The Spine and Spinal Structures

Question 1

How many vertebrae are there?

Answer 1

33

Question 2

How many vertebrae are fused?

Answer 2

9

Question 3

What percentage of the spine is made up from intervertebral discs?

Answer 3

Approx 25%

Question 4

Anteriorly which spinal regions are convex in shape?

Answer 4

Cervical and lumbar regions

Question 5

Anteriorly which spinal regions are concave in shape?

Answer 5

Thoracic and sacral regions

Question 6

How many vertebrae are contained within the cervical part of the spine?

Answer 6

7

Question 7

How many vertebrae are contained within the thoracic part of the spine?

Answer 7

12

Question 8

How many vertebrae are contained within the lumbar part of the spine?

Answer 8

5

Question 9

How many vertebrae are contained within the sacral part of the spine?

Answer 9

5

Question 10

Which ribs are “floating ribs” and do not articulate with the costal cartilage?

Answer 10

The lower two ribs (11th and 12th)

Question 11

What is the coccyx also known as and how many vertebrae does it contain?

Answer 11

The tailbone containing 4 fused vertebrae

Question 12

What is the first cervical vertebra known as?

Answer 12

Atlas

Question 13

What is the second cervical vertebra known as?

Answer 13

Axis

Question 14

What movement is permitted between the cranium and the top of the cervical spine?

Answer 14

Rotation

Question 15

Which part of the spine permits lateral flexion?

Answer 15

Lumbar

Question 16

Which part of the spine permits rotation?

Answer 16

Thoracic

Question 17

How many pairs of ribs are there?

Answer 17

12

Question 18

How many ribs connect directly to the sternum?

Answer 18

Upper 7

Question 19

What type of joint connects the ribs to the thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 19

Cartilaginous

Question 20

Which regions of the spine contain intervertebral discs?

Answer 20

Cervical, thoracic and lumbar

Question 21

What are the two primary functions of the intervertibral discs?

Answer 21

To assist in movement between adjacent vertebrae and load transference from one vertebra to another

Question 22

What are the two components of an intervertebral disc?

Answer 22

Nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus

Question 23

What is an end plate in the spine?

Answer 23

A deformable plate of cartilage on the upper and lower surfaces of the vertebra

Question 24

How many degrees of motion does an intervertebral disc permit?

Answer 24

6 degrees

Question 25

What is another name for a herniated disc?

Answer 25

A slipped disc

Question 26

How many processes does each vertebra have?

Answer 26

7

Question 27

What is contained within the vertebral foramen?

Answer 27

Spinal cord, fat, connective tissue and blood vessels

Question 28

Where is the neural arch?

Answer 28

Posterior to the vertebral body surrounding the vertebral foramen

Question 29

What is the function of pedicles?

Answer 29

They allow nerves and blood vessels to leave the vertebral canal in-between each disc

Question 30

Are the spinal ligaments more or less flexible than normal ligaments?

Answer 30

More flexible

Question 31

How do spinal ligaments limit movement?

Answer 31

By increasing their tension as the range of extension or flexion increases