Joints of vertebral column

Question 1

What lies in between the vertebral bodies of adjacent vertebrae?

Answer 1

Intervertebral discs

Question 2

What percentage of the vertebral column height is made up by the intervertebral discs, normally?

Answer 2

25%

Question 3

What are the intervertebral discs made up of?

Answer 3

Fibrocartilage
70% water
20% collagen
10% proteoglycans

Question 4

What shape are the intervertebral discs?

Answer 4

Wedge shaped

Question 5

Are the intervertebral discs thicker anteriorly or posteriorly?

Answer 5

Anteriorly

Question 6

What is the basic structure of an intervertebral disc?

Answer 6

Inner nucleus polposus

Outer annulus fibrosus

Question 7

What is the basic structure of the annulus fibrosis?

Answer 7

Lamellae of annular bands

at different angles to each other

Question 8

What are the outer lamellae made out of?

Answer 8

Type 1 collagen (like ligaments)

Question 9

What are the inner lamellae made out of?

Answer 9

Fibrocartilage

Question 10

What is the vascular and nervous supply of the annulus fibrosis?

Answer 10

It doesn’t have any!

is avascular and aneural

Question 11

What is the function of the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 11

To act as the major shock absorber

Very resilient under compression

Question 12

What is the nucleus polposus derived from?

Answer 12

Is a remnant of the notochord

Question 13

What is the nucleus polopsus made up of?

Answer 13

Type 2 collagen, lots of water

Question 14

Where is the nucleus polopsus located in children? And in adults?

Answer 14

Located centrally in children

Located posteriorly in adults

Question 15

What causes changes in size of the nucleus polopsus?

Answer 15

Age

Also changes in size throughout the day

Question 16

What are the main ligaments of the vertebral column?

Answer 16

Anterior longitudinal ligament
Posterior longitudinal ligament

Ligamentum flavum

Interspinous ligaments

Supraspinous ligament

Question 17

How are the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments named?

Answer 17

In relation to their position to the vertebral body

Question 18

Where does the anterior longitudinal ligament originate?

Answer 18

Anterior tubercle of atlas

Question 19

Where does the anterior longitudinal ligament insert?

Answer 19

Sacrum

Question 20

How is the anterior longitudinal ligament attached to most of the vertebral column?

Answer 20

Adhered to periosteum of vertebral bodies

Mobile over intervertebral discs

Question 21

What is the function of the anterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 21

Prevent hyperextension

Question 22

Where does the posterior longitudinal ligament originate?

Answer 22

Body of axis

Question 23

Where does the posterior longitudinal ligament insert?

Answer 23

Sacral canal

Question 24

What does the posteriorly longitudinal ligament continue superiorly as?

Answer 24

The tectorial membrane

Question 25

What is the function of the posterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 25

Prevent hyperflexion

Question 26

Which is stronger - the anterior or posterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 26

The anterior longitudinal ligament

Question 27

How does the posterior longitudinal ligament affect disc prolapse?

Answer 27

It dictates where the disc will prolapse | disc will move laterally to it

Question 28

Where does the ligamentum flavum lie?

Answer 28

Between the laminae of adjacent vertebrae

Question 29

What is the function of the ligamentum flavum?

Answer 29

Prevent hyperflexion Strengthen the facet joints

Question 30

What is the colour of the ligamentum flavum?

Answer 30

Yellow

Question 31

The ligamentum flavum contain lots of what type of fibre?

Answer 31

Elastic fibres

Question 32

What do the interspinous ligaments attach to?

Answer 32

Superior spinous process | inferior spinous process

Question 33

Are the interspinous ligaments relatively strong or weak?

Answer 33

Weak

Question 34

Where are the interspinous ligaments most well developed?

Answer 34

Lumbar region

Question 35

What do the interspinous ligaments do?

Answer 35

Stabilise flexion

Question 36

What do the interspinous ligaments fuse with?

Answer 36

The supraspinous ligament

Question 37

What does the supraspinous ligament attach to?

Answer 37

Tips of adjacent spinous processes

Question 38

Is the supraspinous ligament relatively strong or weak?

Answer 38

Strong

Question 39

What is the function of the supraspinous ligament?

Answer 39

Prevent hyperflexion