Deck 5: Structure and Function of the Spine

Question 1

What motion is MOST OFTEN coupled with lateral flexion of the spine in the image?

A)Rotation
B)Flexion
C)Side-bending
D)Extension

Answer 1

Rotation

Question 2

In which direction is disc material displaced during spinal extension?

A)Anteriorly
B)Laterally opposite direction of force
C)Posteriorly
D)Laterally same direction of force

Answer 2

Anteriorly

Question 3

A patient presents with severe pain at 45° of cervical extension.What functional activity is MOST LIKELY impaired due to the finding?

A)Decreased ability to look over the shoulder when backing up a car
B)Decreased ability to look up on a high shelf
C)Decreased ability to look down at the feet
D)No impairment of function, as this is a normal range of motion for cervical extension

Answer 3

Decreased ability to look up on a high shelf

Question 4

Which of the following ranges of motion is MOST typical for thoracolumbar extension?

A)10°-20°
B)45°-60°
C)35°-40°
D)21°-30°

Question 5

Which of the following statements BEST describes the anatomical orientation of cervical facet joints?

A)Oriented 45° between frontal and transverse planes, supports significant rotation and lateral bending
B)Oriented mainly in the frontal plane, allowing more lateral bending than flexion/extension
C)Oriented closer to the sagittal plane, allowing mainly flexion and extension
D)Oriented equally in all three planes

Question 6

Which of the following statements BEST describes the anatomical orientation of thoracic facet joints?

A)Oriented 45° between frontal and transverse planes, supports significant rotation and lateral bending
B)Oriented mainly in the frontal plane, allowing more lateral bending than flexion/extension
C)Oriented closer to the sagittal plane, allowing mainly flexion and extension
D)Oriented equally in all three planes

Question 7

What is a major function of the thoracolumbar fascia?

A)Decrease spinal stability by providing active tension during core muscle contractions
B)Increase spinal stability by providing passive tension during core muscle contractions
C)Increase spinal stability by providing active tension during core muscle contractions
D)Decrease spinal stability by providing passive tension during core muscle contractions

Question 8

In which direction is disc material displaced when a lateral force is applied to the spine?

A)Anteriorly
B)Laterally opposite direction of force
C)Posteriorly
D)Laterally same direction of force

Question 9

Which of the following definitions BEST describes sacral nutation?

A)Sacral base moves anterior and superior
B)Sacral base moves anterior and inferior
C)Sacral base moves posterior and inferior
D)Sacral base moves posterior and superior

Question 10

Which of the following BEST describes an excessive thoracic kyphosis?

A)Thoracic extension curve
B)Anterior convex and posterior concave thoracic curve
C)Thoracic lateral side-bending curve
D)Anterior concave and posterior convex thoracic curve

Question 11

What lumbar ligament(s) is(are) the MOST likely source of low back pain if injured?

A)Posterior longitudinal ligaments
B)Iliolumbar ligaments
C)Nuchal ligament
D)Supraspinous ligaments

Question 12

Which of the following statements BEST describes the influence of spinal flexion on the ligaments?

A)Both anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments are compressed.
B)Anterior longitudinal is compressed, and posterior longitudinal ligament is stretched.
C)Both anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments are stretched.
D)Posterior longitudinal is compressed, and anterior longitudinal ligament is stretched.

Question 13

Which of the following factors is associated with an increase in the lumbosacral angle?

A)Decreased lumbar lordosis and L5-S1 shearing
B)Decreased lumbar lordosis and increased L5-S1 shearing
C)Increased lumbar lordosis and L5-S1 shearing
D)Increased lumbar lordosis and decreased L5-S1 shearing

Question 14

What spinal movement separates the spinous processes and widens the intervertebral foramen?

A)Rotation
B)Flexion
C)Side-bending
D)Extension

Question 15

At what spinal level does occipital flexion and extension occur?

A)Atlantoaxial joints
B)C3-C7
C)Atlanto-occipital joints
D)C1-C7

Question 16

Which of the following definitions BEST describes sacral counternutation?

A)Sacral base moves anterior and superior
B)Sacral base moves anterior and inferior
C)Sacral base moves posterior and inferior
D)Sacral base moves posterior and superior

Question 17

Which of the following statements BEST describes the anatomical orientation of lumbar facet joints?

A)Oriented 45° between frontal and transverse planes, supports significant rotation and lateral bending
B)Oriented mainly in the frontal plane, allowing more lateral bending than flexion/extension
C)Oriented closer to the sagittal plane, allowing mainly flexion and extension
D)Oriented equally in all three planes

Question 18

In which direction is disc material displaced during spinal flexion?

A)Anteriorly
B)Laterally opposite direction of force
C)Posteriorly
D)Laterally same direction of force

Question 19

At what vertebral level does the greatest amount of lumbar flexion occur?

A)L5-S1
B)L1-L2
C)L3-L4
D)L4-L5

Question 20

Which of the following cervical positions describes forward head posture?

A)Lower cervical flexion and upper cervical extension
B)Upper and lower cervical flexion
C)Lower cervical extension and upper cervical flexion
D)Upper and lower cervical extension

Question 21

Which of the following muscles compresses the abdomen and helps stabilize the lumbar area?

A)Sternocleidomastoid
B)Rectus abdominis
C)Erector spinae
D)Transversus abdominis

Question 22

Which of the spinal muscles control segmental vertebral shearing and torsion?

A)Latissimus dorsi
B)Abdominal muscles
C)Erector spinae muscles
D)Multifidus and deep rotator muscles

Question 23

Looking at the image, which muscles are MOST LIKELY to be overlengthened and weak?

A)Abdominal flexors, occipital extensors
B)Thoracolumbar and lower cervical extensors
C)Abdominal and cervical flexors
D)Thoracolumbar and lower cervical flexors

Question 24

Which of the following muscles is the primary mover of trunk flexion?

A)External obliques
B)Rectus abdominis
C)Internal obliques
D)Transversus abdominis

Question 25

What is the function of the quadratus lumborum muscle?

A)Hip hikes the stance leg during a single leg stance
B)Provides sagittal plane trunk stability
C)Hip hikes the unloaded leg during a single leg stance
D)Provides transverse plane trunk stability

Question 26

Using the image, answer following questions .
Which ones?
Please confirm following questions are correct questions for image.
What is the position of the pelvis and lumbar spine in the image?

A)Posterior pelvic tilt, lumbar flexion
B)Anterior pelvic tilt, lumbar flexion.
C)Posterior pelvic tilt, lumbar extension.
D)Anterior pelvic tilt, lumbar flexion

Question 27

Which of the following muscles elevates the first two ribs when the cervical attachments are relatively fixed?

A)Scalenes
B)Sternocleidomastoid
C)Splenius capitis
D)Multifidus

Question 28

Which of the following movements results from unilateral contraction of the scalene muscles?

A)Contralateral lateral cervical flexion with contralateral rotation
B)Ipsilateral lateral cervical flexion with contralateral rotation
C)Bilateral cervical extension
D)Bilateral cervical flexion

Question 29

Which of the following motions results from contraction of bilateral upper trapezius muscles?

A)Cervical extension
B)Right cervical lateral bending
C)Cervical flexion
D)Left cervical lateral bending

Question 30

When performing forward trunk flexion in the standing position, which muscles are activated?

A)Erector spinae muscles are eccentrically contracting.
B)Abdominal muscles are eccentrically contracting.
C)Erector spinae muscles are concentrically contracting.
D)Abdominal muscles are concentrically contracting.