Question 1

Which characteristic of the thoracic vertebrae distinguishes them from other vertebrae?

Accepted Answer

A)   The spinous process is short and thick.
B)   There are fewer vertebrae than in the other components of the spinal column.
C)   There is no body in the thoracic vertebrae.
D)   The body is heart-shaped.
E)   The body is rectangular. D

Question 2

___________ is a potentially lethal inflammation of the brain or spinal cord caused by bacterial or viral infections that spread hematogenously in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Accepted Answer

A)   Synovitis
B)   Meningitis
C)   Kyphosis
D)   Scoliosis
E)   Lordosis B

Question 3

The normal curvatures in the cervical and lumbosacral regions of the human spine are formed by _________________.

Accepted Answer

A)   changes in the shape of vertebrae as a child grows
B)   maturing of muscle through the life span
C)   removal of vertebrae
D)   action of the thyroid gland
E)   intervertebral discs of the curved regions assuming a wedge shape E

Question 4

Which vertebrae are long and slender, have facets for connection to the ribs, and are heart-shaped?

Accepted Answer

A)   Lumbar
B)   Thoracic
C)   Cervical
D)   Sacral
E)   Coccygeal

Question 5

The tough, heavy durable membrane that is the outer layer of membranes covering the spinal cord is the _______________________.

Accepted Answer

A)   pia mater
B)   arachnoid mater
C)   dura mater
D)   filum terminale
E)   membranous layer

Question 6

Which type of vertebrae has no facets for ribs; is relatively massive, with bean-shaped bodies; and has spinous processes that are not bifid but square?

Accepted Answer

A)   Lumbar
B)   Thoracic
C)   Cervical
D)   Sacral
E)   Coccygeal

Question 7

Nerve roots descend past the termination of the spinal cord at L2 and resemble a horse's tail. The term for these nerve roots is ________________________.

Accepted Answer

A)   anulus fibrosis
B)   syndesmosis
C)   intergluteal sulcus
D)   cauda equina
E)   lumbosacral cauda

Question 8

The vertebral foramen, which houses the spinal cord, is formed by the _______________.

Accepted Answer

A)   occiput and nuchal line
B)   inion and occiput
C)   vertebral arch and body
D)   vertebral notches
E)   transverse process and spinous process

Question 9

The arches in an articulated vertebral column form the ___________, which houses the entire spinal cord.

Accepted Answer

A)   vertebral canal
B)   intervertebral foramina
C)   transverse process
D)   spinous process
E)   transverse foramen

Question 10

There are ___ cervical vertebrae in the spine.

Accepted Answer

A)   2
B)   3
C)   4
D)   6
E)   7

Question 11

The fine membrane that covers the spinal cord and forms the denticulate ligament, which anchors the spinal cord to the vertebral canal, is the ______________________.

Accepted Answer

A)   pia mater
B)   arachnoid mater
C)   dura mater
D)   filum terminale
E)   membranous layer

Question 12

An intervertebral disc in the spinal column is composed of _______________.

Accepted Answer

A)   hyaline cartilage
B)   fibrocartilaginous fibers (annulus fibrosus)  and pulpal nucleus
C)   longitudinal ligaments and cartilage
D)   transverse foramina and ligaments
E)   none of the above

Question 13

The transverse foramen in the cervical vertebrae provides a conduit for which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   Spinal cord
B)   Occiput
C)   Posterior tubercle
D)   Vertebral artery and vein
E)   Dens

Question 14

How many vertebrae are in the spine?

Accepted Answer

A)   12
B)   16
C)   21
D)   33
E)   42

Question 15

The posterior surface of the skull is the _________________________.

Accepted Answer

A)   dens
B)   occiput
C)   odontoid process
D)   transverse process
E)   coccyx

Exam 2: The Back