CHAPTER 20
The Spine
MULTIPLE CHOICE
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1. The outer periphery of the intervertebral disk is composed of strong fibrous tissue
called the:
A. annulus fibrosus.
C. nucleus fibrosus.
B. annulus pulposus.
D. nucleus pulposus.
E, K
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2. The major muscle of back extension is the:
A. erector spinae.
C. quadratus lumborum.
B. latissimus dorsi.
D. trapezius.
M, K
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3. How many vertebrae are in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions of the spine?
A. 5, 12, 7
C. 7, 12, 5
B. 10, 20, 5
D. 7, 15, 5
M, A
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4. If a straight leg raise causes pain, which of the following could be the problem?
A. Sciatic nerve
B. Sacroiliac joint
C. Lumbar spine
D. All of the above
5. Sports movements that characteristically hyperextend the spine are likely to
M, A
cause:
(479)
A. spondylolisthesis.
C. intervertebral disk syndrome.
B. sciatica.
D. spondylolysis.
D, K
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6. Which of the following portions of the spine have a convex curve anteriorly?
A. Cervical, lumbar
C. Cervical, thoracic
B. Thoracic, sacrococcygeal
D. Lumbar, sacrococcygeal
7. Which of the following is not a group of the erector spinae muscles?
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A. Longissimus
C. Cervicis
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B. Illocostalis
D. Spinalis
8. Which of the following vertebrae is considered the strongest and most massive?
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A. Cervical
C. Lumbar
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B. Thoracic
D. Sacral
9. Which of the following parts of the spine is considered the most mobile and is
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vulnerable to a wide range of sports injuries?
(459)
A. Cervical
C. Lumbar
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B. Thoracic
D. Sacral
10. Prevention of cervical spinal injuries is best accomplished by:
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A. maintaining normal flexibility in the neck region.
(464)
B. increasing the strength of the neck musculature.
C. selecting and fitting any necessary protective equipment for all athletes.
D. All of the above
M, A
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M, A
(472)
M, K
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E, K
(472)
11. Which of the following tests is for sacroiliac joint dysfunction?
A. Straight leg raise
C. Distraction
B. Compression
D. All of the above
12. The most easily discernible difference between a cervical dislocation and cervical
fracture is:
A. position of the neck.
C. pain.
B. numbness.
D. muscle weakness.
13. The prevention of lower back injuries in sports should include:
A. arching the back while standing.
B. reducing abdominal strength.
C. sleeping on your stomach.
D. putting your feet flat on the floor when sitting.
14. Most serious cervical injuries in football result from purposeful:
A. axial loading as a result of spearing.
B. hyperextension resulting from pushing the face mask up.
C. hyperflexion as a result of tackling the legs of the opponent.
D. grabbing and twisting of face masks by opponents
15. The most common mechanism for acute low back strain is:
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A. extension with trunk rotation.
(476)
B. flexion with trunk rotation.
C. hyperflexion and rotation.
D. sidebending with rotation.
M, A
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E, K
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16. When
occurs, the athlete is unable to use his/ her arm and complains of
unilateral burning, numbness, and radiating pain after trauma. After a short
while the signs disappear.
A. acute torticollis
C. brachial plexus injury
B. spinal cord contusion
D. whiplash
17. Which of the following is a sign of cervical neck fracture?
A. Cervical pain
C. Cervical muscle spasm
B. Neck point tenderness
D. All of the above
18. A herniated disk produces symptoms when:
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M, K
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A. the vertebrae slips forward and puts pressure of the nerve root.
B. the annulus of the disk pushes on the nerve root.
C. the pars of the vertebrae is fractured.
D. the sciatic nerve is pinched.
19. Sciatica is a term used to describe:
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A. general low back pain.
(477)
B. inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
C. chronic back pain.
D. stretching of the sciatic nerve.
20. Which region of the spine is responsible for the least amount of spinal flexion
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and extension?
(461)
A. Cervical
C. Lumbosacral
B. Lumbar
D. Thoracic
21. A compression fracture of the lumbar vertebrae most often occur as a result of:
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A. hyperextension.
C. hyperflexion.
(476)
B. rotation.
D. sidebending.
22. Which lumbar vertebra is most likely to slip as a result of spondylolisthesis?
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A. L5
C. L3
(479)
B. L4
D. L2
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23. Asymmetrical hip levels are indicative of what type of injury?
A. Herniated disk
C. Spondylolysis
B. Sacroliliac sprain
D. Sciatica
TRUE/FALSE
E, K
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24. As the spinal segments progress downward they grow increasingly larger to
accommodate the upright posture of the body.
25. The cervical and lumbar regions of the spine allow for extension and flexion.
E, K
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26. A football player or wrestler with a short neck is at a risk for neck injury.
E, K
(465)
27. Cervical spine injury should always be suspected in an unconscious athlete.
E, K
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(469)
28. The function of the intervertebral disk is to act as a shock absorber for the spine.
E, K
(463)
E, K
(464)
M, A
(478)
M, K
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29. To prevent an injury to the neck, it is important to strengthen muscles, maintain
flexibility, and use proper technique if contact with another player is required.
30. Flexion and extension with compression usually produce a herniation or
protrusion of the nucleus pulposus.
31. Spondylolysis refers to a breaking down of a vertebra and, more commonly, a
defect in the articular processes of the vertebrae.
32. A compression fracture of the lumbar vertebrae may occur as a result of violent
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hyperflexion of the trunk.
(476)
33. When treating a cervical sprain (where the physician has ruled out a fracture), it is
M, A
important to put the athlete in a soft cervical collar to reduce the amount of
(474)
muscle spasm.
E, K
(477)
M, A
(477)
M, K
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34. Sciatica is a general term that describes all lower back pain no matter what the
exact cause.
35. After a contusion to the back, it is important to make sure the athlete does not
have any kidney related problems because a blow to the back can cause kidney
damage.
36. The first two vertebrae are different from the other vertebrae in that they do
not have a spinous process.
37. All vertebrae have a body and a spinous process.
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38. The spinal column extends from the cranium to the first or second lumbar
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vertebrae.
(463)
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39. Injuries that occur below the third lumbar vertebra usually result in nerve
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root damage but do not cause spinal cord damage.
(463)
M, K
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D, K
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M, A
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40. An injury to the coccyx is usually the result of forcibly sitting down or falling and
landing hard on the buttocks.
41. Spondylothisthesis is a complication of spondylolysis and most commonly results
in a slipping of the fifth lumbar vertebrae.
42. If a lumbar fracture is suspected, the athlete needs to be carried off the field and
be evaluated immediately on the sideline.
43. Acute torticollis occurs when a small piece of synovial membrane is pinched
M, A
between two cervical vertebrae.
(474)
44. Cervical dislocation results from violent extension and rotation of the head.
M, A
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