MSK Vertebral column

Question 1

What are the properties of the vertebra column?

Answer 1

It is highly flexible and very strong

Question 2

What are the 5 gross functions of the vertebral column?

Answer 2

Centre of gravity for the body
Attachments for bones
Attachments for trunk muscles
Protection and passage of the spinal cord
Segmental innervation of the body

Question 3

Which 2 parts of the spine become secondary concavities?

Answer 3

The cervical and the lumbar parts

Question 4

When does the cervical part of the spine become a secondary concavity?

Answer 4

When a young child begins to lift up their head

Question 5

When does the lumbar part of the spine become a secondary concavity?

Answer 5

When the child begins to stand up and walk

Question 6

What is the spine’s shape called in the fetus? Describe more

Answer 6

The primary curvature - a figure of C. Anteriorly concave

Question 7

What type of shape does the primary curvature have?

Answer 7

Anterior concave

Question 8

What type of shape does the secondary cruvature have?

Answer 8

Posterior concave

Question 9

In which parts of the spine is the primary curvature retained?

Answer 9

Thoracic, Sacral and Coccygeal

Question 10

In what part of the spine can kyphoses be seen?

Answer 10

The thoracic part

Question 11

What is kyphosis?

Answer 11

An abnormally increased posterior convexity of the thoracic spine.

Question 12

What does concave mean?

Answer 12

Curves in - think of something caving in

Question 13

What does convex mean?

Answer 13

Bulging outwards or towards something

Question 14

What is lordosis?

Answer 14

An abnormal inward curvature (concavity) of the lumbar and cervical regions of the spine

Question 15

What starts to happen to the shape of the spine with old age?

Answer 15

The secondary curvature start to disappear due to remodelling and a fully continuous primary curvature re-establishes

Question 16

How many vertebrae make up the vertebral column?

Answer 16

33

Question 17

What are the 2 ‘assembles’ (types of vertebrae) that make up the vertebral column?

Answer 17

Discrete single vertebrae and fused vertebrae

Question 18

What are discrete single vertebrae? how many of them are there?

Answer 18

Verterbrae all capable of individual movement. 25

Question 19

What are fused vertebrae? how many of them are there?

Answer 19

Vertebrae that fuse together to give 2 innominate structures - sacrum (4-6 vertebrae, 5 is normal) and coccyx (4 vertebrae)

Question 20

What are the coccyx vertebrae otherwise known as?

Answer 20

Coccygeal

Question 21

What are facet joints formed between?

Answer 21

Between the neural arches (vertebral arches) of adjacent neural arches

Question 22

What type of joints are facet joints?

Answer 22

Synovial joints

Question 23

Where is the spinous process of the vertebral arch found?

Answer 23

It is the part that sticks out

Question 24

What is the vertebral body of the vertebrae?

Answer 24

The main weight bearing part

Question 25

What is the vertebral arch of a vertebrae? what is it also known as?

Answer 25

The bone bit that sort of makes he shape of a central peace sign. It defines the midline.

Question 26

What are transverse processes?

Answer 26

The parts of bone that stick out at the sides. They are found laterally to the spinous process and there is one on each side.

Question 27

What is the pedicle?

Answer 27

The section of the neural arch between the body and the transverse process

Question 28

What are articular processes?

Answer 28

Bits of bone that stick out and are found inbetween the spinous and transverse processes

Question 29

What is a special fact about articular processes ?

Answer 29

There are both superior and inferior articular processes. They allow for synovial joints to be formed between neural arches and are strengthened by ligamentum flavum.

Question 30

What are lamina?

Answer 30

The section of the neural arch between the transverse process and the spinous process

Question 31

What is an adjacent vertebrae?

Answer 31

A vertebrae which is found on top of another vertebrae

Question 32

What is a dermatome?

Answer 32

A dermatome is the area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve

Question 33

what is a myotome?

Answer 33

Myotome is muscle. It is found in the ventral part of the somite. The muscles that are innervated by a single spinal root are referred to as a myotome.

Question 34

What is the difference between the anterior longitudinal and the posterior lonigtudinal ligaments?

Answer 34

The anterior is much stronger

Question 35

What are some facts about the anterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 35

It is much stronger. Free over the IVD Get bigger as they go downwards like vertebral column and IVd

Question 36

What are some facts about the posterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 36

In the neural canal Narrows gradually as it passes downwards Serrated margins which are broadest over the IVD

Question 37

What is the mnemonic for remembering the ligaments of the vertebral column?

Answer 37

FINS ligaments

Question 38

Where is the ligamentum flavum found?

Answer 38

Between facet joints. Joins lamina of adjacent vertebrae. Made up of elastic fibres

Question 39

Where is the interspinous ligament found?

Answer 39

Unites spinous processes along their adjacent borders Well developed only in the lumbar region Weak sheets of fibrous tissue

Question 40

Where are supraspinous ligaments found?

Answer 40

Joins the tips of adjacents spinous processes | Fibrous tissue

Question 41

What is the ligament nuchae

Answer 41

Proximal attachment is the back of the skull Distal attachment is the thoracic spinal ligaments (interspinous and supraspinous) Intermediate attachmentes- spinous processes Maintains secondary curvature and helps the cervical spine support the head Major site of attachment of neck and trunk muscles

Question 42

What is cervical spondylosis?

Answer 42

A decrease in the size of intervertebral foreamina, usually due to degeneration of the joints and spine The smaller size of the intervertebral foreamina puts pressure on the exiting nerves, causing pain