Vertebrae
Commonly known as a "Yes" gesture, the movement of this joint is called "flexion"
What is Atlanto-occipital?
Rich in elastic fibers which give it a distinct yellow appearance, this ligament connects adjacent laminae and resists hyperflexion of the spine.
What is the ligamentum flavum?
Only visible T1-L2; these features of the spinal cord house the cell bodies of sympathetic nervous system cells.
What are lateral horns?
Conveniently passing through the transverse foramen of cervical vertebrae, these blood vessels supply the cervical spinal cord.
What are the vertebral arteries?
Occasionally caused by spondylolisthesis, this abnormal curvature of the spine intensifies the natural curvature of the lumbar spine
What is Lordosis?
A structure that is made of fibrocartilage and encircles the nucleus pulposus
What is the annulus fibrosis?
Extending caudally from the conus medullaris, this slender filament of connective tissue—originating primarily from pia mater—anchors the thecal sac to the dorsum of the coccyx.
What is the filum terminale?
Known as a "potential space" in the cranium, this actual space in the spine is very relevant for the expecting mothers...
What is the epidural space?
A nightmare to learn for PT, PA, and med students alike, this network of nerves extends from nerves C5-T1
What is the brachial plexus?
Caused by excessive force to the top of the head, this type of fracture can effect the anterior and/or posterior arches of the C1 vertebrae.
What is a Jefferson fracture?
Typical cervical vertebrae feature this unique morphological trait at the tip of their spinous processes, serving as an attachment point for deep neck musculature.
What is a bifid spinous process?
Extending from the sides of the dens to the medial aspects of the occipital condyles, these paired cord-like ligaments serve as "check ligaments" by limiting excessive contralateral axial rotation of the head.
What are the alar ligaments?
In an adult, a lumbar puncture needle passed through the midline between L3 and L4 typically gives a distinct "pop" upon piercing this tough meningeal layer immediately after traversing the epidural space.
What is the dura mater?
Usually in charge of outward eye movement (ocular abduction), this nerve is the sixth of 12 "cranial nerves"
What is the abducens nerve?
Common in weightlifting and young athletes, a fracture of this area between superior and inferior articular facets of the vertebrae can be very painful
What is the pars interarticularis?
Also known as a facet joint, this type of joint is a planar synovial joint between two vertebrae.
What is a Zygapophyseal joint?
Running along the entire anterior surface of the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs from the sacrum to the anterior tubercle of C1, this broad ligament is the only spinal ligament that actively resists hyperextension.
Poliovirus, West Nile virus, and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) all share a selective predilection for destroying motor cell bodies located in this specific anatomical region of the spinal cord.
What is the Anterior horn?
Most frequently arising on the left side between T9 and L1, this major segmental vessel is critical for perfusing the lumbar enlargement and lower cord
What is the artery of Adamkiewicz?
Anterior dislocation of a vertebrae can be cause by this condition, characterized by a bilateral fracture of a certain portion of the lamina.
What is spondylolisthesis?
Ribs 11 and 12 lack an articulation with this part of their corresponding thoracic vertebrae, explaining why T11 and T12 vertebrae lack transverse costal facets entirely.
What is the transverse process?
As it ascends superiorly past the level of C7 to insert onto the external occipital protuberance, the supraspinous ligament expands into this sagittal fibroelastic septum.
What is the nuchal ligament?
Tertiary syphilis can cause tabes dorsalis, which leads to progressive sensory ataxia, a positive Romberg sign, and lancinating pain due to selective degeneration of these specific incoming fibers and tracts.
What is the dorsal root?
Supplied by 4 lumbar arteries and one of these arteries, the lumbar spine is located inferior to the thoracic spine.
What is a subcostal artery?
Chris Weidman, a UFC fighter, was forced to pull out of a highly anticipated title rematch fight against Luke Rockhold due to a herniation of a disc just below his vertebral prominens, effecting this nerve root.
What is the C8 nerve root?