Spine & Thorax | Trail Guide to the Body Workbook Questions

Which section of the vertebral column is capable of the most movement?

Cervical

The thorax is composed of which two structures?

Sternum and rib cage

The visible row of bumps running down the center of the back are the ________.

Spinous processes

With your partner seated, what two movements at the spine could you ask your partner to perform to feel the movement of the spinous processes?

Flexion and extension

Name two factors that might affect the position of the scapula.

Body type; muscular contraction

Which two cervical vertebrae have spinous processes that protrude further posteriorly and are more distinct than the other cervical vertebrae?

C-2 and C-7

Which band of connective tissue lies superficial to the cervical spinous processes?

Ligamentum nuchae

Many of the cervical transverse processes are deep to which neck muscle?

Sternocleidomastoid

This position places the cervical transverse processes in a line running between which two bony landmarks?

Mastoid process and center of shaft of clavicle

The lamina groove is located between which two bony landmarks of the vertebrae?

Spinous processes and transverse processes

The thoracic transverse processes are located deep to the ________ muscles and superficial to the ________.

Erector spinae; connecting aspects of the ribs

To avoid the thick erector spinae muscles overlying the lumbar transverse processes, slide your fingers roughly how far laterally from the spinous process?

Two inches

Which rib attaches to the sternum at the level of the sternal angle?

Second rib

What structure extends off the ribs and attaches to the sternum?

Costal cartilage

Which muscles are located between the ribs?

Intercostals

Which portion of the rib cage is easily accessed?

Sides of trunk

The first rib is deep to which bone along the anterior thorax?

Clavicle

Exploring just posterior to the clavicle, through which muscle group must you palpate to access the first rib?

Scalenes

What action could you ask your partner to perform to feel the first rib move?

Slow, deep breath into upper chest

In which three directions are the ribs ideally designed to move?

Anterior/posterior, lateral, superior

The eleventh and twelfth ribs lie at approximately what angle on the body?

45 degrees

As you palpate medially toward the spine, you may lose contact with the twelfth rib because it is deep to which muscle group?

Erector spinae group

The most medial branch of the erector spinae group is the ________, while the most lateral is the ________.

Spinalis; iliocostalis

In the lumbar region, the erectors lie deep to what connective tissue structure?

Thoracolumbar fascia

To contract the lower fibers of the erector spinae group in a prone position, what action could your partner perform?

Raise and lower feet slightly

Name two muscles through which you will have to palpate to access the deeper erector spinae fibers between the scapulae.

Rhomboids (or serratus posterior superior) and trapezius

Unlike the long, vertical erector spinae fibers, the branches of the transversospinalis group consist of many ________ fibers.

Short, diagonal fibers

As a group, the transversospinalis muscles can be easily located along the ________ of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.

Lamina grooves

Passive flexion of the spine would ________ the iliocostalis.

Lengthen

Passive rotation of the spine to the opposite side would ________ the rotatores.

Shorten

Passive lateral flexion of the spine to the same side would ________ the longissimus.

Shorten

Passive rotation of the spine to the same side would ________ the multifidi.

Lengthen

Rotating the head to the left demands the contraction of which splenius capitis—the left or right?

Left

The splenius capitis is superficial between which two muscles?

Trapezius and sternocleidomastoid

To distinguish trapezius fibers from splenius capitis fibers, what action could you ask your partner to perform?

Rotate head slightly toward the palpating side

How can the upper fibers of the trapezius help locate the suboccipitals?

Trapezius lateral edge is at the same width as the suboccipitals

What two bony landmarks and one region help isolate the location of the suboccipitals?

Spinous process of C-2, transverse process of C-1, and the space between the superior and inferior nuchal lines (occipital region)

Passive rotation of the head to the same side would ________ the rectus capitis posterior major.

Shorten

Passive lateral flexion of the head and neck would ________ the splenius cervicis.

Shorten

Passive extension of the head and neck would ________ the splenius capitis.

Shorten

Passive rotation of the head to the opposite side would ________ the oblique capitis inferior.

Lengthen

Passive rotation of the head and neck to the opposite side would ________ the splenius capitis.

Lengthen

Which edge of the quadratus lumborum is accessible from the side of the torso?

Lateral edge (side)

Which three bony landmarks can help isolate the borders of the quadratus lumborum?

Transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae (L1-L4), posterior iliac crest, twelfth rib

What action could you ask your partner to perform to feel the quadratus lumborum contract?

Laterally lift (elevate) the hip

Which abdominal muscle runs vertically from the rib cage to the pubic crest?

Rectus abdominis

Rotating your trunk to the right would engage your left or right internal oblique muscle?

Right

Which muscle is this if the fibers are superficial and running at an angle lateral to the rectus abdominis?

External oblique

What is the primary muscle of respiration?

Diaphragm

When the diaphragm muscle fibers contract, what connective tissue structure is pulled inferiorly?

Central tendon

When is it best to move your fingers underneath the rib cage to feel the diaphragm?

During exhaling

Name two large muscles through which you would have to palpate to access portions of the intercostals.

Latissimus dorsi and pectoralis major

Increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity would ________ the diaphragm's fibers.

Shorten

Passive rotation of the vertebral column to the same side would ________ the external oblique.

Lengthen

Compression of the abdominal contents would ________ the transversus abdominis.

Shorten

Drawing the ventral part of the ribs upward would ________ the external intercostals.

Shorten

Passive rotation of the vertebral column to the opposite side would ________ the internal oblique.

Lengthen

The ligamentum nuchae spans between which two bony landmarks?

External occipital protuberance and spinous process of C-7

To feel the ligamentum nuchae change tension underneath your fingers, what two passive movements can you perform at the head?

Flexion and extension

What superficial ligament can be felt between the spinous processes of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae?

Supraspinous ligament

The abdominal aorta is located where in relation to the psoas major?

Medial

The thoracolumbar fascia serves as an attachment site for which two muscles?

Branches of erector spinae and latissimus dorsi