Spinal Cord and Back

Question 1

body of vertebrae

Answer 1

weight bearing component

Question 2

vertebral arch

Answer 2

arches posteriorly to form vertebral foramen which contains spinal cord

Question 3

pedicle

Answer 3

part of vertebral arch that joins the vertebral body to the transverse process

Question 4

lamina

Answer 4

paired posterior segments that connect transverse process to spinous process

Question 5

spinous process

Answer 5

posteriorly projecting tip of the vertebral arch, easily palpated

Question 6

transverse process

Answer 6

extend laterally from junction of pedicle and lamina

Question 7

superior and inferior articular processes

Answer 7

form synovial facets that join with vertebrae

Question 8

Intervertebral foramina

Answer 8

bilateral foramen that between pedicles where spinal nerves go through

Question 9

how many thoracic vertebrae

Answer 9

12

Question 10

how many cervical vertebrae

Answer 10

7

Question 11

how many thoracic vertebrae

Answer 11

5

Question 12

C7 special factor

Answer 12

C7 has a long, palpable spinous process, and is thus known as the vertebra prominens

Question 13

atlas

Answer 13

C1, articulates with occipital condyle

Question 14

axis

Answer 14

dens, C2 “no” head movement

Question 15

sacrum

Answer 15

5 vertebrae fused into 1

• Promontory – sticks out, where L5 sits
• Articulations with lumbar vertebrae and hip bones – facets of articular process for L5 and auricular surfaces for articulation with ilium
• Sacral canal – continuation of the spinal canal
• Ventral and dorsal sacral foramina (four pairs of each) holes in sacrum for nerves and blood vessels

Question 16

coccyx

Answer 16

3 to 4 fused vertebrae, “tailbone”

Question 17

atlanto-occipital joints

Answer 17

synovial joint

flexion and extension of the head. (Nod head “yes”)

Question 18

atlantoaxial joints

Answer 18

synovial joint

rotation of the head and atlas on the axis (Shake head “no”)

Question 19

Supraspinous (supraspinal) ligament

Answer 19

connects apices of spinous processes from C7 to sacrum

Question 20

Ligamentum nuchae (nuchal ligament)

Answer 20

cervical occipital protuberance to C1-C7

Question 21

interspinous ligaments

Answer 21

connects spinous processes

Question 22

ligamenta flava

Answer 22

connects paired laminae of adjacent vertebrae

Question 23

anterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 23

courses longitudinally along anterior surface of the vertebral bodies limiting vertebral extension

Question 24

posterior longitudinal ligament

Answer 24

courses longitudinally, down posterior surface of bodies

Question 25

2 portions of inter-vertebral disc

Answer 25

- Anulus fibrosus – tough hyaline cartilaginous rim | - Nucleus pulposus – softer fibrocartilaginous core

Question 26

normal curvature of vertebral column

Answer 26

- Cervical lordosis – curve anteriorly - Thoracic kyphosis – curve posteriorly - Lumbar lordosis – curve anteriorly - Sacral kyphosis – curve posteriorly

Question 27

trapezius

Answer 27

most superficial, triangular shape - Superior – obliquely from occipital bone to scapula, elevates and rotates scapula - Middle – horizontal, causes scapular retraction - Inferior parts – superiorly from lower thoracic vertebrae to scapula, scapular depression - Innervation: accessory nerve

Question 28

latissimus dorsi

Answer 28

broad flat muscle of lower region of the back - Action: adduction, medial rotation, and extension of the shoulder joint - Innervation: thoracodorsal nerve

Question 29

levator scapulae

Answer 29

deep to the trapezius muscle and superior to the rhomboids - Action: elevation of the scapula - Innervation: Dorsal scapular nerve and cervical spinal nerves C3-4

Question 30

Rhomboid minor

Answer 30

superior to major - Action: retraction of the scapula - Innervation: dorsal scapular nerve

Question 31

Rhomboid major

Answer 31

inferior to minor - Action: retraction of the scapula - Innervation: dorsal scapular nerve

Question 32

what innervates serratus posterior superior and inferior

Answer 32

dorsal rami

Question 33

erector spinae

Answer 33

innervated by dorsal rami – extend the vertebral column, rotate to ipsilateral side - Iliocostalis – most lateral - Longissimus – middle - Spinalis – most medial, closest to spine

Question 34

dura mater

Answer 34

most superficial layer of the meninges, forms a sheath around spinal cord

Question 35

Epidural space

Answer 35

(potential in skull) – between dura mater and vertebral canal

Question 36

Subdural space

Answer 36

(potential in both skull and spine) – between dura and arachnoid maters

Question 37

arachnoid mater

Answer 37

intermediate layer, attached to pia by arachnoid trabeculae

Question 38

subarachnoid space

Answer 38

between the arachnoid and pia mater; contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to suspend the spinal cord, brain and nerve roots

Question 39

pia mater

Answer 39

deepest layer, inseparable from surface of the spinal cord, contains blood vessels to cord

Question 40

denticulate ligament

Answer 40

lateral extensions of pia to dura mater for stability, allows “tether”

Question 41

filum terminale

Answer 41

extension of pia mater beyond spinal cord to attach to coccyx

Question 42

Cauda equina

Answer 42

spinal cord terminates at L1 in adults, so L2-5 and S1-5 make the cauda equina

Question 43

Meningitis

Answer 43

inflammation of the meninges, painful because of sensory neuron receptors for pain

Question 44

enlargements of the spinal cord

Answer 44

Cervical enlargement – result from enlargement of the gray matter that contains the neural machinery necessary to operate the upper limbs C5-T1 Lumbar enlargement – result from enlargement of the gray matter that contains the neural machinery necessary to operate the lower limbs T11-S2

Question 45

dorsal root

Answer 45

convey sensory afferent information from body tissue to spinal cord

Question 46

ventral root

Answer 46

convey motor efferent information away from spinal cord to body tissue

Question 47

conus medullaris

Answer 47

tapered lower end of the spinal cord

Question 48

gray matter

Answer 48

central, butterfly-shaped mass; the ventral and dorsal parts of the "wings" of the gray matter are called the ventral and dorsal horns, respectively

Question 49

white matter

Answer 49

periphery mass, contains vertical columns of axons arrange so those that perform similar functions are arranged in tracts

Question 50

ventral horn in gray matter

Answer 50

contains cell bodies of motor neurons that innervate skeletal muscle

Question 51

dorsal horn of gray matter

Answer 51

receives sensory impulses entering via dorsal root

Question 52

vessels that supply spinal cord

Answer 52

anterior spinal artery and two posterior spinal arteries corresponding veins drain into the internal vertebral venous plexus