Vertebral Canal

Question 1

What are 2 groups are the ligaments of the vertebral column divided into?

Answer 1

• Ligaments of the arch

- Ligaments of the body

Question 2

What are the 2 ligaments of the vertebral body?

Answer 2

• Anterior longitudinal ligament

- Posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 3

What ligament is highlighted in green?

Answer 3

Anterior longitudinal ligament

Question 4

Where does the anterior longitudinal ligament lie?

Answer 4

On the Anterolateral aspect of the vertebral bodies

Question 5

What are the attachments of the anterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 5

Runs from the base of the skull to the sacrum

Question 6

Describe the layers of the anterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 6

• Made up of 3 layers of dense collagen fibres
• The deep fibres bind adjacent vertebrae together
• Superficial fibres span multiple segments

Question 7

What movement does the anterior longitudinal ligament limit?

Answer 7

EXTENSION

Question 8

What ligament is highlighted in green?

Answer 8

Posterior Longitudinal ligament

Question 9

Where does the posterior longitudinal ligament lie?

Answer 9

Within the vertebral canal on the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies

Question 10

At which vertebral level does the posterior longitudinal ligament start?

Answer 10

C2

Question 11

What are the attachments of the posterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 11

Runs from C2 to the sacrum

Attaches to the IV discs and margins of the vertebrae

Question 12

What is often found between the posterior longitudinal ligament and the bone?

Answer 12

Fat and vessels

Question 13

What is the role of the posterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 13

• Prevents posterior herniation of the IV disc

- Limits FLEXION (weakly)

Question 14

What are the ligaments of the vertebral arch and processes?

Answer 14

• Ligamenta Flava
• Interspinous Ligaments
• Supraspinous Ligaments
• Intertransverse ligaments
• Nuchal Ligament

Question 15

What ligament is highlighted in green?

Answer 15

Ligamentum Flavum

Question 16

Where do the ligamenta flava attach?

Answer 16

Connect the laminae of the adjacent vertebrae together

Question 17

What are the roles of the ligamenta flava?

Answer 17

• To help maintain the curvatures of the spine
• To reinforce the wall of the vertebral canal posteriorly
• Limits flexion

Question 18

What ligament is highlighted?

Answer 18

Interspinous ligament

Question 19

Where do the interspinous ligaments attach?

Answer 19

Connect adjacent spinous processes

Question 20

What is the ligament that is highlighted?

Answer 20

Supraspinous Ligament

Question 21

Where does the supraspinous ligament run?

Answer 21

Connects the tips of the spinous processes

Runs from C7 to the sacrum

Question 22

What ligament is highlighted?

Answer 22

Intertransverse ligament

Question 23

Where does the intertransverse ligament attach?

Answer 23

Connects adjacent transverse processes

Question 24

How do the fibres of the intertransverse ligament change throughout the vertebral column?

Answer 24

Cervical - scattered fibres
Thoracic - fibrous
Lumbar - membranous

Question 25

What structure is highlighted?

Answer 25

Nuchal ligament

Question 26

What is the nuchal ligament?

Answer 26

A thickened fibroelastic tissue that is continuous with the supraspinous ligament in the cervical region

Question 27

Where does the nuchal ligament attach?

Answer 27

External occipital protuberance Posterior border of the foramen magnum Spinous processes C1-7

Question 28

What is the role of the nuchal ligament?

Answer 28

Muscle attachment | Limits flexion

Question 29

At which vertebral level does the spinal cord end?

Answer 29

L1/2

Question 30

How many nerves are in each spinal region?

Answer 30

``` Cervical - 8 pairs Thoracic - 12 pairs Lumbar - 5 pairs Sacral - 5 pairs Coccygeal - 1 pair ```

Question 31

Where are the spinal enlargments?

Answer 31

Cervical enlargement - C4-T1 | Lumbosacral enlargement - L1-S3

Question 32

How are the spinal nerves named?

Answer 32

- Cervical spinal nerves are named after the vertebrae below (exception is C8) - T1-Co1 are named after the vertebrae above

Question 33

What is the structure highlighted?

Answer 33

The Cauda Equina | Lumbar and Sacral roots that extend below the end of the spinal cord

Question 34

What is the filum terminale?

Answer 34

Remenant of the caudal part of the spinal cord

Question 35

What is highlighted?

Answer 35

The conus medullaris - the tapering off of the spinal cord

Question 36

List the spinal meninges from superficial to deep

Answer 36

Spinal Dura Mater Spinal Arachnoid Mater Spinal Pia Mater

Question 37

What is the attachments of the spinal dura mater?

Answer 37

Tough outer covering of the spinal cord | Attached to the coccyx inferiorly by the filum terminale

Question 38

What forms the dural root sheaths?

Answer 38

Lateral extensions of the spinal dura mater cover the nerve roots as dural root sheaths

Question 39

What is found in the epidural space?

Answer 39

Internal vertebral venous plexuses | Epidural fat

Question 40

What attaches the spinal arachnoid mater to the pia?

Answer 40

Arachnoid Trabeculae

Question 41

What is found within the subarachnoid space?

Answer 41

CSF

Question 42

What does the spinal pia mater cover?

Answer 42

The spinal cord, nerve roots and spinal blood vessels

Question 43

What are Denticulate ligaments?

Answer 43

Ligaments that run on either side of the spinal cord between the anterior and posterior nerve roots They suspend the spinal cord in the dural sac

Question 44

What is the arterial supply to the spinal cord?

Answer 44

- 1 Anterior spinal artery - 2 Posterior spinal arteries - Run longitudinally from medulla oblongata to conus medularris - Supported by medullary segmental arteries

Question 45

What arteries supply the spinal cord nerve roots?

Answer 45

Radicular arteries

Question 46

Describe the venous drainage of the spinal cord?

Answer 46

- 3 anterior and 3 posterior veins - Drained by medullary and radicular veins - Join the internal vertebral venous plexuses in the epidural space