Vertebrae

Question 1

What is the centrum of the vertebra?

Answer 1

The body

Question 2

What type of joint is the articular processes of the vertebral column?

Answer 2

Synovial (diarthrodial)

Question 3

The lateral and transverse foramina of C1 contain what?

Answer 3

Vertebral arteries

Question 4

The dens orginates from what?

Answer 4

The intercentrum of C1 but during development it attaches to C2

Question 5

What is the median sacral crest?

Answer 5

The fused spinous process of the sacral vertebrae

Question 6

What are Y-shaped hemal arches?

Answer 6

Ventral arches on Cd4-Cd6 vertebral bodies to protect the median coccygeal artery

Question 7

What are the ligaments of the atlantoaxial joint?

Answer 7

Dorsal atlantoaxial ligament

Apical ligament

Alar ligaments

Transverse ligament of the atlas

5 all together.

Question 8

What small animal species has a nuchal ligament and where does it attach?

Answer 8

Dog

Spinous process of the axis (C2) to the first 3 thoracic vertebrae

It continues as the supraspinous ligament preventing abnormal separation of the spinous process during flexion.

Question 9

Where is the interarcuate ligaments and what is the nickname for them?

Answer 9

Yellow ligament or ligamentum flavum

Number 5.

Question 10

Where is the intercapital ligaments?

Answer 10

Between the ribs from T2-T11. Lies VENTRAL to the dorsal longitudinal ligament.

Question 11

Definition of a block vertebra? where are they most common?

Answer 11

Fusion of 2 or more vertebral bodies

Cervical spine

Question 12

What type of posture does a hemivertebrae create?

Answer 12

Kyphosis

Question 13

Can hemivertebrae be clinical?

Answer 13

Yes.. the kyphotic posture can lead to extradural compression of the spinal cord.

Question 14

What thoracic vertebra is classically the anticlinal vertebra?

Answer 14

T11 in dogs

Question 15

What is the clinical significance of a transitional vertebra?

Answer 15

Miss counting disc spaces

Increased incidence of disc protrusion and nerve root compression at the LS disc space when a transitional vertebra is present.

Question 16

Spina bifida is seen with what other clinically significant deformatiy?

Answer 16

Meningocele or meningomyelocele

Question 17

Spina bifida is common in what breed of dog? Cat?

Answer 17

Bulldogs

Manx cats

Question 18

Two key radiographic signs of AA lux?

Answer 18

Increase distance between the vertebral arch of the atlas and the spinous process of the axis

Dorsal lamina do not align of the AA - A angular relationship between the lamina of C1 and C2 is the most reliable radiographic sign of an AA lux.

Question 19

Cervical spondylomyelopathy is common in what age and breed?

Answer 19

Young Great Danes

Middle aged Dobbies

Question 20

What are the different manifestations of cervical spondylomyelopathy and what breed has those manifestations?

Answer 20

Dobies - Vertebral canal stenosis (under development of the pedicles), disc protrusion, dorsal longitudinal ligament hypertrophy.

Great Danes: Articular process malformation and hyperostosis

Question 21

The osseous proliferation from the articular facets of great danes with cervical spondylomyelopathy extends into the spinal canal how?

Answer 21

Ventrally and medially.

Question 22

What secondary changes are noted with great dane/osseous proliferative cervical spondylomyelopathy?

Answer 22

Synovial cysts

Question 23

How is the ratio of Great Dane cervical spondylomyleopathy measured?

Answer 23

VD image

Distance between articular process joint vs vertebral body width.

Question 24

Is advanced imaging always necessary for cervical spondylomyelopathy patients?

Answer 24

Yes, to evaluate location and severity of compressive extradural lesions

Question 25

Where do most vertebral fractures and luxation occur?

Answer 25

Regional junctions

Question 26

What is the sensitivity for finding spinal fractures or luxations of radiographs?

Answer 26

Fractures 72% Subluxations 78%

Question 27

When using the three-compartment approach when evaluating the spine for fractures and luxations what are the three areas? What are they made of?

Answer 27

Dorsal: Vertebral arch, Articular process, ligaments Middle: Spinal cord, dorsal longitudinal ligament, annulus fibrosus and dorsal margin of the vertebral body Ventral: Remainder of the body, annulus, ventral longitudinal ligament.

Question 28

What can be said when using the three-compartment approach on spinal trauma?

Answer 28

If two or more compartments (dorsal, middle and ventral) are involved than the fracture is considered unstable and needs stabilization

Question 29

What are the most common sites for disc prolapse in the cervical region? Thoracolumbar region?

Answer 29

C2-3 and C3-4 T12-T13 and T13-L1

Question 30

What is spondylosis deformans?

Answer 30

Entheses of the intervertebral disc - specifically the sharpey fibers that attach to the vertebral bodies and dorsal longitudinal ligament.

Question 31

Spondylitis means?

Answer 31

Infllamation of the vertebrae

Question 32

What are the radiographic features of spondylitis?

Answer 32

Increase opacity of the vertebral body with periosteal reaction.

Question 33

What are the common causes of spondylitis?

Answer 33

S. Lupi Plant awn microbial infection (paraspinal abscesses)

Question 34

S. Lupi spondylosis commonly affects the vertebral bodies?

Answer 34

T8-T11

Question 35

Does a negative radiograph rule out discospondylitis?

Answer 35

Nope

Question 36

To be classified as an osteophyte the extension of bone needs to be next to what?

Answer 36

Synovial joint.

Question 37

The dogs spinal cord terminates near the level of what?

Answer 37

L6-L7

Question 38

The cats spinal cord terminates where?

Answer 38

L7

Question 39

what is the conus medullaris?

Answer 39

The termination of the spinal cord.

Question 40

What is the cauda equina?

Answer 40

Collection of nerve roots that lie within the vertebral canal caudal to the termination of the spinal cord.

Question 41

Elongation of what in dogs with trasitional vertebrae at the lumbosacral region, predisposes them to stenosis and cauda equina pain?

Answer 41

Elongation of the dorsal sacral lamina.

Question 42

What type of dog are over represented for vertebral neoplasia?

Answer 42

Large dogs

Question 43

What are the most common primary vertebral neoplasms in dogs?

Answer 43

Primary bone tumors.

Question 44

Article: What is the most common spot for a primary vertebral neoplasm to be? metastatic?

Answer 44

Primary - Thorax Mets - Lumbar

Question 45

What are the 7 criteria to help distinguish DISH from spondylosis?

Answer 45

1. Bridging along at least 3 vertebral bodies 2. Relative preservation of the disc-space 3. Osteoarthritis of the dorsal intervertebral process joints 4. Pseudoarthrosis of the spinous process 5. Enthesopathy of soft tissue attachments in both axial and appendicular skeleton 6. Bony ankylosis of the pubic symphysis 7. Osteophytes, sclerosis and ankylosis of the sacroiliac joints

Question 46

Top differential for the vertebral bodies?

Answer 46

Mucopolysaccharidosis type 6 Vertebral epiphyseal dysplasia

Question 47

What are the radiographic changes of mucopolysaccharidosis?

Answer 47

Vertebral epiphyseal dysplasia Epiphyseal dysplasia of the long bones Abnormal nasal conchal development Coxofemoral luxation

Question 48

What is senile osteopenia?

Answer 48

Old people/animal osteopenia