Spine and thorax workbook questions

To avoid the thick erector spinae muscles overlying the lumbar transverse processes, it is best to slide your fingers roughly how far laterally from the spinous processes?

two inches

Passive extension of the head and neck would _________ the splenius capitis

shorten

When exploring between the scapulae, can you name two muscles through which you will have to palpate to access the deeper erector spinae fibers?

trapezius rhomboids serrates posterior superior

The eleventh and twelfth ribs lie at approximately what angles on the body?

45 degrees

Lumbar Spine has ________ vertebrae. What is the curvature?

5 Lordic

Cervical Spine has ________ vertebrae. What is the curvature?

7 lordotic

In which three directions are the ribs ideally designed to move?

Anterior / posterior lateral and superior

Which two cervical vertebrae have spinous processes that protrude further posteriorly and are more distinct than the other cervical vertebrae?

C-2 and C-7

When the diagram muscle fibers contract, what connective tissue structure is pulled inferiorly?

Central tendon

Which section of the vertebral column is capable of the most movement?

Cervical vertebrae

The first rib is deep to which bone along the anterior thorax?

Clavicle

What is the structure that extends off the ribs and attaches the sternum?

Costal cartilage

You are palpating lateral to the edge of rectus abdomens and the fibers you feel are superficial and running at an angle. Which muscle is this?

External oblique

The ligamentum nuchae spans between which two body landmarks?

External occipital protuberance spinous process of C-7

With your partner seat, what 2 movements at the spine could you ask your partner to perform to feel the movement of the spinous process?

Flexion extension

How can the upper fibers of the trapezius be helpful in locating the suboccipitals?

Is the same width of the suboccipitals

Top of iliac crest

L 4

What action could you ask your partner to perform to feel the quadratus lumborum contract?

Laterally tilt (elevate) hip

The thoracolumbar fascia serves as an attachment site for which two muscles?

Latissimus dorsi any bones of the erector spinae group

Which band of connective tissue lies superficial to the cervical spinous processes?

Ligamentum nuchae

The abdominal aorta is located where in relationship to the psoas major?

Medial

When is it best to move your fingers as you curl them underneath the rib cage to feel the diagram?

Only as your partner exhales

Which abdominal muscle runs vertically from the rib cage to the pubic crest?

Rectus abdominis

Exploring just posterior to the clavicle, through which muscle group must you palpate to access the first rib?

Scalenes

Passive lateral flexion of the spine to the same side would _____________ the longissimus.

Shorten

What action could you ask your partner to perform to feel the first rib move?

Slow, deep breath into upper chest

The thorax is composed of which two structures?

Sternum and rib cage

What superficial ligament can be felt between the spinous processes of thoracic and lumbar vertebra?

Suprapinous

Twelfth rib

T-12

Inferior angle of the scapula

T-7

Superior angle of the scapula

T2

The angles of the Scapula and the corresponding Spinous Processes do not always line up. Name two factors that might affect the position of the scapula?

body type and muscular contraction

What is the primary muscle of respiration?

diaphragm

the thoracic transverse process are located deep to the __________ ______________ muscles and superficial to the connecting aspects of the ________

erector spinae ribs

As you palpate medially toward the spine, you may lose contact with the twelfth rib because it is deep to which muscle group?

erector spinae group

To feel the ligamentum nuchae change tension underneath your fingers, what two passive movements can you perform at the head?

flexion extension

Which muscles are located between the ribs?

intercostal muscles

As a group, the transversospinalis muscles can be most easily located along the _________ ________ of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.

lamina grooves

Which edge of the quadratus lumborum is accessible from the side of the torso?

lateral edge

Name two large muscles through which you would have to palpate to access various portions of the intercostals

latissimus dorsi pectorals major external oblique

Rotating the head to the left demands the contraction of which splenius capitis - the left or right?

left

Passive flexion of the spine would ______________ iliocostalis

lengthen

Passive rotation of the head and neck to the opposite would ____________ the splenius capitis.

lengthen

Passive rotation of the head to the opposite side would _________ the oblique capitis inferior.

lengthen

Passive rotation of the spine to the same side would _______ the multifidi.

lengthen

Passive rotation of the vertebral column to the opposite side would ____________ the internal oblique.

lengthen

Passive rotation of the vertebral column to the same side would _______________ the external oblique.

lengthen

Your partner is supine and you passively rotate the head 45 degrees away from the side you are palpating. This position places the cervical transverse processes in a line running between which two tiny landmarks?

mastoid process center of shaft of clavicle

To contract the lower fibers of the erector spinae group in a prone position, you could ask your partner to perform what action?

raise + lower his feet slightly

Rotating your trunk to the right would engage your left or right internal oblique muscle?

right

To distinguish the trapezius fibers from the splenius capitis fibers, you could ask your partner to perform what action?

rotate slightly toward the side you are palpating

Which rib attaches to the sternum at the level of the sternal angle?

second

unlike the long, vertical erector fibers, the branches of the transversospinalis group consist of many __________ fibers.

short, diagonal

Compression of the abdominal contents would ____________ the transverse abdomens.

shorten

Drawing the ventral part of the ribs upward would ____ the external intercostals.

shorten

Increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity would ____________ the diaphragms fibers

shorten

Passive lateral flexion of the head and neck would ___________ the splenius cervicis.

shorten

Passive rotation of the head to the same side would ________ the rectus capitis posterior major.

shorten

Passive rotation of the spine to the opposite would __________ rotators.

shorten

Although the entire rib cage is deep to muscle tissue, which portion is easily accessed?

side of the trunk

The most medial branch of the erector spinae group is the _____________, while the most lateral is the _______________

spinalis iliocostalis

The visual row of bumps running down the enter of the back are the

spinous process

The lamina groove is located between which two bony landmarks of the vertebrae?

spinous process transverse process

Which two bony landmarks and one region can be helpful to isolate the suboccipitals?

spinous process C-2, TVP of C-1 and the spine between the superior nuchal line of the occiput and C-2

Many of the cervical transverse processes are deep to which neck muscle?

sternocleidomastoid

In the lumbar region, the erectors lie deep to what connective structure?

thoracolumbar fascia

The splenius capitis is a deep muscle except on the lateral side of the neck where it is superficial between which two muscles?

trapezius sternocleidomastoid

Thoracic Spine has ________ vertebrae. What is the curvature?

12 kypothotic

Which three bony landmarks can help you to isolate the borders of the quadratus lumborum?

12th rib posterior iliac crest TVP of lumbar vertebrae

Base of the neck

C-7