Chapter 08: Cervical and Thoracic Spine
Lampignano: Bontrager’s Textbook of Radiographic Positioning and Related Anatomy,
9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. On average, how many separate bones make up the adult vertebral column?
a. 33
b. 28
c. 26
d. 31
ANS: C REF: 292
2. The spinal cord tapers off to a point distally at the vertebral level of:
a. lower L5.
b. L3-4 intervertebral space.
c. L1-2.
d. L4-5 intervertebral space.
ANS: C REF: 292
3. Which of the following is the first compensatory spinal curvature to develop in the young
child?
a. Thoracic
b. Cervical
c. Sacral
d. Lumbar
ANS: B REF: 293
4. Scoliosis is defined as an abnormal or exaggerated _____ curvature.
a. concave
b. convex
c. lateral
d. “swayback” lumbar
ANS: C REF: 293
5. Kyphosis is defined as a(n):
a. normal lumbar curvature.
b. normal convex sacral curvature.
c. normal compensatory curve of the thoracic spine.
d. abnormal thoracic curvature with increased convexity.
ANS: D REF: 293
6. The bony structures connected directly to the vertebral body are the:
a. pedicles.
b. articular processes.
c. laminae.
, d. transverse processes.
ANS: A REF: 294
7. The most posterior aspect of a typical vertebra is the:
a. pedicle.
b. spinous process.
c. lamina.
d. body.
ANS: B REF: 294
8. The joints between articular processes of vertebra are termed _____ joints.
a. zygapophyseal
b. fibrous
c. intervertebral
d. synarthrodial
ANS: A REF: 294-296
9. Which aspect of the intervertebral disk is composed of semigelatinous material?
a. Nucleus pulposus
b. Annulus fibrosus
c. Conus medullaris
d. Cauda equina
ANS: A REF: 295
10. Which of the following statements is true?
a. All adult vertebrae are separated by intervertebral disks.
b. All thoracic vertebrae have at least one facet for rib articulation.
c. The intervertebral disks are tightly bound to the vertebral bodies to prevent
movement within the vertebral column.
d. All of the above are true statements.
ANS: B REF: 298
11. Which of the following statements is true for a typical adult vertebra?
a. The transverse processes extend laterally from the junction of the pedicles and
laminae.
b. The transverse processes are present only on thoracic vertebrae containing rib
connections.
c. The spinous process extends posteriorly from the body of the vertebra.
d. All of the above are true statements.
ANS: A REF: 294
12. Which of the following features makes the cervical vertebra unique as compared with other
vertebrae of the spine?
a. Transverse foramina and double (bifid) tips on spinous processes
b. Overlapping vertebral bodies
c. Presence of zygapophyseal joints
d. All of the above
, ANS: D REF: 296
13. Where is the articular pillar located on a cervical vertebra?
a. Between the superior and inferior articular processes
b. Between the pedicle and the body
c. Between the spinous process and the lamina
d. Nowhere
ANS: A REF: 296
14. Which of the following best defines or describes the vertebral body of C1?
a. The smallest of all vertebral bodies
b. A column of bone supported by an intervertebral disk
c. A large bony mass
d. There is no vertebral body at C1.
ANS: D REF: 297
15. Which of the following thoracic vertebra(e) possess(es) no facets for costotransverse joints?
a. T9-10
b. T11-12
c. T1
d. None of the above
ANS: B REF: 298
16. The zygapophyseal joints for the typical cervical vertebra lie at an angle of ____ in relation to
the midsagittal plane.
a. 45°
b. 60°
c. 70° to 75°
d. 90°
ANS: D REF: 299
17. The most prominent aspect of the thyroid cartilage corresponds to the vertebral level of:
a. C5.
b. C1-2.
c. C6-7.
d. C7-T1.
ANS: A REF: 304
18. The zygapophyseal joints for the thoracic spine lie at an angle of ____ in relation to the
midsagittal plane.
a. 45°
b. 60°
c. 70° to 75°
d. 90°
ANS: C REF: 299
Lampignano: Bontrager’s Textbook of Radiographic Positioning and Related Anatomy,
9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. On average, how many separate bones make up the adult vertebral column?
a. 33
b. 28
c. 26
d. 31
ANS: C REF: 292
2. The spinal cord tapers off to a point distally at the vertebral level of:
a. lower L5.
b. L3-4 intervertebral space.
c. L1-2.
d. L4-5 intervertebral space.
ANS: C REF: 292
3. Which of the following is the first compensatory spinal curvature to develop in the young
child?
a. Thoracic
b. Cervical
c. Sacral
d. Lumbar
ANS: B REF: 293
4. Scoliosis is defined as an abnormal or exaggerated _____ curvature.
a. concave
b. convex
c. lateral
d. “swayback” lumbar
ANS: C REF: 293
5. Kyphosis is defined as a(n):
a. normal lumbar curvature.
b. normal convex sacral curvature.
c. normal compensatory curve of the thoracic spine.
d. abnormal thoracic curvature with increased convexity.
ANS: D REF: 293
6. The bony structures connected directly to the vertebral body are the:
a. pedicles.
b. articular processes.
c. laminae.
, d. transverse processes.
ANS: A REF: 294
7. The most posterior aspect of a typical vertebra is the:
a. pedicle.
b. spinous process.
c. lamina.
d. body.
ANS: B REF: 294
8. The joints between articular processes of vertebra are termed _____ joints.
a. zygapophyseal
b. fibrous
c. intervertebral
d. synarthrodial
ANS: A REF: 294-296
9. Which aspect of the intervertebral disk is composed of semigelatinous material?
a. Nucleus pulposus
b. Annulus fibrosus
c. Conus medullaris
d. Cauda equina
ANS: A REF: 295
10. Which of the following statements is true?
a. All adult vertebrae are separated by intervertebral disks.
b. All thoracic vertebrae have at least one facet for rib articulation.
c. The intervertebral disks are tightly bound to the vertebral bodies to prevent
movement within the vertebral column.
d. All of the above are true statements.
ANS: B REF: 298
11. Which of the following statements is true for a typical adult vertebra?
a. The transverse processes extend laterally from the junction of the pedicles and
laminae.
b. The transverse processes are present only on thoracic vertebrae containing rib
connections.
c. The spinous process extends posteriorly from the body of the vertebra.
d. All of the above are true statements.
ANS: A REF: 294
12. Which of the following features makes the cervical vertebra unique as compared with other
vertebrae of the spine?
a. Transverse foramina and double (bifid) tips on spinous processes
b. Overlapping vertebral bodies
c. Presence of zygapophyseal joints
d. All of the above
, ANS: D REF: 296
13. Where is the articular pillar located on a cervical vertebra?
a. Between the superior and inferior articular processes
b. Between the pedicle and the body
c. Between the spinous process and the lamina
d. Nowhere
ANS: A REF: 296
14. Which of the following best defines or describes the vertebral body of C1?
a. The smallest of all vertebral bodies
b. A column of bone supported by an intervertebral disk
c. A large bony mass
d. There is no vertebral body at C1.
ANS: D REF: 297
15. Which of the following thoracic vertebra(e) possess(es) no facets for costotransverse joints?
a. T9-10
b. T11-12
c. T1
d. None of the above
ANS: B REF: 298
16. The zygapophyseal joints for the typical cervical vertebra lie at an angle of ____ in relation to
the midsagittal plane.
a. 45°
b. 60°
c. 70° to 75°
d. 90°
ANS: D REF: 299
17. The most prominent aspect of the thyroid cartilage corresponds to the vertebral level of:
a. C5.
b. C1-2.
c. C6-7.
d. C7-T1.
ANS: A REF: 304
18. The zygapophyseal joints for the thoracic spine lie at an angle of ____ in relation to the
midsagittal plane.
a. 45°
b. 60°
c. 70° to 75°
d. 90°
ANS: C REF: 299
