4 - the vertebral canal Flashcards
the vertebral canal extends
from the base of the skull, through the vertebral foraminae, to the sacral canal/coccyx
dura mater
spinal dura forms a loose sheath around the spinal cord
continuation of cranial dura, though foramen magnum into the vertebral canal
dura is attached to
- firmly to circumference of foramen magnum
- loosely to posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies of C2 and C3
- loosely to the posterior longitudinal ligament
- firmly to the dorsal surface of the coccyx
epidural space
extra dural
outside of the dura but inside the vertebral canal
epidural space contains
fat and the internal vertebral venous plexus
risk of injecting into veins: cause general anaesthetic, coma - death
injections into the epidural space
allow medications to travel throghout this space
arachnoid mater lines
the inside of the dura
subdural space
a potential space only present if there is apthology
leptomeninges
arachnoid and pia mata from nueral crest cells
arachnoid and pia mata start as a
single memebrane
arachnoid and pia mata seperate when
CSF is produced - is pumped between the two layers
creates a fluid fliied space
the CSF between arachnoid and pia mata
a fluid filled psace - subarachnoid space
arachnoid and pia mata are connected by
strands of tissue connecting to arachnoid and pia mata that remian after CSF seperates them
strands of tissue connecting arachnoid and pia mata look like
spiders web - this is why it is called the arachnoid
pia mata adheres to
spinal cord and nerve roots
denticulate ligaments
lateral projection of pia
come off spinal cord between grouped nerve roots
peice the arachnoid - anchors to the inside of dural sleeves
stabilises the cord inside the vertebral canal
how is the cord stabilised within the vertebral canal
lateral projections of pia mata peirce the arachnoid and anchor to the inside of dural sleeves
last denticulate ligament
at T12
the spinal cord ends at
L1-L2 - conus medullaris
filum terminale
has a part inside and spinal canal and a part outside
(internal and external) - big ligament achoring the spinal cord
subarachnoid space continues to
S1-S2 lumbar cistern
lumbar cistern contains
contains CSF and cauda equina
good place to access the CSF
lumbar puncture L3/4 L4/5
below S1-S2 you will find
filum terminale externum and sacral nerve roots
still covered in all meningeal layers
still has epidural space (fat and veins)
lumbar cistern shape
forms a cup - lowest place where CSF will sit because it is the end of the subarachnoid space
meninges are replaced by
connective tissue that coats the peripheral nerves
epineurium
around the nerve as a whole
perineurium
around the nerve fasicles
endoneurium
around the nerve fibres
