The spinal column

Question 1

How many new traumatic spinal injuries occur globally?

Answer 1

180,000/year

Question 2

How many people are newly injured in the UK?

Answer 2

1000 people

Question 3

What are the functions of the spine?

Answer 3

Support, protection of spinal cord, movement of upper limbs and ribs, and postural control

Question 4

Which sections of the spine have a curvature of in front of the line?

Answer 4

Cervical and lumbar

Question 5

Which sections of the spine have a curvature of behind the line?

Answer 5

Thoracic and pelvic

Question 6

What is it called when the spine curves medially-laterally?

Answer 6

Scoliosis

Question 7

What is it called when the thoracic curve is exaggerated?

Answer 7

Kyphosis

Question 8

What is it called when the lumbar curve is exaggerated?

Answer 8

Lordosis

Question 9

What is the purpose of the vertebral body?

Answer 9

Weight bearing

Question 10

What is the purpose of the vertebral arch?

Answer 10

Forms roof of vertebral canal; has projections for attachments; has sites of articulation for adjacent vertebrae

Question 11

What do the pedicles do?

Answer 11

Anchor vertebral arch to body

Question 12

What do the laminae do?

Answer 12

Connect transverse and spinous processes

Question 13

What do the articular processes do?

Answer 13

Form joints between vertebrae; located at intersection of laminae and pedicles

Question 14

Which type of vertebra have the largest body?

Answer 14

Lumbar

Question 15

Which type of vertebra have the largest vertebral foramen?

Answer 15

Cervical

Question 16

Which type of vertebra have transverse foramen, and why?

Answer 16

Cervical, for arteries

Question 17

Which type of vertebra have the longest spinous process?

Answer 17

Thoracic

Question 18

Which type of vertebra have the bluntest spinous process?

Answer 18

Lumbar

Question 19

Which type of vertebra have bifid spinous process?

Answer 19

Cervical

Question 20

Which bones are the atlas and axis?

Answer 20

Atlas is C1, axis is C2

Question 21

What are distinguishing features of the atlas?

Answer 21

Large articular surface for occipital bone, no vertebral body, huge vertebral foramen

Question 22

What joint does the atlas make with the occipital bone?

Answer 22

Atlanto-occipital joint aka “yes” joint; holds skull

Question 23

What are distinguishing features of the axis?

Answer 23

Dens protruding upward which sits in centre of atlas, transverse ligament which stops 360 degrees rotation

Question 24

What joint does the atlas make with the axis?

Answer 24

Atlantoaxial joint aka “no” joint

Question 25

What are ligaments of the spine?

Answer 25

Posterior and anterior longitudinal, interspinous, supraspinous, ligament flavum

Question 26

Which ligaments of the spine run the full length of it?

Answer 26

Posterior and anterior longitudinal

Question 27

Which ligaments of the spine join the spinous process of adjacent vertebrae?

Answer 27

Interspinous and supraspinous

Question 28

How do the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments differ?

Answer 28

Interspinous attach between processes, supraspinous attach at tips

Question 29

What movement does the posterior longitudinal ligament prevent?

Answer 29

Hyperflexion

Question 30

What movement does the anterior longitudinal ligament prevent?

Answer 30

Hyperextension

Question 31

What does the ligament flavum do?

Answer 31

Extends between lamina of adjacent vertebrae and protects the spinal cord

Question 32

What colour is the ligament flavum?

Answer 32

Yellow

Question 33

What do the intervertebral discs do?

Answer 33

Absorb forces; aren't solid, so can move with vertebral movement

Question 34

Where does the spinal cord end and become nerve fibres?

Answer 34

L1/L2

Question 35

Where do spinal nerves come out of?

Answer 35

Intervertebral foramen

Question 36

How does the naming system of spinal nerves work?

Answer 36

C1-C7, use vertebra above nerve; C8-coccygeal, use vertebra below nerve