BPK 241 Final Exam 2026 Questions and
Answers
List the type/# vertebrae of the body - Correct answer-7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5
lumbar, 5 sacral (fused), coccyx
how many vertebrae are fused? - Correct answer-9 (4 fuse to form coccyx)
What are the curves in the spine? - Correct answer-2 lordodic curves (Cervical and
lumbar spine), 2 hypothic curves (thoracic and sacrum)
list the features of the spine - Correct answer-body, spinous process, lateral process
(articulates with ribs, facet joints)
neural arch - Correct answer-opening in the middle of the spine (where your spinal
cord travels through)
what is everything on the back of your spine called? - Correct answer-posterior
element, vertebral body
What kind of capsule is contained within the joints of the spine? - Correct answer-
synovial (fluid)
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,Where do the IV discs lie? - Correct answer-between vertebral bodies
function of vertebral discs? - Correct answer-stability, cushioning, shock absorbers
features of fibrocartilage - Correct answer-tough, strong
what is fibrocartilage called? - Correct answer-annulus fibrosus
what is the gel of the spine? - Correct answer-nucleus pulposus
Where does the fibrocartilaginous joint of the spine lie? - Correct answer-between
discs and vertebral bodies
Mini joints of the Synovial joint of the spine? - Correct answer-facet joints (4 per
vertebrae)
List the ligaments of the spine - Correct answer-anterior and posterior longitudinal,
ligamenta flava, intertransverse, interspinous and supraspinous
Which ligaments of the spine connect vertebrae bodies? - Correct answer-anterior
and posterior longitudinal
Which ligaments of the spine connect laminae, allows us to bend forward - Correct
answer-ligamenta flava (more elastic)
Which ligaments of the spine connect transverse processes? - Correct answer-
intertransverse
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,Which ligaments of the spine connect spinous processes - Correct answer-
Interspinous & supraspinous ligaments (on tips of spinous processes)
What is the muscle of the spine? - Correct answer-erector spinae
Flexion and extension of the spine use what vertebrae? - Correct answer-cervical,
thoracic, lumbar
Lateral flexion of the spine use what vertebrae? - Correct answer-cervical, thoracic,
lumbar
rotation of the spine use what vertebrae? - Correct answer-cervical and thoracic
nerves of spine called - Correct answer-dermatomes
deep layer of intrinsic back muscles of the spine called? - Correct answer-
Transversospinalis muscle group
What actions does the transverospinalis muscle group produce? - Correct answer-
lateral flexion, turn head and neck opposite side, extension (fibres run superiorly
and medially)
Contralateral movement of the transverospinalis muscle group of the spine occurs
how? - Correct answer-contralaterally - if contract on right, will turn left
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, What other functions does the transverospinalis muscle group allow us? - Correct
answer-Allow us to sit for long periods of time, engaged during not very
demanding work
Negative aspect of transverospinalis muscle group - Correct answer-can cause low
back pain to be reccurent
where nerve roots come out in between the spine (supplies skin/muscle area) -
Correct answer-Intervertebral foramen
__ nerve roots (for 7 vertebrae in cervical spine) ** special case - Correct answer-8
Spinal cord ends at _____ nerve roots come down (horse's tail) - Correct answer-
L4/L5
Congenital predispositions
Previous trauma
Mechanical factors
Poor posture (lifting, bending)
Obesity (pulls gravity forward, ^ stress on spine)
Acute or repetitive trauma (e.g. cracks in vertebrae, pedicles) - Correct answer-
General considerations
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Answers
List the type/# vertebrae of the body - Correct answer-7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5
lumbar, 5 sacral (fused), coccyx
how many vertebrae are fused? - Correct answer-9 (4 fuse to form coccyx)
What are the curves in the spine? - Correct answer-2 lordodic curves (Cervical and
lumbar spine), 2 hypothic curves (thoracic and sacrum)
list the features of the spine - Correct answer-body, spinous process, lateral process
(articulates with ribs, facet joints)
neural arch - Correct answer-opening in the middle of the spine (where your spinal
cord travels through)
what is everything on the back of your spine called? - Correct answer-posterior
element, vertebral body
What kind of capsule is contained within the joints of the spine? - Correct answer-
synovial (fluid)
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Where do the IV discs lie? - Correct answer-between vertebral bodies
function of vertebral discs? - Correct answer-stability, cushioning, shock absorbers
features of fibrocartilage - Correct answer-tough, strong
what is fibrocartilage called? - Correct answer-annulus fibrosus
what is the gel of the spine? - Correct answer-nucleus pulposus
Where does the fibrocartilaginous joint of the spine lie? - Correct answer-between
discs and vertebral bodies
Mini joints of the Synovial joint of the spine? - Correct answer-facet joints (4 per
vertebrae)
List the ligaments of the spine - Correct answer-anterior and posterior longitudinal,
ligamenta flava, intertransverse, interspinous and supraspinous
Which ligaments of the spine connect vertebrae bodies? - Correct answer-anterior
and posterior longitudinal
Which ligaments of the spine connect laminae, allows us to bend forward - Correct
answer-ligamenta flava (more elastic)
Which ligaments of the spine connect transverse processes? - Correct answer-
intertransverse
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Which ligaments of the spine connect spinous processes - Correct answer-
Interspinous & supraspinous ligaments (on tips of spinous processes)
What is the muscle of the spine? - Correct answer-erector spinae
Flexion and extension of the spine use what vertebrae? - Correct answer-cervical,
thoracic, lumbar
Lateral flexion of the spine use what vertebrae? - Correct answer-cervical, thoracic,
lumbar
rotation of the spine use what vertebrae? - Correct answer-cervical and thoracic
nerves of spine called - Correct answer-dermatomes
deep layer of intrinsic back muscles of the spine called? - Correct answer-
Transversospinalis muscle group
What actions does the transverospinalis muscle group produce? - Correct answer-
lateral flexion, turn head and neck opposite side, extension (fibres run superiorly
and medially)
Contralateral movement of the transverospinalis muscle group of the spine occurs
how? - Correct answer-contralaterally - if contract on right, will turn left
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, What other functions does the transverospinalis muscle group allow us? - Correct
answer-Allow us to sit for long periods of time, engaged during not very
demanding work
Negative aspect of transverospinalis muscle group - Correct answer-can cause low
back pain to be reccurent
where nerve roots come out in between the spine (supplies skin/muscle area) -
Correct answer-Intervertebral foramen
__ nerve roots (for 7 vertebrae in cervical spine) ** special case - Correct answer-8
Spinal cord ends at _____ nerve roots come down (horse's tail) - Correct answer-
L4/L5
Congenital predispositions
Previous trauma
Mechanical factors
Poor posture (lifting, bending)
Obesity (pulls gravity forward, ^ stress on spine)
Acute or repetitive trauma (e.g. cracks in vertebrae, pedicles) - Correct answer-
General considerations
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
