A4 Spinal Chord

Question 1

conus medullaris

Answer 1

end of spinal chord at the L1/L2 IV disc

Cauda equina begins

Question 3

enlargements

Answer 3

cervical and lumbar: cervical innervate upper limbs and lumbar lower limbs

Question 4

Draw and label spinal chord sectionq

Answer 4

anterior median fissure

posterior median sulcus (bigger)

white matter

gray matter

Question 5

meninges

Answer 5

layers that cover spinal chord

Dura Mater: Mother, outer covering, thick, contiguous with meningeal layer of brain, surrounded by extradural fat in epidural space
-extends laterally (pinches off) onto proximal spinal nerves.

Arachnoid mater: spider, just deep to dura and adherent to it. Thin and delicate, encloses sub arachnoid space (CSF filled)
-continuous with subarachnoid space in brain

pia mater: tender mother, innermost meningeal layer, completely adherent to spinal chord
-creates denticulate ligaments- later expansions of pia between rootlets to anchor the spinal chord to dura

Question 6

dural sac

Answer 6

anchored to the coccyx, via the filum terminale externus (extension of pia surrounded by arachnoid and dura mater)

filum terminale internus: small extension of pia only found inside dural sac

Question 7

Arterial supply

Answer 7

Anterior spinal artery single, anterior median fissure

Posterior spinal arteries: two, near origin of posterior rootlets

branches of intercostal arteries (from descending aorta) make Radicular arteries (anterior and posterior) supply rootletts