Lecture 8: Small Animal Spinal Column Flashcards by Lizzie Lab

How many cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae do dogs have

Cervical-7
Thoracic-13
Lumbar-7
Sacral- 3 (fused)
Coccygeal- 20-23

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How many cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae do cats have

Cervical- 7
Thoracic-13
Lumbar-7
Sacral- 3
Coccygeal 18-21

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What muscles lie along the spinous process

Epaxial

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Where do the nerves come out of the vertebrae

Articular facets

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What part of the vertebrae protects the spinal cord

Vertebral arch

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What part of the vertebrae is between the intervertebral discs

Vertebral body

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Which vertebrae is responsible for holding the neck muscles

C1- wings of Atlas

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The shape of the atlas allows for ___of the head

Rotation

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What structure on the atlas allows for articulation of the dens of C2

Fovea

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What is the dens

Structure off of C2 (Axis) that articulates with the fovea of C1

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What is another name for the dens

Odontoid process

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Which vertebral joint space lacks an intervertebral disc

C1-C2

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What structure is the red arrow pointing to

Dens of C2

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identify 1-9

Dorsal arch of atlas
Ventral arch (body of atlas)
Transverse process (wing) of atlas
Occipital condyle
Dens
Spinous process of axis
Vertebral foramen of axis
Transverse process of axis
Caudal articular process of axis

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Identify 1-7

Transverse process (wing) of atlas
Atlantoaxial joint
Spinous process of axis
Dens of atlas
Transverse process of axis
Intervertebral disc between C2 and C3. Articular process of C2 and C3

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Case example: 8mo, MI Yorkie with progressive ataxia and weakness in all 4 limbs, knuckling on all 4 limbs, holds head down most of time. The following X-ray was taken, what is the problem

Hypoplastic dens atlantoaxial subluxation

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What happens during a hypoplastic dens atlantoaxial subluxation

Dens malformed along with loss/weakening of ligamentous structures

Causes cervical pain and neurological deficits

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What breeds is hypoplastic dens atlantoaxial subluxation most common in

Any miniature and toy breeds

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What ligament keeps C1-C2 in place

Dorsal atlantoaxial ligament

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What ligament holds the dens in place

Transverse ligament

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what ligament is indicated by the arrow

Dorsal atlantoaxial ligament

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What ligament is indicated by the star

Transverse ligament of the atlas

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What is indicated by the MRI

A-A subluxation- C2 moving in the absence of the dens and putting extra pressure on the spinal cord

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What ligament gets torn during an A-A subluxation

Dorsal atlantoaxial ligament

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What cervical vertebrae is distinguishable by its large transverse process

what vertebrae is indicated by the red arrow

Nerves from the brachial plexus branch off of what vertebral segments

C6-T2

What is the spinal intumescence

Concentration of lower motor neurons , aka brachial plexus

What cavity are we collecting CSF from in a cervical/ high tap

Cerebellomedullary cistern

Where is the cerebellomedullary cistern located

Cranial to C1 and caudal to the occipital protuberance

Is this X-ray of a cat or dog and how do you know

Cat because the vertebrae are more long and rectangular

Is this X-ray of a cat or dog and how do you know

Dog, vertebrae are more block shaped

What anatomical marker is useful to distinguish C7 vs T1

Thoracic vertebrae have large spinous processes compared to cervical

What vertebrae is anticlinal

T11

What vertebrae is circled and how do you know

T11, anticlinal vertebrae

Identify 1-6

1. Spinous process of T1 2. Intervertebral foramina between T4-T5 3. Synovial articulations between T4 and T5 4. Intervertebral disc between T5 and T6 5. Body of T7 6. Anticlinal T11

Where does the dorsal longitudinal ligament lie

Floor of vertebral canal and runs from the dens to the sacrum

What is the intercapital ligament

Runs between rib head from T2-11

What ligament is present only in thoracic region, that provides extra support against spinal cord injuries

Intercapital ligament

Which vertebrae allow more motion: thoracic or lumbar

Lumbar

Which vertebrae have larger bodies: thoracic or lumbar

Lumbar

What structure is composed of 3 fused vertebrae

Sacrum

what is indicated by the red circles

Soft tissue opacity, normal! NOT A FRACTURE

Identify 1-7

1. Spinous process of L5 2. Transverse process of L6 3. Cranial articular process of L6 4. Caudal articular process of L5 5. Intervertebral disc between L6 and L7 6. Sacrum 7. SI joint

What species lack a sacrotuberous ligament and what is the result

Cats- allows for increased mobility and flexibility of the sacrum

identify 1-4

1. Dorsal sacroiliac ligament 2. Sacrum 3. First coccygeal vertebrae 4. Sacrotuberous ligament

What is a myelogram

X-ray where contrast is injected into subarachnoid space to allow for visualization of the spinal cord

Which has a larger vertebral canal: cervical or lumbar

Cervical

Which MRI shows cervical, which shows lumbar? What is indicated by red arrow in left image

Left: cervical because wider cervical canal Right: lumbar Red arrow: CSF

What junction do you want to be in during lumbosacral epidural

Lumbosacral junction, caudal to L7 and cranial to S1

How do cervical disc herniations differ from lumbar disc herniations symptomatically and why

Cervical vertebral canal has a lot more space so the spinal cord has more room. Therefore a cervical herniation results in less severe neuro deficits (walking) and mainly painful Lumbar vertebral canal is smaller so spinal cord has less room. Therefore disc herniation can commonly result in severe neuro deficits (non-ambulatory) Lumbar vertebrae lack intercapital ligament is less protected

What vertebra region lack the intercapital ligament and what is the consequence

Lumbar region lacks intercapital ligament and therefore less protected

What are the landmarks for an epidural

1. Ilial wings 2. Dorsal spinous process of L7 3. Sacral vertebrae

What is the result of differential growth of the vertebrae and spinal cord

Spinal cord ends before vertebrae and gives off spinal roots/nerves

When does spinal cord end

L6-L7

What is the cauda equina

Caudally streaming spinal roots innervating pelvic viscera and tail

Case example: Remi, 7yr, GSD with decreased willingness to jump, low tail carriage, difficulty posturing to defecate, pain on palpation of lower back and tail life. The following MRI images were taken. What is the problem

Cauda equine syndrome (lumbosacral stenosis)

What is block vertebrae

Result of the fusion of two or more vertebral bodies

Where are block vertebrae most common

Cervical region

Block vertebrae increase the risk of ___

Intervertebral disc disease

Block vertebrae increase the risk of herniated IVD in what vertebrae

Surrounding vertebrae (not the ones fused)

What is hemivertebrae

Failure of development and ossification of the vertebrae, usually affects vertebral bodies and can lead to compression of spinal cord

What pathology is indicated by these X-rays

Hemivertebrae

what is indicated by the arrow

Incomplete fusion of sacral vertebrae due to transitional vertebrae

What is transitional vertebrae

Failure of complete transition from one vertebral type to the next, usually involves the vertebral arch

What is indicated by the red circle and what is it most likely a result of

Extra rib present do to problems in transitional vertebrae. Thoracic vertebrae have rib articulations, T13 should be around last rib, but here rib is present in lumbar vertebrae

Case example: 2yr, MI, English Bulldog with chronic skin irritation around his tail, moist dermatitis and painful to touch and clean. The following X-ray was taken, what is the problem. What is the treatment

Screw tail due to malformation of one to several coccygeal vertebrae Tx: tail amputation

What is Manx syndrome

Abnormal development of sacral and coccygeal vertebrae in Manx cats

What is the result of dominant inheritance of Manx syndrome

Lethal

What are some negative implications of Manx syndrome

Fecal and urinary incontinence, difficulty moving

what species is this and what is indicated by the red circle

Cat- long, thin vertebrae Red circle indicates Manx syndrome

What is a common site for IM injections

Epaxial muscles

What must you be careful not to hit during Epaxial IM injections

Aorta and caudal vena cava

What is indicated by 1-2

1. Annulus fibrosus 2. Nucleus pulposus

Case example: 4yr, MN, Dachshund jumped off couch and screamed in pain, lost motor function in both hind legs, but still has sensation. The following X-ray with contrast was taken what is the problem

Intervertebral disc herniation most likely secondary to IVDD

What dogs are at greatest risk of disk herniation

Chondrodystrophic dogs

What happens to disc during IVDD

Nucleus pulposus dehydrates, becomes brittle and risk of traumatic extrusion into the spinal canal

What is type I IVDD and who is most susceptible

Nucleus pulposus has herniated upward, creating swelling and inflammation Chondrodystrophic dogs

What is type II IVDD and who is most susceptible

Disc squashed between adjacent vertebral bodies, causing annulus fibrous to bulge upward Large breed dogs

what nerve roots can lumbosacral stenosis (cauda equina syndrome) affect?

femoral, pudendal, sciatic, pelvic and coccygeal