Exam 3 Sample Questions

Question 1

A 55 y/o patient has a chief complaint of neck pain & stiffness, along with constant brachialgia (arm pain). MRI findings show a disc that has ruptured and nucleus pulposis has essentially leaked into the central canal. What is the term for this type of disc pathology?
	A. extrusion
	B. prolapse
	C. subluxation
	D. sequestration

Answer 1

A. Extrusion

Question 2

Which of the following are considered intrinsic back muscles?
A. Trapezius
B. Levator scapulae
C. erector spinae
D. quadratus lumborum

Answer 2

C. Erector Spinae

Question 3

The nerve supply to the majority of intrinsic back muscles is:
A. anterior rami of spinal nerves
B. posterior rami of spinal nerves
C. Cervical plexus
D. long thoracic nerve

Answer 3

B. Posterior Rami of Spinal Nerves

Question 4

Intervertebral Disc - what are the two components and relative location to one another?

Answer 4

Annulus fibrosus (annular wall) surrounding the nucleus poplosus

Question 5

Transverse Process - what feature makes them unique in the thoracic spine?

Answer 5

Thoracic vertebrae have costal facets (T1-T10)