08 26 Spinal cord and spinal nerves

Question 1

Describe what the spinal cord looks like at the cervicomedullary junction?

Answer 1

It has a pyramidal decussation

Question 2

Describe what a cervical section of the spinal cord looks like

Answer 2

It has the thickest white matter. The grey matter has a lateral motor nuclei (limb muscles). Lissauer’s tract can also be seen.

Question 3

Describe what thoracic section of the spinal cord looks like?

Answer 3

smallest amount of white and grey matter. It has Lissauer’s tract and a small lateral column. Small dorsal and ventral horns.

Intermediolateral cell coli – preganglionic sympathetics

Question 4

Describe what a lumbar section of the spinal cord looks like.

Answer 4

no lateral column

Large dorsal an dventral horns

Question 5

Describe what as sacral section of the spinal cord looks like

Answer 5

mostly grey matter
Large ventral and dorsal horns
Innervate a large number of muscles.

Question 6

What are the main blood sullies to the spinal cord

Answer 6

1. Anterior spinal artery
2. Posterior spinal arteries (2)
3. Vasocorona

Question 7

Anterior spinal artery

Answer 7

• located in ventral median fissure
• comes off the vertebral artery
• supplies medullary arteries to reinforce blood supply
• supply anterior 2/3 of spinal cord with blood

Question 8

Posterior spinal arteries

Answer 8

• located in posteriolateral sluci
• comes off the vertebral or posterior inferior cerebellar artery
• supplies 1/3 of spinal cord.

Question 9

Vasocorona

Answer 9

series of branches form anterior and posterior spinal arteries that form a crown around the cord ( no anastomoses).

Question 10

anterior and posterior radicular arteries

Answer 10

at each spinal level to send blood to roots and ganglion.

Question 11

Great Artery of Adamkiewicz

Answer 11

unusually large medullary artery T9-L1 (left). Supplies majority of the lumbar and sacral spinal cord.

Question 12

Where is the water shed area?

Answer 12

T4- T9 because of the Great Artery of Adamkiewicz. Area is susceptible to ischemia.

Question 13

Are there any astomoses between blood supplies?

Answer 13

Posterior medullary artery –> posterior spinal artery

Anterior medullary artier with anastomose with anterior spinal artery

Question 14

Spinal articular complex

Answer 14

anterior and posterior spinal arteries form a complex that surounds the spinal cord (anastomoses of 2 posterior and anterior artery)

Question 15

Venous return of blood going to spinal cord?

Answer 15

plexus of veins located in the epidural space before reaching systemic circulation

• Batson’s plexus