The Vertebral Column

Question 1

how many vertebrae are there?

Answer 1

33

Question 2

how many cervical vertebrae?

Answer 2

7

Question 3

how many thoracic vertebrae

Answer 3

12

Question 4

how many Lumbar vertebrae

Answer 4

5

Question 5

how many sacral vertebrae

Answer 5

5

Question 6

how many coccygeal vertebrae

Answer 6

3-5

Question 7

name the primary curvatures of the spine

Answer 7

thoracic and sacral curvatures

Question 8

name the secondary spinal curvatures

Answer 8

cervical and lumbar

Question 9

what is scoliosis

Answer 9

scoliosis is lateral bending of the vertebral column

Question 10

name the layers of the meninges

Answer 10

the dura mater, the arachnoid mater, the pia mater

Question 11

what structures make the spinous process

Answer 11

the laminae bilaterally

Question 12

what does the pedicle continue with?

Answer 12

the transverse process

Question 13

name different joints of the vertebrae

Answer 13

costovertebral joints - head of rib and vertebra
costotransverse joints - tubercle of rib and transverse process

Question 14

what is the intervertebral foramen and what passes through it

Answer 14

the foramen between adjacent vertebrae, where spinal nerves exit

Question 15

what is the joint between superior articular facet and inferior articular facet

Answer 15

the zygoapophyseal joint

Question 16

what is the weakest part of the vertebrae

Answer 16

the pars interarticularis

Question 17

describe the spinous process of cervical vertebrae

Answer 17

bifid spinous process

Question 17

describe the spinous process of the thoracic vertebra

Answer 17

point inferiorly

Question 17

describe the spinous process in lumbar vertebrae

Answer 17

straighter

Question 17

what is transmitted in the foramen transversarium

Answer 17

the vertebral arteries

Question 17

what is seen in cervical vertebrae and not in other vertebrae

Answer 17

foramen transversarium, lateral masses, uncinate processes

Question 17

special features of C1 (atlas)

Answer 17

no vertebral body, no spinous process

Question 17

what is spondylolisthesis

Answer 17

the displacement of one vertebra in relation to another without fracture of the pars interarticularis

Question 17

what are the two articular facets of C1 and what do they articulate with?

Answer 17

superior articular facet articulates with the occipital condyles
inferior articular facet articulates with C2 (axis)

Question 18

special features of the C2 vertebra

Answer 18

dens/odontoid process which is a pivot for atlas

Question 19

what vertebra corresponds to the palpable vertebral prominence?

Answer 19

C7, it is usually not bifid

Question 20

what is the hangman fracture?

Answer 20

bilateral fracture of the pars interarticularis of C2

Question 21

what does the tubercle of the rib articulate with?

Answer 21

the tubercle articulates with the transverse process of the vertebra

Question 21

name additional articular facets of the thoracic vertebrae

Answer 21

transverse costal facet, superior and inferior costal facet

Question 22

what vertebrae has the largest vertebral body

Answer 22

the lumbar vertebrae

Question 23

what does the rib head articulate with

Answer 23

the inferior costal facet of the above vertebra and the superior costal facet of its own thoracic vertebra

Question 24

what is transmitted through the sacral canal

Answer 24

the continuation of the lumbar vertebral canal and cauda equina

Question 25

what is transmitted in the posterior sacral foramina

Answer 25

the dorsal rami of spinal nerves

Question 26

what is transmitted in the anterior sacral foramina

Answer 26

the ventral rami of spinal nerves

Question 27

where does the sacral canal terminate

Answer 27

at the sacral hiatus

Question 28

additional processes on lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 28

the accessory processes and the mammillary processes

Question 29

name the two components of the IVD

Answer 29

the inner nucleus palposus and outer annulus fibrosis

Question 30

where does the Nuchal Ligament run?

Answer 30

from the external occipital protruberance to the spinous process of C7

Question 31

What does the ligamentum flavum attach

Answer 31

the ligamentum flavum connects the laminae of adjacent vertebrae

Question 32

name the enlargements of the spinal cord

Answer 32

cervical enlargement, lumbar enlargement

Question 33

what is the cauda equina

Answer 33

the lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal roots extending below the level of the end of the spinal cord

Question 34

name the structure that anchors the dura mater to the spinal cord?

Answer 34

The Denticulate ligament

Question 35

describe the epidural space

Answer 35

space between the vertebral wall and the dura mater

Question 36

describe the subarachnoid space

Answer 36

the space between the arachnoid and pia mater

Question 37

what is white matter primarily composed of?

Answer 37

white matter is primarily composed of myelinated axons

Question 37

what is gray matter primarily composed of

Answer 37

neuronal cell bodies

Question 38

how many pairs of spinal nerves?

Answer 38

31 paris

Question 39

how many cervical spinal nerves

Answer 39

8, although no C8 vertebra