MSK 06 - Vertebral Column & Spinal Cord Flashcards Preview

BPM1 Exam 3 - Musculoskeletal > MSK 06 - Vertebral Column & Spinal Cord > Flashcards

Flashcards in MSK 06 - Vertebral Column & Spinal Cord Deck (33)
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1
Q

How many vertebra (fused and unfused) are there in each region of the vertebral column?

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2
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3
Q

Descirbe the regional uniqueness of the vertebrae.

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4
Q

What are the atypical vertebrae and what makes them atypical?

A

C1 (atlas) - has no body or arch and possesses a largern than normal superior articular facet

C2 (axis) - Has the Dens (odontoid process)

Sacrum - has wings and transverse ridges

Coccyx - short and curved

5
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6
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7
Q

How many spinal ligaments are they? Describe what they connect.

A

5 spinal ligaments

Anterior longitudinal ligament - runs down the anterior surface of the spine. It traverses all of the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs

Posterior longitudinal ligament - situated within the vertebral canal, and extends along the posterior surfaces of the bodies of the vertebrae

Ligamentum flavum - connect the laminae of adjacent vertebrae

Interspinous ligament - connect adjoining spinous processes

Supraspinous ligament - connects the tips of the spinous processes from C7 to the sacrum

8
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9
Q

What is a cruciate ligament?

A

A cruciate ligament is a pair of ligaments arranged like a letter X.

10
Q

Describe the joints and ligaments of the C1 and C2 vertebrae.

A
  • During rotation of the head, the dens (C2) is the axis that is held in a socket formed by the anterior arch of C1 and the transverse ligament of the atlas
  • Vertically oriented but much weaker superior and inferior longitudinal bands of ligament pass from the transverse ligament to the occipital bone superiorly and to the body of C2 inferiorly
  • The transverse ligament and longitudinal bands together are referred to as the cruciate ligament
  • An apical ligament deep to the cruciate ligament helps to attach the dens to the skull superiorly while the alar ligaments attach the dens to the skull laterally
11
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12
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13
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14
Q

What are the primary and secondary spinal curvatures and when and why do they develop?

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15
Q

List and briefly describe the abnormal spinal curvatures.

A

Kyphosis (hunchback) - an increase in the thoracic spinal curvature, as a result the vertebral column curves posteriorly

Lordosis - characterized by an anterior tilting of the pelvis (the upper sacrum is flexed or rotated antero-inferiorly) with increased extension of the lumbar vertebrae, producing an abnormal increase in the lumbar kyphosis

Scoliosis - characterized by an abnormal lateral curvature that is accompanied by rotation of teh vertebrae

16
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17
Q

Where are the spinal cord enlargements and tapers?

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18
Q

Where/what is the cona medularis?

A

It is the tapered, lower end of the spinal cord. It occurs near lumbar vertebral levels 1 (L1) and 2 (L2), occasionally lower.

19
Q

What are spinal meninges? List them and the correlating spaces from outer to inner.

A

Epidural Space

Dura mater

Subdural space

Arachnoid mater

Subarachnoid space

Pia mater

20
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21
Q

Facts to know about denticulate ligaments

A
  • 21 pairs of them (one on either side of the spinal cord) connected by a single narrow fibrous strip
  • Extend from the craniovertebreal junction to T12
  • Each ligament has 18-20 triangular extensions of pia mater that attach to the dura at their apices
  • They separate the ventral and dorsal rootlets from each other
22
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23
Q

How does the position of the caudal end of the spinal cord change from 8 weeks (gestational) to adult?

A

8 weeks - end of coccyx

24 weeks - S1

Newborn - L3

Adult - L1

24
Q

What is the cauda equina and filum terminale?

A

Cauda Equina - a bundle of spinal nerves and spinal nerve rootlets, consisting of the second through fifth lumbar nerve pairs, the first through fifth sacral nerve pairs, and the coccygeal nerve, all of which arise from the lumbar enlargement and the conus medullaris of the spinal cord.

Filum terminale - a delicate strand of fibrous tissue, about 20 cm in length, proceeding downward from the apex of the conus medullaris. It is one of the modifications of pia mater

25
Q

What purpose does the filum terminale serve?

A

It gives longitudinal support to the spinal cord

26
Q

What is the dural sac?

A

It is the membranous sheath of dura mater that surrounds the spinal cord, cauda equina, dorsal & ventral roots, and the filum terminale (until the S2 level).

27
Q

At what vertebral level does the spinal cord, dural sac, and filum terminale end?

A

L1, S2, and the coccyx respectively

28
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29
Q

What arteries can cause spinal cord circulatory impairment is their flow is interrupted?

A

The segmental medullary arteries, particularly the great anterior segmental medullary artery (of Adamkiewicz).

30
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31
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32
Q

How is a lumbar puncture performed? What are the key signs to look for to ensure proper needle placement? When is an LP not performed?

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33
Q

What does a needle pass through during an LP?

A

Skin, subcutaneous tissue, supraspinous ligament, interspinous ligament, ligamentum flavum, epidural space, dura mater, arachnoid mater, subarachnoid space