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Flashcards in Axial Skeleton Focused Deck (27)
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1
Q

How many movable vertebrae are there in the spinal column?

A

24

2
Q

How many vertebrae are found in each section of the spine?

A
Cervical - 7
Thoracic - 12
Lumbar - 5
Sacrum - 1 made of 5 fused bones
Coccyx - 1 made of 4 fused bones
3
Q

Define lordosis and state which areas of the spine have a lordotic curve.

A

Inward curvature of the spine. The cervical and lumbar regions have lordotic curves.

4
Q

Define kyphosis and state which areas of the spine have a kyphotic curve.

A

Outward curvature of the spine. The thoracic and sacrum regions have kyphotic curves.

5
Q

What are the “accepted normal” degrees of curvature in the thoracic and lumbar regions?

A

Thoracic - 20° - 40°

Lumbar - 30° - 50°

6
Q

Cephalad

A

In a direction towards the head.

7
Q

Caudal

A

Towards the tail or inferior point, opposite of cephalad.

8
Q

Dorsal

A

Relative to or situated on the posterior or back surface, opposite of ventral.

9
Q

Ventral

A

The surface directed towards the belly or ground.

10
Q

Which parts of the vertebra make up the anterior column?

A

The body

11
Q

What parts of the vertebra make up the posterior column?

A

A vertebral or neural arch and articular processes.

12
Q

State which parts make up the neural arch.

A

2 pedicles and two laminae.

13
Q

What is the intervertebral foramen?

A

Where the nerve roots exit the spinal column.

14
Q

Which anatomical features of the vertebrae form the intervertebral foramen?

A

Vertebral notches on the inferior and superior borders of pedicles.

15
Q

What is the function of the intervertebral foramen?

A

Provides a passageway for nerves to exit the spinal column.

16
Q

What is an articular facet?

A

A posterior structure of a vertebra which articulates with a facet of an adjacent vertebra.

17
Q

What is the function of an articular facet?

A

The articular processes interlock the vertebrae, preventing anterior displacement and restrict movement between vertebrae.

18
Q

Name the two main component parts of the disc.

A

Nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus

19
Q

What are the lamellae?

A

Layers of collagen fibers that form the annulus fibrosus

20
Q

What is the function of the lamellae?

A

To prevent prolapse of the nucleus.

21
Q

What is cauda equina?

A

The spinal cord ends at the upper end of the lumbar region. From there down, the spinal canal is filled only with nerve roots. These roots look like a horse’s tail or cauda equina.

22
Q

At which level of the spine does the cauda equina start?

A

L1

23
Q

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?

A

31

24
Q

How are the spinal nerves divided amongst the regions of the spinal column?

A
8 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
1 coccygeal
25
Q

What are myotomes?

A

The group of muscles that a single spinal nerve root innervates.

26
Q

What are dermatomes?

A

Area of skin supplied by one spinal segment.

27
Q

What is the clinical significance of myotomes and dermatomes?

A

The clinician stimulates the sensory nerve by striking an area of the body where the nerve is close to the surface. The impulse generated travels up the nerve as a sensory impulse through the spinal cord and back down the nerve as a motor impulse. Absence of change in reaction to the stimulus can be used to diagnose nerve disfunction.