Unit 4: C/T Spine

Which section(s) of the spine possess a primary curve?

thoracic, sacral

The lumbar spine possesses a ______ posterior spinal curvature.

concave

An abnormal or exaggerated thoracic spinal curvature with increased convexity

Kyphosis

An abnormal or exaggerated lateral spinal curvature

scoliosis

synonym for "slipped disk"

herniated nucleus pulposus

The foramina created by the superior and inferior vertebral notches

intervertebral

Joints found between the superior and inferior articular processes

zygapophyseal

Inner aspect of the intervertebral disk

nucleus pulposus

The ______ pass through the cervical transverse foramina

vertebral artery/vein

Unique characteristic of cervical spine vertebrae structure

bifid spinous process, three foramina

Unique characteristic of thoracic spine vertebrae structure

facets for rib articulations

The intervertebral foramina for the cervical spine lie at a ____ degree angle to the midsagittal plane

forty-five

The zygapophyseal joints of the cervical spine (C3-7) lie at a ______ degree angle to the midsagittal plane

ninety

The large joint space between C1 and C2

zygapophyseal

Ligament that holds the dens agains the anterior arch of C1

transverse atlantal ligament

partial facets found on thoracic vertebrae

demifacets

Thoracic vertebrae that do not possess a facet for the costotransverse joint

T11, T12

Position of the thoracic spine that best demonstrates the intervertebral foramina

lateral

position of the cervical spine that would best demonstrate the zygapophyseal joint of C1-2

AP open mouth

Position of the thoracic spine that best demonstrates the zygapophyseal joints

oblique

The zygapophyseal joints lie at a _____ degree angle to the midsaggital plane in the thoracic spine

seventy

In a RAO position of the cervical spine, what specific structures would be visualized?

right intervertebral foramina

In a RAO position of the thoracic spine, what specific structures would be visualized?

right zygapophyseal joints

vertebral prominens is the bony landmark at the same level as this

C7-T1

jugular notch is the bondy landmark at the same level as this

T2-3

a point 3-4" below the jugular notch is equivalent to this spine level

T7

the gonion is at this same spine level

C3

the sternal angle is at approximately this same spine level

T4-5

The thyroid cartilage is at approximately this same spine level

C4-6

avulsion fracture of the spinous processes of C6-T1

clay shoveler's fracture

scheuermann disease is a form of _____.

scoliosis/kyphosis

Common site for HNP

L4-L5

Two ways to prevent excess scatter radiation on a lateral thoracic image

collimation and shiedling

what is the degree and direction of angulation for the AP axial cervical spine?

15 to 20 cephalic

what is the degree and direction of angulation for an anterior oblique cervical spine

15 caudal

what is the degree and direction of angulation for a posterior oblique cervical spine?

15 cephalic

The anterior obliques (RAO/LAO) of the cervical spine demonstrate which intervertebral foramina?

side closest

The posterior obliques of (RPO/LPO) the cervical spine demonstrate which intervertebral foramina

side farthest

The anterior obliques (RAO/LAO) of the thoracic spine demonstrate which joints?

side closest

The posterior obliques (RPO/LPO) of the thoracic spine demonstrate which joints?

side farthest

functions of the vertebral column

supports trunk, potects spinal cord, supports skull

number of cervical vertebrae

7

number of thoracic vertebrae

12

total vertebrae in adult

26

areas of spine with a lordotic curve

cervical, lumbar

areas of spine with a kyphotic curve

thoracic, sacrum

curves of spine that have a concave appearance

compensatory

areas of spine that are known as primary curves

thoracic, sacrum

areas of spine that are known as compensatory curves

cervical, lumbar

of the two compensatory curves, which develops first?

cervical

structures in vertebrae through which spinal nerves and vessels exit the spinal column

intervertebral foramina

another name for C1

atlas

another name for c2

axis

another name for c7

vertebra prominens

another name for the odontoid process

dens

thick weight bearing anteior part of the vertebra

body

consists of a ring or arch of bone that extends posteriorly from the vertebral body

vertebral arch

the posterior and anterior vertebral arches form a circle called ______ which protects the spinal cord

vertebral foramen

succession of vertebral foramina forms a tubelike opening called_____

vertebral canal

bony process that extends posteriorly from either side of the vertebral body and forms most of the sides of the vertebral arch

pedicles

posterior part of vertebral arch is formed by two somewhat flat layers of bone called_____ which extend posteriorly from the pedicle and unite at the midline

laminae

process that extends laterally from the junction of the pedicle and laminae

transverse

process that extends posteriorly from the junction of two laminae

spinous

the outer fibrous portion of a intervertebral disk

annulus fibrosus

joint between C1 and skull

atlantooccipital articulations

c1 lacks this feature of all vertebrae

body

if the left side Z joint appears more closed off than the right side Z joint on an AP open mouth view, what could be the problem?

skull tilted to left

this thoracic vertebra has a full facet superiorly and a demifacet inferiorly

T1

thoracic vertebrae that have demifacets both superiorly and inferiorly

T2-T8

thoracic vertebra with only a demifacet superiorly

T9

thoracic vertebrae with full facets only

T10-T12

the degree of rotation FROM A LATERAL position for an RAO thoracic?

15-20

the base of the skull (tip of mastoid process) should be in line with this for an AP open mouth view

occlusal plane

which view would show the odontoid process inside the foramen magnum?

Fuchs

How much is the CR angled for an AP Thoracic

0

How much is the CR angled for an RAO Thoracic

0

How much is the CR angled for a Cervical lateral

0

What is the SID for a cervical lateral?

72"

Why do we use the SID we do for the lateral cervical?

compensate for large OID

How much is the CR angle for the lateral thoracic?

0

How much is the CR angle for cervical swimmer's when shoulder separation is not possible?

3-5 degree

which two projections will show the odontoid in the center of the foramen magnum?

Fuchs, Judd

The Fuchs method is a ____ projection

AP

The Judd method is a _____ projection

PA

Doing obliques in the AP vs PA increases your patient's thyroid dose by _____ times

10-15

the portion of the cervical lamina that is a short column of bone between the superior and inferior processes

articular pillar

The intervertebral joints of C2-T12 have this joint classification

carilaginous

The intervertebral joints of C2-T12 have this mobility type

amphiarthroidal

The joints between C1 and C2 have these movement types

plane and trochoid

The name of the two joints between C1 and C2

R/L lateral atlantoaxial (sometimes called zygaphophyseal joints) and medial atlantoaxial

The Z joints of C2-T12 have this classification

synovial

The Z joints of C2-T12 have this mobility type

diarthroidal

The Z joints of C2-T12 have this movement

plane

What is the major positioning line used in the Fuchs method (other than MSP)?

MML

Central ray is directed ______ degrees to the MML for a Fuchs method

0 (parallel)

kV range for cervical radiography

70-80

kV range for thoracic radiography

80-90

What technique is used on a lateral thoracic to blur structures that overlie the thoracic vertebrae

breathing

usual SID for lateral and oblique cervical radiography

72"

usual SID for thoracic radiography

40"