Intervertebral Foramen Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Intervertebral Foramen Deck (35)
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1
Q

What is the average height of the intervertebral foramen?

A

about 13 mm

2
Q

What percent of total vertebral column length does “true” intervertebral foramina height from C2-S1 equal?

A

40%

3
Q

What percent of total vertebral column length does all intervertebral foramina height from occiput- Co1 equal?

A

53%

4
Q

What are the generic contents of the intervertebral foramen?

A

neural tissue, connective tissue, vascular tissue, lymphatic tissue

5
Q

What is the percent of neural tissue in the intervertebral foramen?

A

from 8 to 50 percent

6
Q

What are medullary feeder arteries?

A

enlarged radicular arteries which join the arterial vasa corona to provide blood for the spinal cord

7
Q

What is the name of the largest medullary feeder artery?

A

the artery of Adamkiewicz or the arteria radicalis magna anterior

8
Q

What are the characteristics of the Artery of Adamkiewicz?

A

it is a left side, anterior medullary feeder artery, located in the T9/T10 intervertebral foramen, and the primary vascular supply to the lumbar enlargement

9
Q

What veins drain the nerve root toward the intervertebral foramen?

A

the anterior and posterior radicular veins?

10
Q

What ligament lies next to the anterior internal vertebral venous plexus?

A

the posterior longitudinal ligament

11
Q

What will the intervertebral veins drain into?

A

the external vertebral venous plexus or Batson’s plexus

12
Q

What is a unique histological features of the veins of the vertebral column?

A

they appear to lack valves

13
Q

What size lymphatic vessels lie in the intervertebral foramen?

A

medium sized lymphatics

14
Q

What type(s) of conncetive tissue will be present in the intervertebral foramen?

A

adipose tissue and loose areolar connective tissue

15
Q

What parts of the cervical vertebra will modify the intervertebral foramen?

A

the lateral groove and uncinate process

16
Q

What happens to cervical nerve roots between origin from the spinal cord and exit from the intervertebral foramen?

A

they descend along the spinal cord

17
Q

What is the relationship between aging and cervical spine nerve root characteristics?

A

the length of the nerve increases as it descends from its apparent origin on the spinal cord but the cross-sectional area of the nerve root decreases

18
Q

What is the relationship between aging and cervical spine intervertebral foramen size?

A

the cross-sectional area diminishhes after age 50

19
Q

What are the specific attachment sites for a cervical spinal nerve?

A

the sulcus for the ventral primary ramus on the costotransverser bar & the vertebral artery

20
Q

What contributes to the anterior boundary of the thoracic intervertebral foramen?

A

the costcocentral joint

21
Q

Which are the largest spinal nerves?

A

L5 and S1 spinal nerves

22
Q

What increases the length of the intervertebral foramen at L5?

A

the lumbosacral tunnel

23
Q

What forms the lumbosacral tunnel?

A

the lumbosacral ligament, transverse process of L5 and sacral ala

24
Q

What condition is the result of encroachment on the L5 spinal nerve?

A

the far out syndrome

25
Q

What determines the length of the intervertebral foramen?

A

the width of the pedicle

26
Q

What is the relationship between intervertebral disc herniation and lumbar spinal nerves?

A

the intervertebral disc above the intervertebral foramen is usually the source of damage

27
Q

What is unusual about the sacral intervertebral foramen compared to other intervertebral formina?

A

a completely osseous boundary exists

28
Q

What is more like the cause of nerve irritation at the sacral intervetebral foramen?

A

the tilt or position of the entire sacrum relative to the pelvis

29
Q

What is the relationship of lumbar nerve root size to intervertebral foramen above L4?

A

the nerve root size will account for less than 22% of the available size

30
Q

What is unique about the relationship of spinal nerve to intervertebral foramen at S5-Co1?

A

there are two nerves present, S5 nerve and Co1 nerve

31
Q

What are some examples of destructive lesions of the vertebral body?

A

tuberculosis, hemangiomas, osteoporosis

32
Q

What may reduce the impact of intervertebral disc loss of integrity on the intervertebral foramen in the cervical thoracic spine?

A

the joint of Luschka in the cervicals, the costocentral joint in the thoracics

33
Q

What are examples of osteophyte formation that influence the intervertebral foramen?

A

the bony spurs of the vertebral body and para-articular processes on the lamina

34
Q

What are examples of acquired alterations of the spinal curves identified in class?

A

obesity, pregnancy, and the use of heavy backpack

35
Q

What is the recommended weight of a backpack compared to individual weight for the developing spine?

A

backpack weight should not exceed 10% individual body weight