Term
| How many cervical vertebrae are found in the vertebral column? |
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Definition
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Term
| How many thoracic vertebrae are found in the vertebral column? |
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Definition
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Term
| How many lumbar vertebrae are found in the vertebral column? |
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Definition
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Term
| How many sacral vertebrae are found in the vertebral column? |
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Definition
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Term
| How many cocygeal vertebrae are found in the vertebral column? |
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Definition
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Term
| A collective of all the vertebral foramina form what? |
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Definition
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Term
| What forms the vertebral arch? |
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Definition
| Two pedicles and two laminae |
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Term
| Intervertebral foramen are formed between what structures? |
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Definition
| Inferior and superior vertebral notches of adjacent vertebra |
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Term
| Where do spinal nerves exit the vertebral canal? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the names of the the process projections from each vertebral arch? |
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Definition
| Transverse and spinous processes |
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Term
| Superior and inferior articular processes (zygapophyses) project from what part of the vertebra? |
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Definition
| Each side from the junction of pedicle and lamina |
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Term
| THe laminal between the superior and inferior articular processes from adjacent vertebra form what? |
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Definition
| Pars interacticularis (interarticular part), creates zygapophysial joints |
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Term
| Zygapophysial joints are particularly susceptible to what disease? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is a distinguishing characteristic of typical cervical vertebra (C3-6)? |
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Definition
| Short, often bifid spinous process, may have uncinate process extending superiorly from the edge of its body on each side |
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Term
| What joint is formed between uncinate processes and the body of vertebra above in cervical vertebra? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the atypical cervical vertebra? |
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Definition
| Atlas (C1), axis (C2), vertebra prominens (C7) |
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Term
| The articulation between the atlas and the skull creates what joint? |
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Definition
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Term
| What joint is formed between the atlas and the axis? |
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Definition
| One median and two lateral atlantoaxial joints |
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Term
| The transverse ligament of the atlas at the median atlantoaxial joint may be absent in individuals with what disease? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is unique to C7 among cervical vertebra? |
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Definition
| Small or absent transverse foramina lacking a verterbal artery, long spinous process |
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Term
| An enlarged costal process know as a cervical rib may form on C7 which may potentially compress what? |
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Definition
| Subclavian and/or lower part of the brachial plexus (thoracic outlet syndrome) |
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Term
| Typical thoracic vertebra have what defining features? |
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Definition
| Costal facets on each side of the body for articulation with the heads of ribs, long and slender spinous process directed inferiorly |
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Term
| Lumbar vertebra typically have what defining characteristics? |
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Definition
| Large body, hatchet shaped spinous process, mammilary processes on the posterior surface of each superior articular process |
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Term
| What attaches to the mammilary processes on lumbar vertebra? |
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Definition
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Term
| A "scottie dog sign" is the appearance of a dog head in an oblique x-ray of the lumbar spine and aids in the diagnosis of what? |
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Definition
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Term
| What part of the sacrum is used in caudal epidural anesthesia during surgery or childbirth? |
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Definition
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Term
| The sacral hiatus is located by palpation of what landmarks on either side? |
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Definition
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Term
| The lateral joint formed between the sacrum and the hip bone and the point where weight is transferred from the axial skeleton to the lower extremity is known as what? |
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Definition
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Term
| What forms the small triangular coccyx? What is its function? |
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Definition
| Four fused coccygeal vertebra, muscle and ligament attachment points |
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Term
| What are the primary curvatures of the spine that are concave anteriorly and face the same direction as the original fetal curvature? |
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Definition
| Thoracic and sacral regions |
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Term
| What are the secondary curvatures of the spine that are convex atneriorly? |
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Definition
| Cervical and lumbar regions |
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Term
| Abnormal increase in the thoracic curvature is known as what? |
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Definition
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Term
| An increase in lumbar curvature is known as what? |
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Definition
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Term
| Lateral curvature of the vertebral column is referred to as what? |
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Definition
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Term
| What would make a case of scoliosis structural and irreversible? |
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Definition
| Hemivertebra between vertebra |
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Term
| What is the most common form of scoliosis? |
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Definition
| Idiopathic structural scoliosis |
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Term
| Lateral curvature of structural scoliosis is accompanied by rotation of the vertebra towards what side? What visible sign does this produce? |
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Definition
| Side of convexity, rib hump |
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Term
| The partial forward dislocation of a vertebra over the vertebra below it is known as what? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the most common cause of spondylolisthesis? |
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Definition
| Spondylolysis causing L5 to slip on S1 |
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Term
| Bilateral fractures of the pars interarticularis of the vertebral laminae is know as what? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the only ligament that helps to limit extension of the vertebral column? |
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Definition
| Anterior longitudinal ligament |
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Term
| Where is the anterior longitudinal ligament located? |
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Definition
| Along the anterior aspect of the vertebral bodies |
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Term
| Where is the posterior longitudinal ligament located? |
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Definition
| Along the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies |
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Term
| What is the function of the posterior longitudinal ligament? |
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Definition
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Term
| What joints the laminae of adjacent vertebra and helps limit flexion while assisting with extension of the flexed column? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the name of the ligaments between adjacent spinous processes? |
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Definition
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Term
| What connects the tips of spinous processes of C7 to the sacrum? |
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Definition
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Term
| The expansion of the supraspinous ligament in the cervical region is called what? |
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Definition
| Nuchal ligament (ligamentum nuchae) |
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Term
| What is the function of the nuchal ligament? |
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Definition
| Muscle attachment in place of longer spinous processes in the cervical region |
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Term
| What lies between bodies of adjacent vertebra? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the components that makes up intervertebral discs? |
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Definition
| Central gelatinous nucleus pulposus enclosed by fibrocartilaginous anulus fibrosus which is thinner posteriorly |
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Term
| What is the function of intervertebral discs? |
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Definition
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Term
| Where do intevertebral discs most commonly herniate? What do they most commonly compress during herniation? |
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Definition
| L4/5 or L5/S1, compresses the nerve root traversing to exit at the intervertebral foramen below |
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Term
| Where do intervertebral disc herniations most commonly occur in cervical vertebra and what is in danger of compression in such cases? |
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Definition
| C5-6 and C6-7, may compress the nerve root exiting at that same level |
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Term
| Though posterior intervertebral disc herniation is very rare, what may be the outcome in such instances? |
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Definition
| Paralysis at that below that verterbal level due to compression of the spinal cord |
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Term
| What are the contents of the vertebral canal? |
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Definition
| Meninges, cerebrospinal fluid, spinal cord, spinal nerve roots, internal vertebral venous plexus, and epidural fat |
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Term
| What anchors the dura matter at S2? |
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Definition
| Filum terminale externum (coccygeal ligament) |
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Term
| What specialization of the pia mater that helps anchor the spinal chord continues inferiorly from the conus medullaris and is enclosed by the coccygeal ligament below S2? |
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Definition
| Filum terminale/filum terminale internum |
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Term
| What specialization of the pia mater that helps anchor the spinal chord is shaped as lateral bands with tooth-like processes that attach to the dura mater for fixation? |
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Definition
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Term
| What connects arachnoid mater and pia mater within the subarachnoid space? |
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Definition
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Term
| The subarachnoid space is enlarged caudal tot he lower end of the spinal cord to form what? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is contained within the lumbar cistern? |
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Definition
| Cauda equina and filum terminale |
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Term
| Why is the lumbar cistern an important landmark? |
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Definition
| Used for lumbar spinal punctures to withdraw cerebrospinal fluid or for spinal blocks |
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Term
| What is the distribution of the 31 spinal nerves? |
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Definition
| 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, 1 coccygeal |
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Term
| The tapered inferior end of the spinal cord is referred to as what? |
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Definition
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Term
| The collection of obliquely descending anterior and posterior nerve roots below the inferior end of the spinal cord is known as what? |
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Definition
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Term
| The filum terminale represents the tract of regression of the spinal cord and helps anchor the spinal cord after what month of fetal development? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are symptoms associated with damage to the cauda equina? |
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Definition
| Lower back pain, pain radiating to one or both lower extremities, unilateral or bilateral lower extremity weakness/numbness, bowel and bladder dysfunction |
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Term
| Nerve roots from C1-7 are named according to what? |
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Definition
| Vertebra below of the same number |
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Term
| Where is nerve C8 located? |
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Definition
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Term
| Nerve roots T1 to Co1 are names according to what? |
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Definition
| Vertebra above of the same number |
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Term
| What supplies blood to the spinal cord? |
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Definition
| Single anterior and two posterior spinal arteries |
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Term
| The anterior and posterior spinal arteries receive supplemental blood supply from what? |
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Definition
| Segmental medullary arteries |
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Term
| What artery is especially important for the blood supply of the lower 2/3 of the spinal cord? |
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Definition
| Great anterior segmental medullary artery |
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Term
| What does the great anterior segmental medullary artery arise from? |
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Definition
| Lower intercostal or upper lumbar artery |
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Term
| How is blood drained from the spinal cord? |
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Definition
| Internal vertebral venous plexus which communicates with the external venous plexus |
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Term
| Why is the communication between the vertebral venous plexuses and the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic veins clinically important? |
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Definition
| Potential pathway for the metastasis of cancer cells to the vertebral column, spinal cord, and brain |
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Term
| Why are intervertebral discs most likely to herniate posteriolaterally? |
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Definition
| Annulus fibrosus is thinner posteriorly but the posterior longitudinal ligament reinforces the spinal cord immediately posterior, forcing herniation to be posterior and lateral. |
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