CHAPTER 9: THE BIOMECHANICS OF THE HUMAN SPINE

____ 1. Movement of the spine occurs in which plane(s)?

A. sagittal
B. frontal
C. transverse
D. all of the choices are correct

____ 2. Which of the following vertebral regions has the best range of motion?
A. cervical
B. thoracic
C. lumbar
D. sacral

____ 3. Which part of the vertebrae bears the most weight?

A. lamina
B. superior articulating facet
C. body
D. inferior articulating facet

____ 4. Which of the following helps the spine absorb shock?

A. spinal curves
B. intervertebral discs
C. ligaments
D. both spinal curves and intervertebral disks
E. all of the choices help the spine absorb shock

____ 5.Which statement is not true about the intervertebral discs?

A. act as cushions between the vertebrae
B. account for approximately 1/4 of the height of the spine
C. are responsible for spinal movement due to compression
D. all of the choices are true

____ 6. Which of the following spinal curves are referred to as primary curves?
A. the thoracic and cervical curves
B. the cervical and lumbar curves
C. the cervical and sacral curves
D. the thoracic and sacral curves

____ 7. Which of the following is not true about lordosis?

A. often accompanied by anterior pelvic tilt
B. can be caused by poor abdominal flexibility
C. often accompanies weight gain and pregnancy
D. all of the choices are true
____ 8. The condition of exaggerated thoracic curvature is known as which of the
following?
A. lordosis
B. kyphosis
C. scoliosis
D. none of the choices are correct

____ 9. The articulations between adjacent vertebral bodies are which of the following
types of joints?
A. pivot joints
B. hinge joints
C. symphysis joints
D. none of the choices are correct

____ 10. The spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae inhibit movement in which
plane?
A. sagittal
B. frontal
C. transverse
D. all of the choices are correct

____ 11. Which vertebrae are the largest?

A. cervical
B. thoracic
C. lumbar
D. sacral

____ 12. What type of joint occurs between the superior and inferior articulating
facets of adjacent vertebrae?
A. cartilaginous
B. non-axial gliding
C. hinge
D. condyloid

____ 13. The sacral region of the spine is fused to which of the following bones?
A. the ilium
B. the ischium
C. the pubis
D. all of the choices are correct
____ 14. Lack of flexibility in which of the following muscle groups can cause anterior
pelvic tilt?
A. hip flexors
B. erector spinae
C. abdominals
D. both the hip flexors and the erector spinae
E. all of the choices are correct

____ 15. The rectus abdominis causes flexion when contracted ________.
A. unilaterally
B. bilaterally
C. eccentrically
D. all of the choices are correct

____ 16. What is the result when part of the nucleus pulposus of the disc protrudes and
presses on a nerve?
A. stress fracture
B. acute fracture
C. herniated disc
D. contusion

____ 17. What joint is usually the culprit in low back pain?
A. sacroiliac
B. lumbosacral
C. sacrococcygeal
D. acetabulum

____ 18. A typical geriatric disc has a fluid content that is reduced by approximately
how much?
A. 5%
B. 35%
C. 50%
D. 85%

____ 19. Transverse or spinous process fractures may result from which of the
following?
A. extremely forceful contraction of the attached muscles
B. the sustenance of a hard blow to the back of the spine
C. both an extremely forceful contraction of the attached muscles and the
sustenance of a hard blow to the back of the spine
D. none of the choices are correct
____ 20. Which of the following are potential consequences of spinal fractures?
A. paralysis
B. death
C. both paralysis and death
D. none of the choices are correct

____ 21. What is the most common type of vertebral fracture?

A. fracture to the coccyx
B. stress fracture of the pars interarticularis
C. cervical fracture
D. none of the choices are common types of vertebral fractures

____ 22. Unusually high incidences of pars interarticularis fractures have been
documented in which of the following groups of athletes?
A. female gymnasts
B. interior football linemen
C. weight lifters
D. all of the are correct

____ 23. The most superior cervical vertebrae is called what?

A. atlas
B. axis
C. atlanto-axial
D. none of the choices are correct

____ 24. What is the most common type of spinal loading during daily activities?
A. compression
B. tension
C. shear
D. torsion

____ 25. What causes the pumping action (influx and outflux of water containing
nutrients and waste) of the intervertebral discs in adults?
A. blood supply
B. body motion
C. neural activity
D. both blood supply and body motion
E. all of the choices are correct

____ 26. What is the enlarged cervical portion of the supraspinous ligament called?
A. anterior longitudinal ligament
B. posterior longitudinal ligament
C. ligamentum flavum
D. ligamentum nuchae
____ 27. Lateral deviations in spinal curvature are called what?
A. lordosis
B. kyphosis
C. scoliosis
D. all of the choices are correct

____ 28. Which type of exaggerated curve is often caused by osteoporosis?

A. lordosis
B. kyphosis
C. scoliosis
D. all of the choices are correct

____ 29. Anterior pelvic tilt facilitates what type of spinal motion?
A. flexion
B. extension
C. lateral flexion
D. rotation

____ 30. Which abdominal muscles cause rotation to the left?

A. left internal oblique
B. right external oblique
C. left rectus abdominis
D. both the left internal oblique and the right external oblique
E. all of the choices are true

____ 31. What action(s) do posterior trunk muscles cause when they contract
unilaterally?
A. extension
B. hyperextension
C. lateral flexion
D. both extension and hyperextension
E. all of the choices are correct

____ 32. In anatomical position, where is the center of gravity located relative to the
spine?
A. posterior
B. anterior
C. lateral
D. inferior

____ 33. Attachment to the ribs limits range of motion in which vertebrae?
A. cervical
B. thoracic
C. lumbar
D. sacral
____ 34. What type of articulation occurs between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae?
A. cartilaginous
B. non-axial gliding
C. hinge
D. condyloid

____ 35. What is the dominant force on the spine during activities requiring backward
leaning of the trunk, such as rappelling?
A. compression
B. tension
C. shear
D. torsion

____ 36. Spinal relaxation phenomenon explains what?

A. inactivity of spinal extensors during full flexion
B. inactivity of spinal flexors during full flexion
C. sit and reach flexibility test
D. yoga

____ 37. Which of the following contributes to increased spinal loading?

A. rotation (as compared to flexion)
B. asymmetrical frontal loads
C. increased lifting speeds
D. both rotation and asymmetrical frontal loads
E. all of the choices are correct

____ 38. What musculoskeletal problem causes the most absences from work?
A. ankle sprain
B. carpal tunnel syndrome
C. low back pain
D. herniated disc

____ 39. Sprains occur in what type of tissue?

A. muscles
B. tendons
C. ligaments
D. all of the choices are correct

____ 40. What injury can occur when the neck undergoes sudden acceleration and
deceleration (such as in a car accident)?
A. herniated disc
B. whiplash
C. spondylolisthesis
D. spondylolysis