sclerotomite become?

Answer 38

the upper part of the vertebral segment forming below

Question 39

what structure forms following migration and subsequent mixing of the sclerotomites?

Answer 39

the vertebral blastema

Question 40

What part of the intervertebral disc will the notochord form?

Answer 40

the nucleus pulposus

Question 41

what part of the intervertebral disc will the perichordal disc form?

Answer 41

the annulus fibrosus

Question 42

What is the earliest indicator of the position of the adult intervertebral disc?

Answer 42

the intrasclerotomal fissure or the fissure of von Ebner