Anatomy of Spine and Spinal Cord Flashcards

1
Q

what is the vertebral column made up of?

A
C1-7
T1-12
L1-5
5 sacral fused
4 coccygeal fused
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2
Q

shape of the vertebral column

A

cervical lordosis
thoracic kyphosis
lumbar lordosis
sacral kyphosis

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3
Q

five ligaments around the vertebral column

A
ligamentum flavum
posterior longitudinal ligament
anterior longitudinal ligament
supraspinous ligament
interspinous ligament
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4
Q

what does the ligamentum flavum connect?

A

connects adjacent laminae posterior to spinal cord

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5
Q

role of posterior longitudinal ligament

A

prevent over-flexion

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6
Q

role of anterior longitudinal ligament

A

prevent over-extension

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7
Q

what do the supraspinous ligaments connect?

A

spinous processes

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8
Q

what do the interspinous ligaments connect?

A

superior and inferior surfaces of adjacent spinous processes

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9
Q

where does the spinal cord begin?

A

foramen magnum continuing from the medulla

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10
Q

where does the spinal cord end?

A

L2 and becomes the cauda equina

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11
Q

where does the sub-arachnoid space end?

A

S2

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12
Q

what are the layers of the meninges?

A

dura mater
arachnoid mater
sub-arachnoid space and CSF
pia mater

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13
Q

which ligament suspends the spinal cord in the canal?

A

denticulate ligament

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14
Q

what is the denticulate ligament made of?

A

pia and arachnoid mater attaching to dura laterally

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15
Q

what is special about levels T1-L2 of the spinal cord?

A

also contain a smaller lateral horn for sympathetic outflow

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16
Q

two groups of intrinsic back muscles

A
  1. erector spinae (superficial)

2. transversospinalis (deep)

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17
Q

describe the erector spinae muscles

A

3 vertical muscle groups lateral to the spine attaching to sacrum/iliac crests and either a rib, transverse or spinous process

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18
Q

describe the transversospinalis muscles?

A

within grooves between tranverse and spinous processes

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19
Q

what supplied the intrinsic back muscles?

A

posterior rami

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20
Q

role of the intrinsic back muscles

A

contract for posture

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21
Q

how do the erector spinae extend the spine?

A

contract bilaterally

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22
Q

how do the erector spinae lateral flex the spine?

A

unilateral contraction

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23
Q

what muscles perform flexion of the spine?

A

rectus abdominis and psoas major

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24
Q

where are the atlanto-occipital joints?

A

between occipital condyles and superior articular facets of atlas

25
what movement does the atlanto-occipital joints allow?
flexion/ extension of the neck
26
what forms the atlanto-axial joint?
3 articulations with two between inferior and superior facets and one between posterior arch of atlas and odontoid process
27
what movement does the atlanto-axial joint allow?
rotation
28
arterial supply of the spinal cord
three major longitudinal arteries (anterior and 2 posterior) segmental arteries radicular arteries
29
what are the segmental arteries?
vertebral, intercostal and lumbar arteries
30
where do radicular arteries travel?
travel along dorsal and ventral roots
31
venous drainage of the spinal cord
plexuses e.g. anterior and posterior internal
32
what does the epidural space contain?
venous plexuses | adipose tissue
33
presentation of Horner's syndrome
``` miosis ptosis anhidrosis increased warmth and redness ipsilateral ```
34
overall causative mechanism of Horner's syndrome
impaired sympathetic innervation to the head and neck
35
causes of compression of the cervical sympathetic trunk
``` root of neck trauma carotid dissection IJV engorgement deep cervical node metastases Pancoast tumour (lung apex) ```
36
how many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31 pairs
37
what are the 31 pairs of spinal nerves?
``` C1-8 T1-12 L1-5 S1-5 Co1 ```
38
what do the spinal nerves pass through?
intervertebral foramina
39
what does the anterior rami connect?
structures of the anterolateral soma via root and rootlets
40
what does the posterior rami connect?
posterior soma to the spinal cord via root and rootlets
41
where do C1-7 spinal nerves emerge?
above their vertebra
42
where do C8 and below spinal nerves emerge?
below their vertebra
43
sensory axon pathway
spinal nerve > posterior root/rootlets > posterior horn of spinal cord
44
motor axon pathway
anterior horn of spinal cord > anterior rootlets > anterior root > spinal nerve
45
modality of anterior rootlets of the cauda equina
motor
46
modality of the posterior rootlets of the cauda equina
sensory
47
what does each spinal nerve pair supply?
a body segment with general sensory supply, somatic motor to skeletal muscles and sympathetic to skin and arterioles
48
define dermatome
skin supplied by a spinal nerve
49
define myotome
muscles supplied by spinal nerve
50
define a nerve plexus
intermingled anterior rami from a number of adjacent spinal nerves
51
what does the cervical plexus supply?
C1-4 posterior scalp neck diaphragm
52
what does the brachial plexus supply?
upper limb | C5-T1
53
what does the lumbar plexus supply?
L1-4 | lower limb
54
what does the sacral plexus supply?
L5-S4 | lower limb, gluteal region and perineum
55
what is laminectomy used for?
access spinal canal | relieve pressure
56
what does peripheral cutaneous nerve innervation often have?
more than 1 spinal nerve
57
what happens when a spinal nerve myotome is tested for motor function?
APs generated in primary somatomotor cortex and conducted via UMN of CST reach anterior horn where LMNs are stimulated conducted to spinal nerve then enter anterior rami
58
define a reflex
involuntary response to a stimulus where both sensory and motor axons are stimulated together