2.0 neuro - spinal cord

Question 1

Origin of the spinal nerves?

Answer 1

Spinal cord

Question 2

Essential functions of the spinal cord

Answer 2

• Relays sensory information from periphery to brain, somatic and viseral
• Contains motor neurons, somatic and viseral
• Local connections between motor and sensory information; reflexes
• Relays motor information from brain to muscles, somatic and viseral

Question 3

Organization of gray and white matter in the spinal cord

Answer 3

Outer layer = white matter; columns = funiculi
Inner layer = gray matter; two dorsal two ventral horns

Question 4

What are funiculi

Answer 4

Columns of white matter in the spinal cord

Question 5

What do ascending tracts in the spinal cord relay

Answer 5

Sensory afferent information

Question 6

What do descending tracts in the spinal cord relay

Answer 6

Motor efferent information

Question 7

What is the purpose of epidural adipose tissue in the spinal cord

Answer 7

Found between the dura mater and bones of the vertebral canal to prevent dura from adhering to spinal column; allows spinal movement

Question 8

What is found surrounding the dura mater in the spinal cord

Answer 8

Epidural adipose tissue

Question 9

What meningeal layers surround the spinal cord along its entire length

Answer 9

Pia mater, arachnoid mater, dura mater (all)

Question 10

The spinal cord ends at what vertebra

Answer 10

L1-2

Question 11

What is the name of the termination of the spinal cord

Answer 11

Conus medullaris

Question 12

The dura mater ends at what vertebra

Answer 12

S1

Question 13

What is the cauda equina

Answer 13

Bundle of spinal nerves below the termination of the spinal cord traveling to their exit points

Question 14

What meninges specializations exist in the spinal cord

Answer 14

Filum terminale internum; Filum terminal externum

Question 15

What is the filum terminale internum

Answer 15

Thread-like extension of the pia mater from the conus medullaris of the spinal cord; anchors the spinal cord to the inside of the dural sac

Question 16

What is the filum terminale externum

Answer 16

Thread-like extension of the dura mater below the end of the dura sac, attaches to the coccyx; anchors the dural sac to the vertebral column

Question 17

5 regions of the spinal cord

Answer 17

Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, coccygeal

Question 18

2 enlargements of the spinal cord

Answer 18

Cervical, lumbar

Question 19

Why does the ratio of gray to white matter change along the length of the spinal cord

Answer 19

Most superior spinal cord has more white matter because it contains everything coming from the brain and added from the periphery. Most inferior spinal cord has more gray matter because many myelinated fibers have already made synapses higher up in the spinal cord

Question 20

Two divisions of the gray matter of the spinal cord

Answer 20

Dorsal horn, ventral horn

Question 21

What type of information is relayed by the dorsal horn of the spinal column

Answer 21

Sensory

Question 22

What type of information is relayed by the intermediate zone of the spinal column

Answer 22

Visceral motor and sensory

Question 23

What type of information is relayed by the ventral horn of the spinal column

Answer 23

Somatic motor

Question 24

Which nuclei / cell columns travel in the dorsal horn

Answer 24

Substantia gelatinosa, nucleus proprious, dorsal nucleus

Question 25

Which nuclei / cell columns travel in the intermediate zone

Answer 25

Intermediolateral cell column, visceral sensory relay

Question 26

Which nuclei / cell columns travel in the ventral horn

Answer 26

Motor neuron pool; medial and lateral

Question 27

Which nuclei / cell columns are continuous along the entire length of the spinal column

Answer 27

Ventral horn medial, substantia gelatinosa, nucleus proprius

Question 28

Explain the somatotopic map within the ventral horn of the spinal cord

Answer 28

* Medial motor neurons innervate proximal muscles * Lateral motor neurons innervate distal muscles * Dorsal motor neurons innervate flexor muscles * Ventral motor neurons innervate extensor muscles

Question 29

How is the dura different in the vertebral canal compared to that of the cranium

Answer 29

Dura only has one layer in the vertebral canal instead of two layer to create specializations in the cranium

Question 30

What branches of the vertebral artery exist to supply the spinal cord

Answer 30

1 ventral (anterior) branch, 2 dorsal (posterior) branches

Question 31

What is the aorta's role in spinal cord blood supply

Answer 31

Aortic branches supplement the ventral and dorsal branches

Question 32

How does venous drainage run relatively along the spinal cord

Answer 32

Parallels arterial supply