Final Exam Transition Zone of vertebral column

Question 1

What is the name given to segments that lie in the transition zones of the vertebral column?

Answer 1

transition vertebrae

Question 2

What are the transition zones of the vertebral column?

Answer 2

occipitocervical, cervicothoracic, thoracolumbar, lumbosacral, and sacrococcygeal zones

Question 3

How are specific segments within a transition zone identified?

Answer 3

by adjacent region of the segment, process of transition, and specific segment (occipitalization of C1)

Question 4

What does the suffix “ization” refer to?

Answer 4

in the process of becoming like

Question 5

What are the possible transition zone - segmental combinations?

Answer 5

cervicalization of occiput, occipitalization of C1 dorsalization of C7, cervicalization of T1
lumbarization of T12, dorsalization of L1
sacralization of L5, lumbarization of S1
coccygealization of S5, sacralization of Co1

Question 6

What is/are the characteristic(s) of cervicalization of occiput?

Answer 6

an increase in occipital bone size, formation of new or larger lines on the occipital bone

Question 7

What is/are the characteristic(s) of occpitalization of C1?

Answer 7

the atlas may be partially or completely fused to the occiput

Question 8

What is another way of implying occipitalization of C1?

Answer 8

atlas assimilation

Question 9

What is the incidence of occpitalization of C1?

Answer 9

0.1% to 0.8%

Question 10

When do the centers of ossification for the odontoid process first appear?

Answer 10

during the last trimester in utero

Question 11

When do the bilateral ossification centers for the odontoid process fuse?

Answer 11

at or shortly after birth

Question 12

What joint forms between the odontoid process ossification centers and the centrum of C2?

Answer 12

the subdental synchondrosis

Question 13

What joint classification is present between the C2 odontoid process and centrum?

Answer 13

amphiarthrosis synchondrosis

Question 14

Ossification between the odontoid process and centrum joint of C2 first appears at what age?

Answer 14

4 years old

Question 15

A joint between the odontoid process and centrum of C2 is last identified at what age?

Answer 15

7 years old

Question 16

What is the name given to the condition in which the joint formed between the odontoid process and centrum of C2 persists beyond age 7?

Answer 16

os odontoideum

Question 17

What is an os odontoideum?

Answer 17

a persistence beyond age 7 of the joint formed between the centrum and odontoid process centers of ossification

Question 18

What is the name given to the joint between the odontoid process and centrum of C2 which is still evident beyond age 7?

Answer 18

persistent subdental synmchondrosis

Question 19

What is the name given to the joint between the tip of the dens and the odontoid process centers of ossification?

Answer 19

tip of the dens synchondrosis

Question 20

At what age will the tip of the dens center of ossification appear?

Answer 20

sometime in early adolescence

Question 21

Based on the age of appearance, how is the tip of the dens center of ossification classified?

Answer 21

secondary center of ossification

Question 22

At what age will the tip of the dens fuse with the odontoid process?

Answer 22

before age 12

Question 23

If the joint formed between the tip of the dens and odontoid process centers of ossification persists beyond age 12, what is the condition called?

Answer 23

terminal ossicle

Question 24

What is a basilar impression?

Answer 24

persistence of the nonunion of the basilar and condylar parts of the chondrocranium such that the cartilage deforms due to the weight of the brain

Question 25

What is a basilar invagination?

Answer 25

the upper cervical spine appears to be invaginated into the skull on x-ray analysis

Question 26

What is/are the characteristic(s) of dorsalization of C7?

Answer 26

the addition of a rib and changes in superior articular facet orientation are typical

Question 27

What is the incidence of rib-related changes following dorsalization of C7?

Answer 27

from one-half to two and one-half percent of the population

Question 28

Do patients typically present with symptoms specific for dorsalization of C7?

Answer 28

no, they are typically asymptomatic

Question 29

What is the gender bias suggested in dorsalization of C7?

Answer 29

female

Question 30

What alteration in C7 facet orientation may accompany dorsalization?

Answer 30

the superior articular facet of C7 may change from BUM to that of a typical thoracic facet...BUL; the inferior articular facet is unchanged

Question 31

What alteration in C6 facet orientation may accompany doralization?

Answer 31

C6 demonstrates a change in inferior articular facet orientation from FoLD to Formed; the superior articular facet unchanged

Question 32

What present of the population may demonstrate thoracic-like features at C7?

Answer 32

up to 46

Question 33

What rib-related changes may accompany cervicalization of T1?

Answer 33

the first rib may decrease in mean relative length or become absent

Question 34

What will result from fusion of a short rib to the T1 transverse process?>

Answer 34

the transverse foramen

Question 35

What T1 facet orientation changes may accompany cervicalization?

Answer 35

the superior articular facet may change from BUL to BUM; the inferior articular facet is unchanged

Question 36

What C7 facet orientation changes may accompany cervicalization?

Answer 36

the inferior articular facet may change from Formed to FoLD; the superior articular facet is unchanged

Question 37

What is the incidence of cervicalization of T1 in the population?

Answer 37

up to 28

Question 38

What rib-related changes may accompany dorsalization of L1?

Answer 38

elongated bones shaped like ribs may appear

Question 39

What is the incidence of lumbar ribs in the population?

Answer 39

over 7% of the population demonstrates lumbar ribs

Question 40

What is the gender bias associated with dorsalization of L1?

Answer 40

males are two to three times more affected

Question 41

What L1 facet orientation changes may accompany dorsalization?

Answer 41

the superior articular facet may change from caoncave, BUM to flat BUL; the inferior articular facet is unchanged

Question 42

What T12 facet orientation changes may accompany dorsalization?

Answer 42

the inferior articular facet may change from convex, FoLD to flat Formed; the superior articular facet is unchanged

Question 43

What rib-related changes may accompany lumbarization of T12?

Answer 43

a significant shortening of the mean relative length of 113 mm of the twelfth rib or it becomes absent

Question 44

What T12 facet orientation changes may accompany lumbarization?

Answer 44

the superior articular facet may change from flat, BUL to concave, BUM; the inferior articular facet is unchanged

Question 45

What T11 facet orientation changes may accompany lumbarization?

Answer 45

the inferior articular facet may change from flat, Formed to convves, FoLD; the superior articular facet is unchanged

Question 46

What is characteristic of lumbarization of S1?

Answer 46

the failure of synostosis between S1 and S2, squaring of the vertebral body of S1 and flaring of the sacral ala

Question 47

What unique characteristics of lumbarization of S1 were stressed in class?

Answer 47

squaring of the vertebral body of S1 and flaring of the sacral ala

Question 48

What is failure of synostosis between S1 and S2?

Answer 48

the segments do not completely fuse together

Question 49

What articular facet changes accompany lumbarization of S1?

Answer 49

none

Question 50

What is characteristic of sacralization of L5?

Answer 50

L5 may be partially or completely fused to the sacrum

Question 51

What is the incidence of sacralization of L5 in the population?

Answer 51

41% to 85%

Question 52

Which segment demonstrates the greates morphological variation along the spine?

Answer 52

L5

Question 53

What articular facet changes accompany sacralization of L5?

Answer 53

none

Question 54

What is the incidence of variation within the sacrococcygeal region in the population?

Answer 54

up to 14%