Week 1 - Vertebral Column, Curves, Typical Features and Joints

Question 1

Describe the surface landmarks for the COG

Answer 1

Thru the ear lobe, thru the shoulder joint, midway of the trunk, thru the greater trochanter, sl. ant to the knee joint, sl. ant to the ankle joint

Question 2

Describe the bony landmarks for the COG

Answer 2

Behind coronal suture, through external auditory meatus, through the dens of the axis, thru the cervical vertebrae bodies, thru lumbar vertebral bodies, thru sacral promontory, sl. behind hip joint, sl. ant to knee joint, sl. anterior to the ankle joint, thru the calcaneocuboidal joint

Question 3

Give three functions of the spine

Answer 3

Supports the thoracic cage
Muscle attachment
UL and LL attachment
Protection of spinal cord
Shock absorption
Control of movement

Question 4

Give the features of a typical vertebrae

Answer 4

Articular process x 4
Transverse process x 2
Spinous Process
Body
Vertebral Arch - pedicle/ laminar

Question 5

What does the vertebral arch enclose?

Answer 5

Spinal canal, protects spinal cord

Question 6

Give five features of a typical cervical verterbrae

Answer 6

Small rectangular body
Large vertebral foramen
Foramen Transversarium in Transverse Process
Bifid Spinous Processes
Articular facets horizontal
Uncoverterbral Joints

Question 7

Joints of Von Luscka: give the joint type and describe the articular surfaces

Answer 7

Where there is lipping of lateral aspect of one vertebral body articulating with the one above; synovial joint; cervical spine only

Question 8

Give five features of a thoracic vertebrae

Answer 8

Round body
Long slanted spinous process
Transverse process with facet
Costal facet joints x 4
Rib facet joints x 2
Articular facets are in a more vertical plane

Question 9

Give five features of a lumbar vertebrae

Answer 9

Large wide body
Broad, short laminae and pedicles
Quadrangular spinous processes
Mamillary processs
Vertical facets
Transverse Processes long and thin
No costal facets or transverse foramina

Question 10

Classify the interverterbal joints and describe the articular surfaces

Answer 10

Symphysis; secondary cartilaginous; vertebral end plates are covered in hyaline cartilage; separated by an intervertebral disc

Question 11

Describe the two parts of the intervertebral disc

Answer 11

Annulus Fibrosis - ring of fibres, 6-70% water, layers of collagen fibres arranged in sheets called lamellae, thicker towards centre and anterior/ lateral portions
Nucleus Pulposus - semi-fluid mass of mucoid material, 88% water, deforms under pressure

Question 12

Classify the facet joints and describe the articular surfaces

Answer 12

Synovial joint; inferior articular process of one vertebra articulates with the superior articular process of the vertebrae above

Question 13

Describe how the orientation of the facet joints differ between the different aspects of the column

Answer 13

Cervical - horizontal
Thoracic - vertical
Lumbar - vertical/ wrapped

Question 14

Give the two ligaments of the intervertebral joints and their attachments

Answer 14

Anterior Longitudinal LIgament - bonded to interior surface of vertebral bodies C2-sacrum
Posterior Longitudinal Ligament - bonded to the posterior aspect of all vertebral bodies, C2 to sacrum

Question 15

Give four ligaments that support the facet joints and the movement they limit

Answer 15

Ligamentum flavum - flexion/ rotation
Supraspinous Ligament - flexion
Interspinous ligament - flexion
Intertransverse ligament - side flexion