3.1- Spinal Cord Anatomy Review

Question 0

Lateral Horn - ___________

1. only ________ segments
2. contain cell bodies of _____

Answer 0

autonomic

only T1-L2 segments
contain cell bodies of preganglionic sympathetic neurons

Question 1

Dorsal (Posterior) Horn - ______

1. runs through _________
2. contains __________

Answer 1

sensory

runs thoughout SC except C1
contains large fibers that block pain (gait theory)

Question 2

Ventral (Anterior) Horn - ______

1. cell bodies of ______
2. present throughout SC but larger in __________

Answer 2

motor

cell bodies of large alpha motor neurons
present throughout the spinal cord, but larger in areas where there is a lot of motor innervation (C-spine, L-spine)

Question 3

What are rexid numbers?

Answer 3

numbered areas of spinal gray matter

Question 4

What are 4 facts about the cervical cord?

Answer 4

1. large with slightly flattened shape
2. large ventral horn due to lots of muscles in the UE to innervate
3. dorsal horn is also large due to sensory input from UE
4. no lateral horn

Question 5

What are 2 facts about the thoracic cord?

Answer 5

1. very small ventral and dorsal horn- little sensory or motor
2. lateral horn is present

Question 6

What is a fact about the gray matter in the lumbar cord?

Answer 6

large ventral and dorsal horn due to large motor and sensory (proprioception) input from LE

Question 7

What are 2 facts about the sacral cord?

Answer 7

1. very small due to few fibers
2. generally size of SC is largely dependent on # of cell bodies (gray matter) entering at that level (fibers generally don’t take up much space)

Question 8

What area of the SC has large ventral horn due to lots of muscles in the UE to innervate?

Answer 8

cervical

Question 9

What area of the SC has no lateral horn?

Answer 9

cervical

Question 10

What area of the SC has large ventral & dorsal horn due to large motor and sensory input from LE?

Answer 10

lumbar

Question 11

What area of the SC has very small ventral and dorsal horn?

Answer 11

thoracic

Question 12

What area of the SC is very small due to few fibers and generally size of SC is largely dependent on # of cell bodies (gray matter) entering at that level?

Answer 12

sacral

Question 13

Efferent fibers are in the _____________ Tract.

Afferent fibers are in the __________ & _______ Tract.

Answer 13

Lateral Corticospinal Tract

Dorsal Column System & Lateral Spinothalamic Tract

Question 14

Lateral Corticospinal Tract-
Upper motor neurons originate in the _____ and pass down to the ______ (where they cross). They then run down the SC ____ side as the Lateral Corticospinal Tract.

Answer 14

motor cortex

brainstem

opposite

Question 15

Lateral Corticospinal Tract-
Upper motor neurons originate in the motor cortex & pass down to the brainstem where they cross. They run down SC on opposite side. They synapse in _____ at level of innervations and leave the SC as the _____.

Answer 15

ventral horn

Lower Motor Neuron (Alpha Motor Neuron)

Question 16

Dorsal Column System-

Neuron #1 enters through the _______ and travels up _____ side of the SC before crossing in the ______.

Answer 16

dorsal root ganglion

same side

brainstem

Question 17

Lateral Spinothalamic Tract-
Neuron #1 originates in ______, enter SC through the ______, cross at _____ and ascend in SC in Lateral Spinothalamic Tract.

Answer 17

receptors

dorsal root ganglion

point of entry

Question 18

Lateral Spinothalamic Tract detects ____ and ____.

Dorsal Column System detects ____, ____, and _____.

Answer 18

pain and temp

touch, kinesthesia, and vibration

Question 19

Often SC injury is due to the interruption of the blood supply.

What are the 2 arteries of the SC and what do they supply?

Answer 19

1. Anterior Spinal Artery- anterior 2/3 of spinal cord

2. Posterior Spinal Artery- other 1/3 of SC

Question 20

_______ - one artery formed by the branches of the 2 vertebral arteries and supplies ventral horn, lateral corticospinal tract, lateral spinothalamic tract, part of dorsal horn

Answer 20

anterior spinal artery

Question 21

_______ - splits in 2 branches and supplies dorsal column, part of dorsal horn

Answer 21

posterior spinal artery

Question 22

Cauda Equina-

• injury here results in ______
• injury at _____ may result in both upper and lower motor neuron findings

Answer 22

lower motor neuron lesion

T12 or L1

Question 23

What is the cauda equina?

What is the filum terminale?

Answer 23

composed of dorsal and ventral roots (spinal nerves)

continuation of the pia past the cauda equine that thickens and attaches to the coccyx (anchors)

Question 24

Meninges-

In the SC, the ____ is 1 layer. Past the foramen magnum the ______ layer only continues down the cord.

Answer 24

dura

visceral

Question 25

Meninges-

Dura continues to S2 containing the _____, ____, and ______.

Answer 25

roots, CSF, and filum terminale

Question 26

How far down the SC does the visceral layer of dura go?

Answer 26

S2

Question 27

What is Lumbar cistern?

What are Dentate ligaments?

Answer 27

collection area of CSF (where they do punctures to collect CSF and insert meds)

extensions of the pia that attach to the dura to suspend the SC in the middle

Question 28

______ - collection area of CSF (where they do punctures to collect CSF & insert meds)

Answer 28

lumbar cistern

Question 29

______ - continuations of the pia past the cauda equine that thickens and attaches to the coccyx (anchors)

Answer 29

filum terminale

Question 30

______ - extensions of the pia that attach to the dura to suspend the SC in the middle

Answer 30

dentate ligaments

Question 31

______ - composed of dorsal and ventral roots (spinal nerves)

Answer 31

cauda equina