ANAT1019 Regional UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is an inguinal hernia? - CORRECT ANSWER - Abdominal contents protrude through a
weak point in the anterior abdominal wall. In this case the weak point is the inguinal canal.
Describe the orientation of the superior articular processes + movements restricted at the Mid
subaxial cervical region, Mid thoracic region and Mid lumbar region. - CORRECT
ANSWER - CERVICAL:
45 to transverse plane. Allows all movements.
Uncinate processes limit lateral translation, extension, axial rotation. Contribute to rotation &
lateral flexion coupling.
THORACIC:
60-80 to transverse. Tall superior articular process. Allows axial rotation & lateral flexion.
Blocks anterior translation/ tilt of vertebrae. Blocks flexion and extension. Ipsilateral 'coupling'
of rotation & lateral flexion
LUMBAR:
90 to the transverse plane. Sagittal plane orientation. Allow Flexion - extension. Allows some
lateral flexion and axial rotation.
What is the pars interarticularis? - CORRECT ANSWER - Part of a vertebra located between
the superior and inferior articular processes, at the junction of the pedicle and lamina. It is the
thickest part of the lamina.
What is the usual mechanism of pars interarticularis fracture? - CORRECT ANSWER - Stress
fracture via repetitive hyperextension with compression through inferior articular facet of
superior vertebra onto pars interarticularis.
Spondylolysis = breakdown of pars interarticularis. Spondylolisthesis = anterior translation of
superior vertebra
,How does the structure of the lumbar vertebral body serve its function of weight-bearing? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Large, cylindrical vertebral body with flat superior and inferior
surfaces - ideal for weight bearing.
How does the structure of a lumbar intervertebral disc serve its function of weight-bearing? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The discs absorb shock and dissipates the forces as they travel down
the vertebral column.
Pressure goes shared between Nucleus Pulposus and Annulus Fibrosus >> vertebral endplates >>
inferior vertebrae.
Nucleus Pulposus is deformable. Vertical compression causes a decrease in it's vertical height,
and it expands radially and exerts pressure on AF fibres. Annulus fibrosus is formed of
predominantly Type-I collagen fibres, the largest collagen fibres, and therefore provides the
greatest tensile strength.
How does the lumbar intervertebral disc facilitate movement? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Deformable: Vertebral body can lower on one side and the raise on the other side. This causes
distortion of the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosis due to their fluid content to
accommodate movement. When the raised side relieves pressure on the nucleus pulposus
allowing the fluid inside to shift, the annulus fibre will tension to prevent excess movement.
Height: The greater the intervertebral disc height to vertebral body height the greater the range of
tilt permitted at one motion segment. This ratio is the smallest in the thoracic region.
Explain how the structure of the annulus fibrosus enables it to resist excessive ranges of axial
rotation. - CORRECT ANSWER - The collagen fibres within a single layer will have the
same orientation, and the direction alternates between each layer so that you end up with a lattice
type structure. During superior translation of vertebrae, the movement will tension all fibres that
are orientated in the direction of that movement, so every second layer of the annulus fibrosis
will resist excessive translation.
In axial rotation, if the superior vertebrae rotates to the right, every second layer or those with
fibres running superiorly and to the right will tension to resist excessive axial rotation.
Which passive structures of the vertebral column may provide resistance to excessive ranges of
flexion? Briefly state how each of these do so - CORRECT ANSWER - Interspinous
, ligaments: Due to the anterior and inferior line of action, the interspinous ligament resists excess
flexion and also resist posterior shear of the superior vertebrae on the inferior.
Ligamentum nuchae: resists flexion and facilitates returning the head to the anatomical position.
Annulus fibrosis: During rocking or tilting movements the fibres on the extended side will
tension while the annulus on the side of the bending will compress. These fibres will resist
extension movements during flexion and extension and lateral flexion
How does the structure and role of the adult cervical intervertebral disc differ from that of the
lumbar intervertebral disc? - CORRECT ANSWER - Cervical
- Uncovertebral clefts/fissure of the AF
- Nucleus is more posterior within the whole disc. At the posterior end of the disc, only a small
layer of longitudinal fibres covers the nucleus pulposus.
- Greater disc height reflects greater cervical mobility as the superior vertebrae has more room to
move
Lumbar
- Lumbar lordosis is achieved by the wedge shaped L5/S1 intervertebral disc and the L5
vertebral body (taller anteriorly than posteriorly) - upper surface of the L5 vertebral body ends
up closer to the horizontal plane than does the upper surface of the sacrum.
Contrast the anatomy and function of the longus cervicis, longus capitis and sternocleidomastoid
- CORRECT ANSWER - Longus capitis
O: occipital bone
I: cervical transverse processes
Action: head and cervical flexion
Longus Cervicis
O: cervical transverse processes, cervical vertebrae bodies, cervical vertebrae bodies
I: thoracic vertebral bodies, cervical vertebral bodies, transverse processes
Action: Cervical flexion
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is an inguinal hernia? - CORRECT ANSWER - Abdominal contents protrude through a
weak point in the anterior abdominal wall. In this case the weak point is the inguinal canal.
Describe the orientation of the superior articular processes + movements restricted at the Mid
subaxial cervical region, Mid thoracic region and Mid lumbar region. - CORRECT
ANSWER - CERVICAL:
45 to transverse plane. Allows all movements.
Uncinate processes limit lateral translation, extension, axial rotation. Contribute to rotation &
lateral flexion coupling.
THORACIC:
60-80 to transverse. Tall superior articular process. Allows axial rotation & lateral flexion.
Blocks anterior translation/ tilt of vertebrae. Blocks flexion and extension. Ipsilateral 'coupling'
of rotation & lateral flexion
LUMBAR:
90 to the transverse plane. Sagittal plane orientation. Allow Flexion - extension. Allows some
lateral flexion and axial rotation.
What is the pars interarticularis? - CORRECT ANSWER - Part of a vertebra located between
the superior and inferior articular processes, at the junction of the pedicle and lamina. It is the
thickest part of the lamina.
What is the usual mechanism of pars interarticularis fracture? - CORRECT ANSWER - Stress
fracture via repetitive hyperextension with compression through inferior articular facet of
superior vertebra onto pars interarticularis.
Spondylolysis = breakdown of pars interarticularis. Spondylolisthesis = anterior translation of
superior vertebra
,How does the structure of the lumbar vertebral body serve its function of weight-bearing? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Large, cylindrical vertebral body with flat superior and inferior
surfaces - ideal for weight bearing.
How does the structure of a lumbar intervertebral disc serve its function of weight-bearing? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The discs absorb shock and dissipates the forces as they travel down
the vertebral column.
Pressure goes shared between Nucleus Pulposus and Annulus Fibrosus >> vertebral endplates >>
inferior vertebrae.
Nucleus Pulposus is deformable. Vertical compression causes a decrease in it's vertical height,
and it expands radially and exerts pressure on AF fibres. Annulus fibrosus is formed of
predominantly Type-I collagen fibres, the largest collagen fibres, and therefore provides the
greatest tensile strength.
How does the lumbar intervertebral disc facilitate movement? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Deformable: Vertebral body can lower on one side and the raise on the other side. This causes
distortion of the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosis due to their fluid content to
accommodate movement. When the raised side relieves pressure on the nucleus pulposus
allowing the fluid inside to shift, the annulus fibre will tension to prevent excess movement.
Height: The greater the intervertebral disc height to vertebral body height the greater the range of
tilt permitted at one motion segment. This ratio is the smallest in the thoracic region.
Explain how the structure of the annulus fibrosus enables it to resist excessive ranges of axial
rotation. - CORRECT ANSWER - The collagen fibres within a single layer will have the
same orientation, and the direction alternates between each layer so that you end up with a lattice
type structure. During superior translation of vertebrae, the movement will tension all fibres that
are orientated in the direction of that movement, so every second layer of the annulus fibrosis
will resist excessive translation.
In axial rotation, if the superior vertebrae rotates to the right, every second layer or those with
fibres running superiorly and to the right will tension to resist excessive axial rotation.
Which passive structures of the vertebral column may provide resistance to excessive ranges of
flexion? Briefly state how each of these do so - CORRECT ANSWER - Interspinous
, ligaments: Due to the anterior and inferior line of action, the interspinous ligament resists excess
flexion and also resist posterior shear of the superior vertebrae on the inferior.
Ligamentum nuchae: resists flexion and facilitates returning the head to the anatomical position.
Annulus fibrosis: During rocking or tilting movements the fibres on the extended side will
tension while the annulus on the side of the bending will compress. These fibres will resist
extension movements during flexion and extension and lateral flexion
How does the structure and role of the adult cervical intervertebral disc differ from that of the
lumbar intervertebral disc? - CORRECT ANSWER - Cervical
- Uncovertebral clefts/fissure of the AF
- Nucleus is more posterior within the whole disc. At the posterior end of the disc, only a small
layer of longitudinal fibres covers the nucleus pulposus.
- Greater disc height reflects greater cervical mobility as the superior vertebrae has more room to
move
Lumbar
- Lumbar lordosis is achieved by the wedge shaped L5/S1 intervertebral disc and the L5
vertebral body (taller anteriorly than posteriorly) - upper surface of the L5 vertebral body ends
up closer to the horizontal plane than does the upper surface of the sacrum.
Contrast the anatomy and function of the longus cervicis, longus capitis and sternocleidomastoid
- CORRECT ANSWER - Longus capitis
O: occipital bone
I: cervical transverse processes
Action: head and cervical flexion
Longus Cervicis
O: cervical transverse processes, cervical vertebrae bodies, cervical vertebrae bodies
I: thoracic vertebral bodies, cervical vertebral bodies, transverse processes
Action: Cervical flexion
