Thoracic Spine X-Rays

Question 1

Costotransverse Joint

Answer 1

• Ribs form a joint at most levels with transverse processes

Question 2

Intervertebral Foramen

Answer 2

• Anterior boundary: vertebral bodies and discs
• Posterior boundary: facet joints (articular processes of two adjacent vertebrae)
• Superior boundary: pedicle of vertebrae above
• Inferior boundary: pedicle located below

Question 3

Content of Intervertebral Foramen

Answer 3

• Primarily the spinal nerve, blood vessels, and recurrent meningeal nerve

Question 4

Axial Rotation

Answer 4

• Turning side to side

Question 5

Lateral Flexion

Answer 5

• Bending side to side

Question 6

Ribs

Answer 6

• Limit all thoracic spine movement in some way

Question 7

Compression Fracture

Answer 7

• Typically involves vertebral bodies from some type of trauma from falling on your butt
• Most common in mid-lower thoracic and lumbar regions
• Also common in elderly because of osteoporosis

Question 8

Lumbo-Sacral Joint

Answer 8

• Inferior articular processes of L5 articulate with superior articular process of sacrum
• Located between L5 and sacrum

Question 9

Sacroiliac Joint

Answer 9

• Between sacrum and hip bone
• Both fibrous and synovial joint
• Portion is fibrous with connective tissue, other portion with synovial capsule

Question 10

Scotty Dog

Answer 10

• Nose = trans process
• SAP = ear
• Pedicle = eye
• IAP = front leg
• Lamina and spinous process = body
• SAP of opposite side = tail
• IAP of opposite side = hind legs
• Neck = pars interarticularis

Question 11

Spondylolisthesis

Answer 11

• Anterior slippage of L5 on sacrum

Question 12

Sponylolysis

Answer 12

• Fracture in lumbar spine or pars interarticularis

- More common in L4 and L5

Question 13

Pars Interarticularis

Answer 13

• In lumbar spine

- Part of the lamina between articular processes (SAP and IAP)

Question 14

Lumbarization of S1

Answer 14

• First sacral segment can fuse/form differently to become completely or partially part of lumbar vertebrae
• Looks like you have 6 lumbar

Question 15

Transitional Segments

Answer 15

• Evidence points to some (depending on classification and how it forms) can be associated with low back pain

Question 16

Segmentization

Answer 16

• When L5 take on characteristics of sacrum and doesn’t completely segment during development

Question 17

Hyperkyphosis

Answer 17

• Excessive posterior convexity/increasing thoracic spine curve
• Often results due to compression fractures of thoracic vertebral bodies

Question 18

Idiopathic

Answer 18

• Means we do not know for sure what causes it

- Most common cause of scoliosis

Question 19

Hemivertebra

Answer 19

• Failure to form one side of a vertebral body (one of the causes structural scoliosis)

Question 20

Axial Projection MRI (CT Scan as Well)

Answer 20

• Look at it as if patient is lying on their back and legs are coming toward you with head away from you

Question 21

Dorsal Rami

Answer 21

• Deep back muscle innervation

Question 22

T2 MRI

Answer 22

• Shows water as brighter/whiter due to high CSF content