What would be the direction of the lumbar curve based on osseous features?
anterior (lordotic)
What accounts for the direction of the lumbar curve?
the vertebral body and intervertebral disc have a greater anterior height than posterior height
What is the effect of aging on the vertebral body of a lumbar?
decrease in height, increase in circumference
How many fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis joint surfaces are on a typical lumbar vertebral body?
four
How many joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of a typically lumbar?
six
How many synovial joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of a typical lumbar?
none
How many cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis joint surfaces are on a typical lumbar vertebral body?
two
How many fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis joint surfaces are on a typical lumbar vertebral body?
four
What muscles may attach to the first lumbar vertebral body?
psoas major and psoas minor
What muscle(s) may attach from the second down to the fourth lumbar vertebral body?
psoas major
Psoas minor will only attach to the vertebral body of which segments?
T12, L1
What is the name given to ligaments that attach the vertebral body to articular process?
transforaminal ligaments
What ligaments attach the vertebral body to the transverse process?
corporotransverse ligaments
What corporotranverse ligaments are identified?
superior corporotransverse and inferior corporotransverse ligaments
What are the types of Hofmann ligaments?
anterior Hofmann ligaments, posterior Hofmann ligaments, lateral Hofmann ligaments and proximal root sleeve ligaments
Hofmann ligaments are identified in which regions along the vertebral column?
cervical - upper thoracic region and lumbar region
Cervical - upper thoracic Hofmann ligaments will attach what structures together?
dura mater to segments above
What is the highest level known to demonstrate Hofmann ligaments?
C6
What is the proposed function of the cervical - upper thoracic Hofmann ligaments?
resist caudal movement of the dural sac; resist gravitational forces on the dura and cord
Lumbar Hofmann ligaments will attach what structures together?
dura mater to lower segmental levels
What is the proposed function of the lumbar Hofmann ligaments?
resist cranial movement of the dural sac during flexion
What is the proposed function of the proximal root sleeve ligament?
resist displacement of the peripheral nerve system in the intervertebral foramen
What is the orientation of the pedicle of a typical lumbar?
posterior
The pedicle attaches at what location on vertebral body of a typical lumbar?
to the upper third or half of the vertebral body
What ligament attaches to the lamina of a typical lumbar?
ligamentum flavum
What joint classification will be associated with the ligamentum flavum attachment?
fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis joint
What osseous conditions of lumbar vertebrae facilitate a spinal tap in this region?
overlap of the lamina, shingling, diminishes; overlap of spinous processes, imbrication, diminishes
What is the outline of the vertebral foramen of a typical lumbar vertebra?
triangular
Which is the greatest diameter of the vertebral foramen of typical lumbars?
transverse
How does the size of the vertebral foramen differ along the spine?
cervicals have the greatest size, lumbars next, thoracics are smallest
What part of the central nervous system is present in the lumbar spine?
the conus medullaris is typically present in the vertebral foramen of L1
What part of the peripheral nervous system is present in the lumbar spine?
the cauda equina is typically present in the vertebral foramina of L2-L4
Beginning with the L1 transverse process, what is the generic direction and relative length of each succeeding lumbar transverse process?
each transverse process is directed straight lateral and increases in length from L1-L3. L4 then begins to decrease in length
What is the name of the elevation near the origin of the lumbar transverse process?
accessory process
A styloid occurs at what frequency and as a result of what condition?
7% occurrence as a result of congenital elongation of the lumbar accessory process
What ligament(s) will attach to the lumbar accessory process?
mammillo-accessory ligament
What parts of a vertebra are attached via the mammillo-accessory ligament?
the mammillary process and accessory process of the same segment
What was believed to be entrapped by the mammillo-accessory ligament?
the medial branch of the dorsal ramus of a lumbar spinal nerve
What muscle(s) attach to the lumbar accessory process?
longissimus thoracis and intertransversarii
What muscles may attach to the transverse process of a typical lumbar vertebra?
psoas major, quadratus lumborum, longissimus thoracis, rotator brevis, rotator longus and intertransversarii
What ligaments attach to a typical lumbar vertebra?
the lumbocostal, mammillo-accessory and intertransverse ligaments
What joint classifications are present at the transverse process of a typical lumbar?
fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis
What are the posterior elements of the vertebra?
zygapophysis, lamina and spinous process
What are the anterior elements of the vertebra?
vertebral body and pedicle
What is the orientation of the typical lumbar superior articular facet?
backward, upward, medial (BUM); typically concave
What is the orientation of the typical lumbar inferior articular facet?
Forward, lateral, downward (FoLD); significant convexity
What muscle(s) attach to the mammillary process?
multifidis and intertransversarii
What ligament will attach to the lumbar superior articular process and transverse process?
mammillo-accessory ligament
What was believed to be entrapped by the mammillo-accessory ligament?
the medial branch of the dorsal ramus of a lumbar spinal nerve
What additional ligaments are said to attach to the lumbar articular processes?
transforaminal ligaments
What is the joint classification for the typical lumbar zygapophysis?
synovial plane (diarthrosis arthrodia)
How many synovial joints are present on a typical lumbar vertebra?
four
What is the position of the lumbar zygapophysis in children?
the zygapophysis lies in the coronal plane
What is the position of the lumbar zygapophysis in adults?
the zygapophysis lies in the sagittal plane for L1/L2, L2/L3, and L3/L4; the zygapophysis lies in the coronal plane for L4/L5 and L5/S1
What name is given to zygapophyses between vertebral couples that lie in the same plane?
joint symmetry
What names are given to the condition in which the right zygapophysis of a vertebral couple lies in the coronal plane or position and the other zygapophysis lies in the sagittal plane or position?
joint asymmetry or joint tropism
Define or describe joint tropism.
the condition in which one zygapophysis of a vertebral couple lies in the coronal plane or position and the other zygapophysis lies in the sagittal plane or position
What is the name(s) of the condition in which the typical lumbar spinous process increases in length due to the aging process?
Baastrup’s syndrome or ‘kissing spines’
What muscles will attach to the typical lumbar spinous process?
latissimus dorsi, serratus posterior inferior, iliocostalis lumborum, longissimus thoracis, spinalis thoracis, multifidis, rotator longus, rotator brevis and interspinalis