Prepare for your Movement Science Midterm Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Boost your exam readiness!

Multiple Choice

The disc to height ratio in the IVD is greatest in the

The neck has the greatest disc-to-height ratio because the vertebral bodies in the cervical region are relatively small while the intervertebral discs remain comparatively tall. This makes the disc height constitute a larger portion of the overall height of each motion segment, supporting the neck’s wide range of motion. In the thoracic region, ribs constrain the discs and the vertebral bodies are larger relative to the discs, reducing the ratio, and in the lumbar region the vertebral bodies are quite large while the discs, though thick, don’t exceed the cervical proportion. The sacral area has little to no disc height due to fusion. So, the cervical spine shows the largest disc-to-height ratio.

The neck has the greatest disc-to-height ratio because the vertebral bodies in the cervical region are relatively small while the intervertebral discs remain comparatively tall. This makes the disc height constitute a larger portion of the overall height of each motion segment, supporting the neck’s wide range of motion. In the thoracic region, ribs constrain the discs and the vertebral bodies are larger relative to the discs, reducing the ratio, and in the lumbar region the vertebral bodies are quite large while the discs, though thick, don’t exceed the cervical proportion. The sacral area has little to no disc height due to fusion. So, the cervical spine shows the largest disc-to-height ratio.