Osteology & Myology of the Back

1.

1 point

A caudal epidural would be performed

between L4 and L5

through the sacral cornua

through the sacral hiatus and into the sacral canal

between L3 and L4

2.

1 point

Which of the following structures imposes an anatomical limit on the birth canal?

coccyx

sacral ala

sacrum

ilium

3.

1 point

Which of the following regions of the spine is the most common site of injury and dysfunction?

S1-S2

T4-T5

L5-S1

L4-L5

4.

1 point

The transverse processes of L5 are important clinically because

most spinal fractures occur in this region

they serve as a landmark when extracting cerebrospinal fluid from adults

the trapezius attaches there

they serve as an attachment site for the iliolumbar ligament

5.

1 point

Which of the following serves as an attachment site for the transversospinalis muscles ?

the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae

the accessory processes of the lumbar vertebrae

the spinous processes of the lumbar vertebrae

the mammillary processes of the lumbar vertebrae

6.

1 point

The head of the sixth rib articulates with

the inferior demifacet of T6 and the superior demifacet of T5

the superior and inferior demifacets of T6

the superior and inferior demifacets of T5

superior demifacet of T6 and the inferior demifacet of T5

7.

1 point

Which of the following originates at the posterior superior iliac spine?

multifidus

longissimus

quadratus lumborum

latissimus dorsi

8.

1 point

The anterior sacral foramina

transmit the anterior rami of the sacral spinal nerves

transmit the posterior rami of the sacral spinal nerves

serve as an attachment site for the quadratus lumborum muscle

transmit the inferior branch of the thoracodorsal artery

9.

1 point

One way to differentiate the rhomboid muscles from the muscle that lies immediately deep to them is that

only the rhomboids will attach to the medial border of the scapula

the rhomboids originate at the nuchal ligaments and spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae

the fibers of the rhomboids run perpendicular to the muscle deep to them

the rhomboids insert into the ribs

10.

1 point

The sacral promonotory is a useful landmark when

diagnosing scoliosis

measuring pelvic diameter

performing epidural procedures

diagnosing sacralization

11.

1 point

All extrinsic back muscles except trapezius are innervated by

anterior rami of the spinal nerve

the dorsal scapular nerve

the thoracodorsal nerve

posterior rami of the spinal nerve

12.

1 point

The vertebrae are each derived from

a single sclerotome

portions of two different sclerotomes

multiple osteocytes

portions of two different osteotomes

13.

1 point

Which of the following observations is useful in differentiating spinalis from longissimus?

spinalis attaches to the spinous processes and longissimus attaches to the transverse processes of the vertebrae

only longissimus extends inferior to T1

spinalis attaches to the transverse processes and longissimus attaches to the spinous processes of the vertebrae

only spinalis inserts into the ribs

14.

1 point

Which of the following spinal curvatures is normally present at birth?

thoracic kyphosis thoracic kyphosis

cervical kyphosis

sacral lordosis

lumbar lordosis

15.

1 point

A 29 year old male is admitted to the ER after he fell from a height of twenty feet and landed in a seated position. Which of the following courses of action should you take?

ask the patient what brings him in today and to tell you more about his concerns

order an x-ray because the man likely has at least one compression fracture in the vertebral bodies of the upper lumbar region

order an x-ray because the patient likely has a fracture in the sacral promonotory

request a neurosurgical consult immediately due to the risk of damage to the spinal cord

16.

1 point

Splenius capitis and splenius cervicis can be differentiated by

discerning the nerve branch innervating them

performing a laminectomy

noting their respective positions of insertion relative to the levator scapulae

noting their respective origins

17.

1 point

Semispinalis capitis can be differentiated from semispinalis cervicis by virtue of the fact that

cervicis originates on the spinous processes of the vertebrae

cervicis is deep to capitis

capitis inserts near the nuchal line and cervicis inserts near C2

capitis originates on the transverse processes of the vertebrae

18.

1 point

After ruling out other common causes, a patient with persistent lower back pain is x-rayed. You discover that her L5 vertebra is fused unilaterally with S1. This is an example of

lumbarosacral fusion

lumbarization

sacralization

sacrolumbar fusion

19.

1 point

Why are the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae larger than in other regions of the spine?

they aren't actually any larger than other transverse processes

growth factors secreted from the primitive node cause them to grow much larger

they are shortened, fused ribs

they are a vestigial remnant of tail bones found in early primates

20.

1 point

The zygapophyseal joint consists of:

an intervertebral disk and the vertebrae immediately superior and inferior to it

the superior articular facet and the interior articular facet

the lamina and the pedicle

the anterior articular facet and the posterior articular facet

21.

1 point

One distinguishing feature of the cervical vertebrae from other vertebrae is that

the spinous processes are mostly bifid

the vertebral bodies are much larger

the neural arch is much wider

only the cervical vertebrae have demifacets

22.

1 point

Upon physical examination of a patient with unilateral lower back pain, you discover a hernia. Which muscle likely borders the site of the hernia?

serratus posterior inferior

latissimus dorsi

iliac crest

spinalis

23.

1 point

A patient experiences myalgia when attempting to rotate his torso. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy

strain of the rotatores

Conus medullaris syndrome

Cauda equina syndrome

24.

1 point

Which of the following bony prominences is generally the smallest?

tuberosity

spine

process

tubercle

25.

1 point

The vertebra prominens is

C7

typically C7 but T1 can be more prominent depending on the individual

T1 T1

the atlas