Unit 3 - Myelography, Summaries of Medicine

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03/29/ Fish Fikiru.(M.Radiologic Technologist)

Arba Minch University

College of Medicine and Health Sciences

Department of MRT

03/29/

Special Radiographic Procedure

of the Spinal cord - Myelography

CHAPTER- THREE Fish Fikiru.(M.Radiologic Technologist)

03/29/ 26 Fish Fikiru.(M.Radiologic Technologist)

The Spine or Vertebral Column

 7 Cervical vertebrae ( cervic- neck) are in the neck

region.

 12 Thoracic vertebrae ( thorax chest) are posterior to the

thoracic cavity.

 5 Lumbar vertebrae ( lumb- loin) support the lower back.

 1 Sacrum (SA ¯ -krum sacred bone) consists of five fused

sacral vertebrae.

 1 Coccyx (KOK-siks cuckoo, because the shape resembles

the bill of a cuckoo bird) usually consists of four fused

coccygeal vertebrae (kok-SIJ-e ¯-al).

In an adult there are typically 33 individual vertebrae arranged in 26 moveable parts in the spinal column.

The cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae are movable, but the sacrum and

coccyx are not.

03/29/ Fish Fikiru.(M.Radiologic Technologist)

The Vertebral Column

03/29/ Fish Fikiru.(M.Radiologic Technologist)

03/29/ Fish Fikiru.(M.Radiologic Technologist)

03/29/ Fish Fikiru.(M.Radiologic Technologist)

03/29/ Fish Fikiru.(M.Radiologic Technologist) Clinical Correlation

03/29/ Fish Fikiru.(M.Radiologic Technologist) Abnormal Curves of the Vertebral Column  (^) Various conditions may exaggerate the normal curves of the vertebral column, or the column may acquire a lateral bend, resulting in abnormal curves of the vertebral column.

1. Scoliosis (sk0 ¯-le¯-O ¯-sis; scolio crooked), the most common

of the abnormal curves, is a lateral bending of the vertebral column , usually in the thoracic region.  (^) It may result from congenitally (present at birth) malformed vertebrae , chronic sciatica , paralysis of muscles on one side of the vertebral column, poor posture , or one leg being shorter than the other.  (^) Signs of scoliosis include uneven shoulders and waist , one shoulder blade more prominent than the other, one hip higher than the other, and leaning to one side.  (^) In severe scoliosis (a curve greater than 70 degrees), breathing is more difficult and the pumping action of the heart is less efficient. Chronic back pain and arthritis of the vertebral column may also develop.

03/29/ Fish Fikiru.(M.Radiologic Technologist) Abnormal Curves of the Vertebral Column

2. Kyphosis (kı¯-FO ¯-sis; kyphoss- hump; -osis condition) is an

increase in the thoracic curve of the vertebral column.  (^) In tuberculosis of the spine , vertebral bodies may partially collapse, causing an acute angular bending of the vertebral column.  (^) In the elderly, degeneration of the intervertebral discs leads to kyphosis.  (^) Kyphosis may also be caused by rickets and poor posture. It is also common in females with advanced osteoporosis.

03/29/ Fish Fikiru.(M.Radiologic Technologist) Figure - Abnormal Curvatures of the Spine. Abnormal Curves of the Vertebral Column

03/29/ Fish Fikiru.(M.Radiologic Technologist)

03/29/ Fish Fikiru.(M.Radiologic Technologist)

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 Found between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae from

the second cervical vertebra to the sacrum and

account for about 25% of the height of the vertebral

column.

 Are pads of fibrous cartilage.

 Absorb shocks.

 Consists of concentric outer rings of fibrous tissue called the

Annulus Fibrosus.

 (^) The annulus fibrosus provides the strongest attachment affixing vertebrae together.

 The center of the disc is a fluid moiety called the Nucleus

Pulposus. With age, the nucleus pulposus hardens and

becomes less elastic.

 Since intervertebral disc are avascular , the annulus

fibrosus

Intervertebral Discs