Topic 1: spine

Question 1

What are the five regions of the vertebral column and how many vertebrae in each?

Answer 1

Cervical (7), Thoracic (12), Lumbar (5), Sacral (5 fused), Coccygeal (3-5 fused).

Question 2

List the functions of the vertebral column.

Answer 2

Fixation, spinal cord protection, shock absorption, mobility, and hematopoiesis.

Question 3

What are the physiological spinal curvatures in sagittal view?

Answer 3

Cervical & lumbar lordosis; thoracic & sacral kyphosis.

Question 4

Name three pathological spinal curvatures.

Answer 4

Hyperlordosis, hyperkyphosis, scoliosis.

Question 5

Name the basic parts of a vertebra.

Answer 5

Body, vertebral arch (pedicles + laminae), spinous process, transverse processes, articular processes, vertebral foramen.

Question 6

What forms the vertebral canal?

Answer 6

Vertebral foramina of adjacent vertebrae.

Question 7

What are intervertebral foramina?

Answer 7

Openings formed by adjacent vertebrae for spinal nerve passage.

Question 8

Describe the intervertebral disc structure.

Answer 8

Annulus fibrosus (collagen + fibrocartilage) surrounds nucleus pulposus (gelatinous core).

Question 9

Where does the spinal cord terminate in adults?

Answer 9

Between L1 and L2 (can vary slightly).

Question 10

What are the meninges of the spinal cord?

Answer 10

Pia mater (inner), arachnoid mater (middle), dura mater (outer).

Question 11

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there and how are they distributed?

Answer 11

31 pairs: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, 1 coccygeal.

Question 12

What do posterior and anterior rami of spinal nerves innervate?

Answer 12

Posterior: back; Anterior: rest of body (forms plexuses).

Question 13

List features of a typical cervical vertebra.

Answer 13

Small body, bifid spinous process, transverse foramina, triangular vertebral foramen.

Question 14

What are uncovertebral joints?

Answer 14

Synovial joints between uncinate processes and vertebral body above (C3–C7).

Question 15

What is unique about C1 (Atlas)?

Answer 15

No body or spinous process; articulates with occipital condyles; forms atlanto-occipital joint.

Question 16

What is the function of the dens on C2 (Axis)?

Answer 16

Acts as a pivot for rotation of the atlas and skull.

Question 17

What distinguishes C7?

Answer 17

Long spinous process (vertebra prominens); may lack transverse foramen.

Question 18

Key features of thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 18

Heart-shaped body, circular foramen, costal facets for ribs, downward spinous processes.

Question 19

How are thoracic zygapophyseal joints oriented?

Answer 19

Vertically; favor rotation, limit flexion/extension.

Question 20

Which thoracic vertebrae are atypical and why?

Answer 20

T1, T10–T12: different costal facet patterns and rib articulation features.

Question 21

Characteristics of lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 21

Large kidney-shaped body, triangular vertebral foramen, sturdy transverse/spinous processes.

Question 22

Movement characteristics of lumbar spine?

Answer 22

Flexion and extension; limited rotation.

Question 23

Special features of L5?

Answer 23

Wedge-shaped body, short transverse processes, articulates with sacrum.

Question 24

Describe the sacrum.

Answer 24

Triangular fused bone (5 vertebrae), articulates with L5 and coccyx, has anterior/posterior sacral foramina.

Question 25

What is the coccyx?

Answer 25

Small triangular bone of 3-5 fused vertebrae, no vertebral arch.

Question 26

What type of joints are intervertebral discs?

Answer 26

Symphysis (secondary cartilaginous joints).

Question 27

What ligaments support intervertebral joints?

Answer 27

Anterior longitudinal and posterior longitudinal ligaments.

Question 28

What type are zygapophysial joints and where?

Answer 28

Synovial; cervical/thoracic: planar (arthrodia), lumbar: pivot (trochoid).

Question 29

Name the main ligaments of vertebral arches.

Answer 29

Ligamentum flavum, supraspinous, interspinous, intertransverse, ligamentum nuchae.

Question 30

Describe atlanto-occipital joint.

Answer 30

Between occipital condyles and C1; condylar synovial; allows nodding.

Question 31

Describe atlanto-axial joint.

Answer 31

Between C1 & C2; pivot (median) and plane (lateral) joints; allows rotation.

Question 32

What are the stabilizing ligaments of the atlanto-axial joint?

Answer 32

Cruciform ligament and alar ligaments.

Question 33

Classification of ribs?

Answer 33

True (1–7), false (8–10), floating (11–12).

Question 34

What articulates with costal facets of thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 34

Rib heads and tubercles.

Question 35

Describe typical rib structure.

Answer 35

Head, neck, tubercle, shaft/body.

Question 36

Unique features of 1st rib?

Answer 36

Short, broad, single facet, scalene tubercle, subclavian grooves.

Question 37

What are costovertebral joints?

Answer 37

Synovial joints between rib heads and vertebral bodies (except 1st, 11th, 12th).

Question 38

What are costotransverse joints?

Answer 38

Synovial joints between rib tubercles and transverse processes (except 11th, 12th).

Question 39

What are sternocostal joints?

Answer 39

Rib 1: synchondrosis; ribs 2–7: synovial.

Question 40

Where does most spinal flexion/extension occur?

Answer 40

Cervical and lumbar regions.

Question 41

Where is spinal rotation most common?

Answer 41

Cervical and thoracic regions.

Question 42

What are the main radiological methods for the spine?

Answer 42

X-ray (AP, lateral, oblique), CT, MRI, ultrasound.

Question 43

Pros and cons of X-ray?

Answer 43

Fast, good for bone, but ionizing and not soft tissue detailed.

Question 44

What is CT best for?

Answer 44

Bone detail; shows axial, coronal, sagittal views; ionizing.

Question 45

What is MRI best for?

Answer 45

Soft tissue; multiplanar; non-ionizing; T1/T2 contrast.

Question 46

What is ultrasound useful for?

Answer 46

Real-time soft tissue and vascular evaluation; no radiation.

Question 47

Bones of the pelvic girdle?

Answer 47

Two coxal bones, sacrum, coccyx.

Question 48

What joints form the pelvic ring?

Answer 48

Sacroiliac, pubic symphysis, lumbosacral, sacrococcygeal, coxofemoral.

Question 49

What are movements of sacroiliac joint?

Answer 49

Nutation and counternutation.

Question 50

Gender differences in pelvis?

Answer 50

Female pelvis: wider inlet/outlet, broader pubic arch, flatter sacrum.

Question 51

Answer 51

Question 52

Answer 52

Question 53

Answer 53

Question 54

Answer 54

Question 55

Answer 55

Question 56

posterior ramus and anterior ramus function and purpose

Answer 56

Ramis: Posterior ramus-collectively, the small posterior rami innervate the back: and an anterior ramus-the much larger anterior rami innervate most other regions of the body except the head, which is innervated predominantly, but not exclusively, by cranial nerves. The anterior rami form the somatic plexuses (cervical. brachial, lumbar, and sacrall of the bodv. Visceral components of the PNS (sympathetic trunk and prevertebral plexus) of the body are also associated mainly with the anterior rami of soinal nerves.

Question 57

label and vertebrae

Answer 57

c1 atlas

Question 58

Answer 58

thoracic vertebrae and rib

Question 59

Answer 59