Vertebral Column

T or F: Rib 6 articulates with the superior costal facet of T6 and the inferior costal facet of T5

True

T or F: Ribs articulate only with the thoracic and cervical vertebrae

False; only thoracic

T or F: Rib 4 articulates with the transverse process of T4

True

How many true, false, and floating ribs?

7 true, 3 false, 2 floating

What is the costal arch?

inferiorly located; united costal cartilages of ribs 10-12

How can a therapist differentiate between a pain that is musculoskeletal in nature and a systemic pain?

if the patient can recreate the pain or if movement makes the pain better/worse, then the pain is musculoskeletal; pain will linger even at rest with systemic pain

What is the Angle of Louis?

sternal angle

How many vertebrae? How are they categorized?

33 total; 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral (fused), 4-5 coccygeal (fused)

What is a primary curve also known as? What areas are these seen in?

kyphotic curve; thoracic spine and scarum

What are secondary curves also known as? Where do we see these and when do they develop?

lordotic curves; cervical & lumbar spine; develops after birth

T or F: Lordotic curves happen in the cervical and lumbar spine within the sagittal plane

True

T or F: Kyphotic curves happen in the thoracic, sacrum, and lumbar spine within a saggital plane

False; not the lumbar spine

Where are kyphosis curves?

thoracic and sacral spine

Where is scoliosis most common? What plane?

thoracic-lumbar spine; frontal & transverse plane

T or F: Kyphosis in the thoracic spine can create lordosis in the cervical spine

True

What are the 2 main parts of the typical vertebrae?

body and arch

T or F: The bodies of vertebrae become larger from the cervical to the lumbar regions

True

Why are the lumbar vertebra larger?

due to needing to suppose increased body weight

What is at the top and bottom of each vertebral body? Describe.

vertebral end-plates that are covered in hyaline cartilage (inferior and superior vertebral end-plates); these end plates connect the intervertebral discs to the vertebrae

What makes up the vertebral arch?

pedicle, lamina transverse process, spinous process

What does the lamina connect?

the spinous process & transverse process

What does the pedicle connect?

body & the transverse process

What is a laminectomy? Why might someone get one?

removing the lamina; might need to do so in order to access the spinal cord

What is the Zygapophysial joint?

AKA the facet joint; where the inferior articular process of a vertebrae articulates with superior articular process of the vertebrae below it

What is the pars articularis? Why is this important?

the space between the superior and inferior articular facets of the same vertebrae; it is common fractured due to excessive hyperextension exercises

What is contained within the vertebral foramen?

spinal cord, anterior & posterior roots, meninges, blood vessels, and cerebrospinal fluid

What is the intervertebral foramen bounded by?

the vertebral bodies, pedicles, intervertebral discs, and facet joints

Where does the anterior and posterior roots joint to form spinal nerves?

at the intervertebral foramen

What happens when someone has a herniated disc?

the disc may get pushed out into the intervertebral foramen, therefore pinching the roots and/or spinal nerves; this may cause radiating pain to the associated dermatome and/or muscle weakness depending what is being compromised

What happens with facet joint arthritis?

the facet joint swells up, therefore causing the nerve roots and spinal nerves to be pinched, causing radiating pain to the associated dermatome

What is the abnormal lateral curvature of the spine? Who does this affect and how is it treated?

scoliosis; mostly pre-adolescent aged females; bracing is the ideal treatment but early detection is key

If someone has abnormal curative of the thoracic spine, what is their diagnosis? Who does this affect most?

kyphosis; geriatric population

What is it called if someone has abnormal increase in lumbar spine or cervical spine curvature?

abnormal lordosis

What is spina bifida? Where does it happen?

A congenital defect in the walls of the spinal canal because of the lack of union between the lamina; there is an incomplete vertebral arch that causes the spinal cord to come out of the spinal column; happens mostly in the lumbar region

What type of curve does the cervical spine have?

lordotic

What are the typical and atypical cervical vertebra?

C1 & C2 = atypical

C3 - C7 = typical

Describe the Atlas

C1; ring-shaped; no body nor spinous process

What is the AA joint?

atlanto-axial joint; where the atlas sits on the axis; C1 meets C2

What is the AO joint?

atlanto-occipital joint; there the occipital bone of the skull sits on the atlas (C1)

What articulates with the superior articular facets of C1?

the occipital condyles of the skull

The facet of the dens is located on what bone? This feature is the location of what joint?

C1; the AA joint

What is found on the most posterior aspect of C1?

the posterior tubercle

Where is the groove for vertebral artery? What is the purpose?

on the posterior arch of C1, directly posterior to the superior articular facet; is a groove to allow the vertebral artery to run

T or F: The axis has the widest transverse process of all cervical vertebrae

False; the atlas has it

What vertebrae has the largest vertebral foramen?

C1

What is the dens also known as? What bone is it on?

AKA the odontoid process; found on the Axis (C2)

T or F: The superior articular process of C2 articulates with the inferior articular facet of the atlas

True

T or F: C2-C6 has bifid spinous processes

true

What is special about the transverse foramen of C3-C6?

the vertebral artery passes through this space of these vertebrae only

What are the uncinate processes?

part of the vertebral body of C3-C6 that has a raised lateral lip on the superior surface of the bone to articulate to the vertebrae above it; allows for increased stability while maintain the cervical vertebrae's mobility

What is the uncovertebral joint?

where the uncinate process of a vertebrae (C3-C6) articulates with the vertebral body of the vertebrae above it

What vertebrae has the largest spinous process?

C7

T or F: C7 does not have a transverse foramen

False

How does the vertebral artery travel? What does it supply?

passes through the transverse foramen of cervical vertebrae (except for C7) and then makes 2 turns and then passes through the foramen magnum; supplies the posterior brain

What is beauty parlor stroke syndrome?

hyperextension of the cervical spine can cause comprise in the vertebral artery because extension closes the space of the foramen; this could lead to a cerebrovascular accident

T or F: The vertebral artery tests puts the patient in flexion to try to bring on the beauty parlor stroke syndrome

False; puts patient in extension in order to bring upon this syndrome

Where are the rib facets on the thoracic spine? What about facets/demifacets?

rib facets are on the transverse process; facets & demifacets are on the body

What does the rib facet articulate with?

the tubercle of the rib

T or F: There are no facets or demifacets on the last 2-3 thoracic vertebrae

False; there are no rib facets on the transerve processes on the last 2-3 thoracic vertebrae

T or F: The spinous processes of the thoracic and lumbar spine are angled downwards

False; only the thoracic spine

Describe the spinous processes of the thoracic spien

long, slender & inferiorly directed

What type of curve does thoracic spine have?

primary / kyphotic curve

What type of curve does the lumbar spine have?

secondary / lordotic curve

What is special about L5?

it is wedged-shaped because it needs to fit the articulation to the sacrum; its shape is more narrow on the posterior aspect

Where does the spinal cord end? What happens after this termination?

ends at L2, but the nerves continue on as the caudal equina

Where do spinal taps occur?

between L4 & L5

What is caudal equine syndrome? What does it involve?

medical emergency where there is extreme pressure on the cauda equina that all voluntary control is lost in the saddle region; there is numbness/paresthesia in the area that would touch a saddle and there is a loss of bowel/bladder control