Anatomy Back Flashcards
parts of intervertebral discs
nucleus pulposus: jelly like center
annulus fibrosus: tough collagenous exterior
disc herniation pathology
nucleus pulposus ruptures and breaks through annulus fibrosus, irritating nearby spinal nerve (posterior-lateral direction)
number of vertebrae
7 cervical 12 thoracic 5 lumbar 5 sacrum 4 coccyx
Kyphosis
excessive thoracic curvature, causing a hunchback deformity.
Lordosis
excessive lumbar curvature, causing a swayback deformity.
Cervical spondylosis
decrease in size of intervertebral foramina, due to degeneration of the joints of spine. The smaller size puts pressure on the exiting nerves, causing pain
spinal cord path start to finish
starts from medulla oblongata (part of brainstem), travels through vertebral canal surrounded by spinal meninges and CSF
at L2 tapers off to become conus medullaris
after that spinal nerves bundle to become cauda equina
2 enlargements in spinal cord
cervical and lumbar to form brachial and lumbar plexi
cauda equina syndrome
diagnostic test
treatment
saddle anesthesia, urinary or fecal incontinence or retention, reduced anal tone, paralysis +/- sensory loss
MRI
surgery within 36 hours
what are spinal meninges
like cranial meninges, dura mater, arachnoid mater and pia mater
distally, they form filum terminale (strand of fibrous tissue), which is anchored to the coccyx
what space is entered during lumbar puncture or spinal anesthesia
lumbar cistern
distal to the conus medullaris, the subarachnoid space expands to form the lumbar cistern
arterial supply of spinal cord
anterior spinal artery (from vertebral arteries)
2 posterior spinal arteries (from vertebral or cerebellar artery), anastomose in pia mater
additional: artery of Adamkiewicz (largest anterior segmental medullary artery, from inferior intercostal or upper lumbar arteries), supplies inferior 2/3 of spinal cord
