Spinal study questions

Question 1

what ligaments will attach to the typical cervical spinous process?

Answer 1

the interspinous ligament and ligamentum nuchae

Question 2

What will form the posterior boundary of a typical cervical intervertebral foramen?

Answer 2

the inferior articular process (post-zygapophysis), the superior articular process (pre-zygapophysis), the capsular ligament and the ligamentum flavum

Question 3

what will form the superior boundary of a typical cervical intervertebral foramen?

Answer 3

the inferior vertebral notch or inferior vertebral incisure

Question 4

What will form the inferior boundary of a typical cervical intervertebral foramen?

Answer 4

the superior vertebral notch or superior vertebral incisure

Question 5

What is the unique anterior boundary of the intervertebral foramen for the C4 spinal nerve?

Answer 5

the lateral groove of C3 and uncinated process of C4 forming the joint of Luschka

Question 6

what is the name of the first cervical vertebra?

Answer 6

atlas

Question 7

what features are lacking at C1?

Answer 7

vertebral body, pedicles, a spinous process and the intervertebral disc

Question 8

what osseous modification is observed to the front of the anterior arch of C1?

Answer 8

the anterior tubercle

Question 9

what muscle attaches to the anterior arch of C1?

Answer 9

longus colli

Question 10

what ligaments will attach to the anterior arch of C1?

Answer 10

the anterior longitudinal, anterior atlanto-occipital and the anterior atlanto-axial ligaments

Question 11

what is the morphology of the superior articular facet of C1?

Answer 11

they are elliptical, closer together in the front and often demonstrate an elevation subdividing the facet surface into two separate surfaces

Question 12

what is the orientation for the superior articular facet of C1?

Answer 12

backward, upward, medial BUM

Question 13

what is the joint classification of the atlanto-occipital zygapophysis?

Answer 13

synovial (diarthrosis) ellipsoidal joint

Question 14

What are the morphological characteristics of the inferior articular facet of C1?

Answer 14

asymmetrical, slightly concave or flattened

Question 15

what is the orientation of the inferior articular facet of C1?

Answer 15

backward, medial, downward BMD

Question 16

what is the name of the rounded elevation, on the medial aspect of the lateral mass of C1?

Answer 16

tubercle for the transverse atlanto ligament

Question 17

what muscles attach to the lateral mass of C1?

Answer 17

levator scapula, splenius cervicis and rectus capitis anterior

Question 18

what part of C1 represents the spinous process?

Answer 18

posterior tubercle of the posterior arch

Question 19

what is the distance from the posterior tubercle of the posterior arch to the skin in each gender?

Answer 19

males: about 50 millimeters; females: about 37 millimeters

Question 20

what attaches to the posterior tubercle fo the posterior arch of C1?

Answer 20

rectus capitis posterior minor muscle and ligamentum nuchae

Question 21

what superior surface modifications of the posterior arch of C1 are present?

Answer 21

groove/sulcus for the vertebral artery and arcuate rim

Question 22

what are the attachment sites of the posterior atlanto-occipital ligament?

Answer 22

it is attached to the arcuate rim of the posterior arch of atlas, to the superior articular process of the lateral mass of atlas and to the posterior margin of the foramen magnum of the occipital bone

Question 23

what muscles blend with the capsular ligament of cervical zygapophyses?

Answer 23

the semispinalis capitis, multifidis and rotator longus

Question 24

what modifications of the synovial joint are observed in the cervbical spine?

Answer 24

meniscoidal folds

Question 25

what function will meniscoidal folds provide in cervical zygapophyses?

Answer 25

they are assumed to distribute pressure across the joint surface

Question 26

the greatest range of flexion-extension among the typical cervical vertebrae occurs at which vertebral couple?

Answer 26

typically c5/c6

Question 27

what motions are coupled in the cervical spine?

Answer 27

lateral bending and axial rotation

Question 28

ranges of coupled motion among the typical cervical vertebrae will be similar for what cervical vertebral couples?

Answer 28

the C2/C3, C3/C4, C4,C5 vertebral couples

Question 29

ranges of coupled motion among the typical cervical vertebrae will begin to decreawe at what cervical vertebral couple?

Answer 29

the C5/C6 vertebral couple

Question 30

what is the usual condition for the Caucasian typical cervical spinous process?

Answer 30

they are bifid

Question 31

what is the usual condition for the African-American typical cervical spinous process?

Answer 31

they are non-bifid

Question 32

what muscles may attach to the typical cervical spinous process?

Answer 32

the spinalis cervicis, semispinalis cerivicis, semispnalis thoracis, multifidis, rotators and interspinalis

Question 33

what is the earliest age of development where ossification of the anterior free margin of the posterior atlanto-occipital ligament was observed?

Answer 33

about age 7 years old

Question 34

based on the amount of ossification of the anterior free margin of the posterior atlanto-occipital ligament what structures will form?

Answer 34

an incomplete ponticulus posticus or a complete ponticulus posticus

Question 35

what other name may be used to identify a ponticulus posticus?

Answer 35

Kimmerle's anomaly

Question 36

what names are given to the opening formed by the ponticulus posticus?

Answer 36

arcuate foramen or retroarticular canal

Question 37

ponticulus posticus has observed in what ethnic populations?

Answer 37

all ethnic populations studied thus far

Question 38

what is the general range of incidence of ponticulus posticus in the populations studied?

Answer 38

1%-4%

Question 39

what is the gender bias now associated with ponticulus posticus?

Answer 39

female

Question 40

what is the incidence of a complete ponticulus posticus versus an incomplete ponticulus posticus?

Answer 40

the incidence of a complete ponticulus posticus is aobut fifteen percent; of an incomplete ponticulus posticus may be as high as 41%

Question 41

what is the location of the zygapophysis relative to the atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial intervertebral foramina?

Answer 41

it forms part of the anterior boundary of the intervertebral foramen in both cases

Question 42

what is the general appearance of the transverse process of C1?

Answer 42

triangular

Question 43

what are the osseous parts of the transverse process of c1?

Answer 43

costal element, posterior tubercle, true transverse process

Question 44

what osseous parts of the transverse process are absent at c1?

Answer 44

anterior tubercle and costotransverse bar

Question 45

what suboccipital muscles are known to have fascial projections attaching to the spinal dural?

Answer 45

rectus capitis posterior minor, rectus capitis posterior major, obliquus capitis inferior

Question 46

what are the connections between suboccipital muscles and the spinal dura called?

Answer 46

myodural bridges

Question 47

what are the lateral bridges of atlas connected to?

Answer 47

the lateral mass and the transverse process of atlas

Question 48

what forms of the lateral bridges are observed in the population?

Answer 48

incomplete lateral bridges and complete lateral bridges

Question 49

what opening is identified when a complete lateral bridge is formed?

Answer 49

retrotransverse foramen

Question 50

what are the possible contents of the retrotransverse foramen?

Answer 50

the vertebral artery, a branch from the suboccipital nerve and veins communicating with the venous sinuses of the neck

Question 51

what is observed in the transverse foramen of c1?

Answer 51

vertebral artery, vertebral venous plexus, postganglionic sympathetic motor nerve fibers

Question 52

what is the gender variation for the measurements of the transverse diameter of c1?

Answer 52

males 78 mm | females 72 mm

Question 53

what is the distance from the posterior tubercle of the transverse process of c1 to the skin for each gender?

Answer 53

a little over 30mm for both males and females

Question 54

how many synovial joint surfaces are observed at c1?

Answer 54

five

Question 55

what synovial joint surfaces are present at c1?

Answer 55

two superior articular facets, two inferior articular facets, and the fovea dentis