BPK 241 Exam 2026 Questions and
Answers
What are the types of vertebrae and how many are there of each? - Correct answer-
7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral (fused), 1 coccyx
What are the features of a vertebrae? - Correct answer-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? - Correct answer-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? - Correct answer-fibrocartilaginous that's between
discs and vertebral bodies, Synovial the facet joints with 4 per vertebrae
How is the Annulus fibrosis arranged? - Correct answer-filers are arranged in 15-
20 concentric layers, angled in different directions alternating layers for a strong
configuration
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,Describe the innervation (nerve supply) and blood supply of a disc. - Correct
answer-Innvervation for the outer 3rd (no/poor warning system), blood supply
outer 3rd (does a good job of healing)
How does a disc nucleus pulposus behave? - Correct answer-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? - Correct answer-
connect vertebral bodies
What does the ligamenta flava do? - Correct answer-connect laminea
what does the inter transverse ligaments do? - Correct answer-connect transverse
processes
what does the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments do? - Correct answer-
connect spinous processes
What do our Erector spinae and transversospinalis(stabilizers) muscles do? -
Correct answer-flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation(cervical and thoracic)
Where does the spinal cord end? what's below that? - Correct answer-L1, all the
nerve roots coming off forming the Cuada Equania
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,What does the siatic nerve arise from? - Correct answer-spinal nerves L4 through
S3
What is Dermatones? - Correct answer-sensation from the skin corresponds with a
specific nerve root
What are the signs and symptoms of a back strain/sprain? - Correct answer-Pain,
tenderness, muscle spasm, warmth
What is the treatment for a back strain/sprain? - Correct answer-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
What should you do if there are neurological signs and symptoms present with a
back strain/sprain? - Correct answer-assume a fracture, dislocation of disc injury
and transport to hospital
What is a lumbar disc herniation? - Correct answer-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? - Correct answer-
elasticity and water content of the nucleus pulposus decrease with age
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, What happens with disc protrusion? - Correct answer-cracks in the annulus fibrosis
begins to appear (disc bulge)
What happens with disc prolapse? - Correct answer-nucleus pulposus moves
completely through the annulus fibrosis
What happens with disc extrusion? - Correct answer-nucleus pulposus moves into
the spinal canal comes into contact with nerve root
What happens with disc sequestered? - Correct answer-portion of the nucleus
pulposus breaks off from the disc and starts to migrate in the spinal canal
What is Intervertebral disc disease? - Correct answer-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? - Correct answer-Pain,
tenderness, muscle spasm, warmth, neurological symptoms( sciatica), instability,
osteoarthritis (osteophytes, stenosis)
What is the treatment for Intervertebral disc disease? - Correct answer-conservative
if possible, discectomy, laminectomy, fusion
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
Answers
What are the types of vertebrae and how many are there of each? - Correct answer-
7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral (fused), 1 coccyx
What are the features of a vertebrae? - Correct answer-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? - Correct answer-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? - Correct answer-fibrocartilaginous that's between
discs and vertebral bodies, Synovial the facet joints with 4 per vertebrae
How is the Annulus fibrosis arranged? - Correct answer-filers are arranged in 15-
20 concentric layers, angled in different directions alternating layers for a strong
configuration
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Describe the innervation (nerve supply) and blood supply of a disc. - Correct
answer-Innvervation for the outer 3rd (no/poor warning system), blood supply
outer 3rd (does a good job of healing)
How does a disc nucleus pulposus behave? - Correct answer-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? - Correct answer-
connect vertebral bodies
What does the ligamenta flava do? - Correct answer-connect laminea
what does the inter transverse ligaments do? - Correct answer-connect transverse
processes
what does the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments do? - Correct answer-
connect spinous processes
What do our Erector spinae and transversospinalis(stabilizers) muscles do? -
Correct answer-flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation(cervical and thoracic)
Where does the spinal cord end? what's below that? - Correct answer-L1, all the
nerve roots coming off forming the Cuada Equania
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,What does the siatic nerve arise from? - Correct answer-spinal nerves L4 through
S3
What is Dermatones? - Correct answer-sensation from the skin corresponds with a
specific nerve root
What are the signs and symptoms of a back strain/sprain? - Correct answer-Pain,
tenderness, muscle spasm, warmth
What is the treatment for a back strain/sprain? - Correct answer-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
What should you do if there are neurological signs and symptoms present with a
back strain/sprain? - Correct answer-assume a fracture, dislocation of disc injury
and transport to hospital
What is a lumbar disc herniation? - Correct answer-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? - Correct answer-
elasticity and water content of the nucleus pulposus decrease with age
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, What happens with disc protrusion? - Correct answer-cracks in the annulus fibrosis
begins to appear (disc bulge)
What happens with disc prolapse? - Correct answer-nucleus pulposus moves
completely through the annulus fibrosis
What happens with disc extrusion? - Correct answer-nucleus pulposus moves into
the spinal canal comes into contact with nerve root
What happens with disc sequestered? - Correct answer-portion of the nucleus
pulposus breaks off from the disc and starts to migrate in the spinal canal
What is Intervertebral disc disease? - Correct answer-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? - Correct answer-Pain,
tenderness, muscle spasm, warmth, neurological symptoms( sciatica), instability,
osteoarthritis (osteophytes, stenosis)
What is the treatment for Intervertebral disc disease? - Correct answer-conservative
if possible, discectomy, laminectomy, fusion
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
