Case Scenario
Mr. Chan (40 years old) is a computer programmer and needs tospend long periods on computer work during daily work. He went tothe clinic and complaint that he has neck pain over the past twomonths. He also had the feeling of pain and numbness radiate fromthe neck into the right shoulder and right arm, and numbness overhis thumb.
Physical examination revealed pain and numbness was mainly overright deltoid and biceps brachii muscles, and over the lateral sideof the thumb. Report from the magnetic resonance imaging showedthat the spinal canal in his cervical vertebral column wasnarrowed. After initial management, the doctor sent Mr. Chan toyour team for further follow up. Your supervisor told you to giveMr. Chan an introduction of the spinal structure at neckregion.
Please answer according to the following guidance:
List the name and numbers of vertebral column in 5 regions.Compare and contrast three main characteristics of typical cervicalvertebra, thoracic vertebra, and lumbar vertebra.
How does the intervertebral foramen formed and what contents canbe found in the vertebral canal?
How many cervical spine nerves do we have? When a cervicalspinal nerve exits the spinal cord through the intervertebralforamen, what’s the relationship of this nerve with itscorresponding vertebra? How about the relationship of the spinalnerves in thoracic and lumbar regions with their correspondingvertebrae?
In Mr. Chan’s case, name the nerve roots which were compressedthat resulted in the pain and numbness. State the reasons thatsupport your answer.
