week 3 Flashcards
how many vertebrae in spine and where?
33
7c, 12t, 5l, 5s, 4c
what is c7 called?
vertabra prominans
what do atlas and axis allow?
head rotation
what is significant feature of c7?
No foramena transeverse process (veretbral artery)
which vertabrae has odontoid process?
c2
which vertebrae have no intervertebral disc
c1-c2
what is the disease process in spondylitis and OA? what exacerbates pain?
intervertrbal disc loses water, overloads facet joints, pain is worse on extension of spine (as facet joint takes pressure when leaning back )
what can help specific level OA in spine?
Facet joint injections under fluoroscopy
what makes up an intervertberal disc?
Outer annulus fibrosis and inner gelatinous nucleus pulposus
where does intervertebral disc degeneration most occur?
L4/5 or L5/S1
why is MRI not diagnostic in diagnosing disc degeneration/nerve root compression?
because many people have bulging discs, disc extusion or asymptomatic nerve root compression
why does acute disc prolapse occur?
MOST AT L4/5 or L5/S1 Lifting heavy object Annulus tear “twang” Rich innervation outer annulus Pain on coughing Most settle by 3 months
spinal cord ends at L1 becoming what?
cauda equina
with disc prolapse which nerve root is usually compressed
the transersing nerve root (e.g.: root L5 for L4/L5 prolapse)
from where does the sciatic nerve arise?
L4-S3
what can nerve root compression cause?
radiculopathy (pain down sensory distortion of nerve)
learn dermatomes
learn myotomes
segmental innervation of hip (myotomes)
hip flexion L2,3
hip extention L5,S1
segmental innervation of knee(myotomes)
knee flexion L3,4
knee extension L5,S1
segmental innervation of foot (myotomes)
inversion L4,L5
eversion L5,S1
segmental innervation of ankle (myotomes)
dorsiflexion L4,5
planterflexion S1,2
what is spinal stenosis?
compression of nerve roots by osteophytes and hypertrophied ligaments in OA
what is classic sign of spinal stenosis?
radiculopathy or burning leg pain on walking = neurogenic claudication
treatment of spinal stenosis
surgical decompression (some patients)