BPK 241 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED ANSWERS. EXPERT
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS.
What are the types of vertebrae and how many are there of each? - ANS 7 cervical, 12
thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral (fused), 1 coccyx
What are the features of a vertebrae? - ANS Body(anterior mass), spinous process, lateral
(transverse) processes, pedicles (arch connect to body), lamina (between processes), facet
joints
What are the interverteble discs? what do they do? - ANS lying between vertebral bodies,
they are made of Annulus fibrosus( fibrocartilage) that surrounds nucleus pulposus(gel).
Providing stability and cushioning.
What are the joints of the spine? - ANS fibrocartilaginous that's between discs and vertebral
bodies, Synovial the facet joints with 4 per vertebrae
How is the Annulus fibrosis arranged? - ANS filers are arranged in 15-20 concentric layers,
angled in different directions alternating layers for a strong configuration
Describe the innervation (nerve supply) and blood supply of a disc. - ANS Innvervation for the
outer 3rd (no/poor warning system), blood supply outer 3rd (does a good job of healing)
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,How does a disc nucleus pulposus behave? - ANS Hydrostatically, the centre of the disc is like
a liquid and liquids are incompressible so an applied load will create a outward/radial pressure
in all directions inside the disc
What does the Anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments do? - ANS connect vertebral
bodies
What does the ligamenta flava do? - ANS connect laminea
what does the inter transverse ligaments do? - ANS connect transverse processes
what does the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments do? - ANS connect spinous
processes
What do our Erector spinae and transversospinalis(stabilizers) muscles do? - ANS flexion,
extension, lateral flexion, rotation(cervical and thoracic)
Where does the spinal cord end? what's below that? - ANS L1, all the nerve roots coming off
forming the Cuada Equania
What does the siatic nerve arise from? - ANS spinal nerves L4 through S3
What is Dermatones? - ANS sensation from the skin corresponds with a specific nerve root
What are the signs and symptoms of a back strain/sprain? - ANS Pain, tenderness, muscle
spasm, warmth
What is the treatment for a back strain/sprain? - ANS Rest (don't be supine for more than 2
days), NSAID/pain meds, cold then heat therapy, physio or message treatment, comprehensive
supervised rehab program (flexibility, strength, task specific), correct predisposing factors,
gradual return to activity
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,What should you do if there are neurological signs and symptoms present with a back
strain/sprain? - ANS assume a fracture, dislocation of disc injury and transport to hospital
What is a lumbar disc herniation? - ANS Nucleus pulposus breaks through the annulus
fibrosis, most commonly occurring at L4L5 and L5S1. There are 4 stages; protrusion, prolapse,
extrusion, sequestered.
Why is the venerable age for lumbar disc herniation 30-50? - ANS elasticity and water
content of the nucleus pulposus decrease with age
What happens with disc protrusion? - ANS cracks in the annulus fibrosis begins to appear
(disc bulge)
What happens with disc prolapse? - ANS nucleus pulposus moves completely through the
annulus fibrosis
What happens with disc extrusion? - ANS nucleus pulposus moves into the spinal canal
comes into contact with nerve root
What happens with disc sequestered? - ANS portion of the nucleus pulposus breaks off from
the disc and starts to migrate in the spinal canal
What is Intervertebral disc disease? - ANS happens the same way as a sprain/strain,
herniation of nucleus pulposus, compression of nerve roots or spinal cord
What are the effects of Intervertebral disc disease? - ANS Pain, tenderness, muscle spasm,
warmth, neurological symptoms( sciatica), instability, osteoarthritis (osteophytes, stenosis)
What is the treatment for Intervertebral disc disease? - ANS conservative if possible,
discectomy, laminectomy, fusion
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, What is a stinger or burner? - ANS Brachial plexus neuropraxia, stretching or compression of
brachial plexus, neck forced laterally
what are the signs and symptoms of a stinger or burner? - ANS pain and numbness into
fingers, burning, numbness, tingling from shoulder to hand, lasts a few seconds, if symptoms
resolve athlete may return
what is the treatment for a stinger or burner? - ANS rest, if symptoms don't resolve in few
few mins or get worse go to hospital
What is a spine fracture? - ANS axial load- cervical spine C456 most common, hyperextension
what are the signs and symptoms of a spine fracture? - ANS point tenderness, decreased
ROM, pain in neck/chest/extremities, numbness/weakness in trunk/limbs
What is the treatment for a spine fracture? - ANS stabilize, c-spine collar, spine board (if
unconscious assume c-spine injury)
What is the treatment for a back injury? - ANS Time (rest/healing), cold, hot, NSAID, brace,
physio, message therapy, Chiro, rehab (indefininte), correct predisposing factors, may need to
change sport/job
What is the management of back injuries? - ANS Balance is key, demands with functional
capacity, expectations with realistic goals
What is the McGill big 3? - ANS The goal is to build endurance in spine stabilizers, Bird
dog/trunk rise/ side plank, 10 sec activity/2 sec rest, descending pyramid of repetition (8-6-4)
What are the boundaries of the thorax? - ANS Neck, diaphragm, thoracic vertebrae,
ribs/sternum/muscles
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
DETAILED ANSWERS. EXPERT
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS.
What are the types of vertebrae and how many are there of each? - ANS 7 cervical, 12
thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral (fused), 1 coccyx
What are the features of a vertebrae? - ANS Body(anterior mass), spinous process, lateral
(transverse) processes, pedicles (arch connect to body), lamina (between processes), facet
joints
What are the interverteble discs? what do they do? - ANS lying between vertebral bodies,
they are made of Annulus fibrosus( fibrocartilage) that surrounds nucleus pulposus(gel).
Providing stability and cushioning.
What are the joints of the spine? - ANS fibrocartilaginous that's between discs and vertebral
bodies, Synovial the facet joints with 4 per vertebrae
How is the Annulus fibrosis arranged? - ANS filers are arranged in 15-20 concentric layers,
angled in different directions alternating layers for a strong configuration
Describe the innervation (nerve supply) and blood supply of a disc. - ANS Innvervation for the
outer 3rd (no/poor warning system), blood supply outer 3rd (does a good job of healing)
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,How does a disc nucleus pulposus behave? - ANS Hydrostatically, the centre of the disc is like
a liquid and liquids are incompressible so an applied load will create a outward/radial pressure
in all directions inside the disc
What does the Anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments do? - ANS connect vertebral
bodies
What does the ligamenta flava do? - ANS connect laminea
what does the inter transverse ligaments do? - ANS connect transverse processes
what does the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments do? - ANS connect spinous
processes
What do our Erector spinae and transversospinalis(stabilizers) muscles do? - ANS flexion,
extension, lateral flexion, rotation(cervical and thoracic)
Where does the spinal cord end? what's below that? - ANS L1, all the nerve roots coming off
forming the Cuada Equania
What does the siatic nerve arise from? - ANS spinal nerves L4 through S3
What is Dermatones? - ANS sensation from the skin corresponds with a specific nerve root
What are the signs and symptoms of a back strain/sprain? - ANS Pain, tenderness, muscle
spasm, warmth
What is the treatment for a back strain/sprain? - ANS Rest (don't be supine for more than 2
days), NSAID/pain meds, cold then heat therapy, physio or message treatment, comprehensive
supervised rehab program (flexibility, strength, task specific), correct predisposing factors,
gradual return to activity
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,What should you do if there are neurological signs and symptoms present with a back
strain/sprain? - ANS assume a fracture, dislocation of disc injury and transport to hospital
What is a lumbar disc herniation? - ANS Nucleus pulposus breaks through the annulus
fibrosis, most commonly occurring at L4L5 and L5S1. There are 4 stages; protrusion, prolapse,
extrusion, sequestered.
Why is the venerable age for lumbar disc herniation 30-50? - ANS elasticity and water
content of the nucleus pulposus decrease with age
What happens with disc protrusion? - ANS cracks in the annulus fibrosis begins to appear
(disc bulge)
What happens with disc prolapse? - ANS nucleus pulposus moves completely through the
annulus fibrosis
What happens with disc extrusion? - ANS nucleus pulposus moves into the spinal canal
comes into contact with nerve root
What happens with disc sequestered? - ANS portion of the nucleus pulposus breaks off from
the disc and starts to migrate in the spinal canal
What is Intervertebral disc disease? - ANS happens the same way as a sprain/strain,
herniation of nucleus pulposus, compression of nerve roots or spinal cord
What are the effects of Intervertebral disc disease? - ANS Pain, tenderness, muscle spasm,
warmth, neurological symptoms( sciatica), instability, osteoarthritis (osteophytes, stenosis)
What is the treatment for Intervertebral disc disease? - ANS conservative if possible,
discectomy, laminectomy, fusion
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, What is a stinger or burner? - ANS Brachial plexus neuropraxia, stretching or compression of
brachial plexus, neck forced laterally
what are the signs and symptoms of a stinger or burner? - ANS pain and numbness into
fingers, burning, numbness, tingling from shoulder to hand, lasts a few seconds, if symptoms
resolve athlete may return
what is the treatment for a stinger or burner? - ANS rest, if symptoms don't resolve in few
few mins or get worse go to hospital
What is a spine fracture? - ANS axial load- cervical spine C456 most common, hyperextension
what are the signs and symptoms of a spine fracture? - ANS point tenderness, decreased
ROM, pain in neck/chest/extremities, numbness/weakness in trunk/limbs
What is the treatment for a spine fracture? - ANS stabilize, c-spine collar, spine board (if
unconscious assume c-spine injury)
What is the treatment for a back injury? - ANS Time (rest/healing), cold, hot, NSAID, brace,
physio, message therapy, Chiro, rehab (indefininte), correct predisposing factors, may need to
change sport/job
What is the management of back injuries? - ANS Balance is key, demands with functional
capacity, expectations with realistic goals
What is the McGill big 3? - ANS The goal is to build endurance in spine stabilizers, Bird
dog/trunk rise/ side plank, 10 sec activity/2 sec rest, descending pyramid of repetition (8-6-4)
What are the boundaries of the thorax? - ANS Neck, diaphragm, thoracic vertebrae,
ribs/sternum/muscles
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
