Anatomy of the Spinal Cord Flashcards
1
Q

A
Vertebral Canal
- The spinal canal is the space in the vertebral column formed by the vertebrae through which the spinal cord passes
2
Q

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Filum terminale
- A fibrous extension of the pia mater, extends even farther into the coccygeal canal to attach to the posterior coccyx
- Proceeds downward from the apex of the conus medullaris
3
Q

A
Spinal cord conus medullaris
- The cone shaped end of the spinal cord
- Ends at the level of L1 or L2
4
Q

A
Foramen Magnum
- Level of the origin of the spinal cord
5
Q

A
Denticulate ligaments
- Saw-toothed shelves of the pia mater
- Secures the spinal cord to the bony wall of the vertebral column all along its length
6
Q
Level of the termination of the spinal cord

A
- The spinal cord ends at the level L1 or L2
7
Q
Length of the spinal cord

A
- Approximately a meter long
- Ends at L1 or L2
8
Q

A
Meninges
- The three membranes (dura mater, arachoid layer, and pia mater) that lines the skull and the vertebral spinal cord
- Encloses the bone and spinal cord
9
Q

A
Subarachnoid Space
- Space between the arachnoid layer and the pia mater that has threadlike projections and contains the spinal fluid
10
Q

A
Subdural space
- Space that is between the dura mater and the arachnoid layer
11
Q

A
Epidural space
- Space between the dura mater and the bones of the vertebral canal
12
Q
A
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
- A liquid that fills the ventricles of the brain, the central canal of the spinal cord, and the space between the CNS (brain and spinal cord), and dura mater
- “Cushions”/protects the brain and spinal cord
13
Q

A
Dura Mater
- “Tough mother”
- The outermost, leathery double membraine layer of the meninges
14
Q

A
Arachnoid Layer
- Delicate, weblike middle layer of the meninges
15
Q

A
Pia Mater
- Delicate inner layer of the meninges which is highly vascular
16
Q
Number of spinal nerves

A
31 pairs
17
Q

A
Cervical Enlargment
- A thickening in the spinal cord that supplies nerves to the upper limbs
- Corresponds with the attachments of the large nerves which supply the the upper limbs
- Extends from C3 to T2
18
Q

A
Lumbar enlargment
- A widened area of the spinal cord that gives attachment to the nerves which supply the lower limbs
- From L2 to S3
19
Q

A
Cauda equina
- “Horse’s tail”
- Spinal nerves that extend down the vertebral canal past the level of the spinal cord (beyong L1 or L2)
20
Q
Location of where a lumbar (spinal) tap would be made

A
L4/L5
21
Q
Location of where a saddle block/epidural would be made

A
L3-L5
22
Q
A
Gray Matter
- The darker tissue of the spinal cord
- A zone or layer of tissue in the central nervous system where the neuron cell bodies, dendrites, and synapses are found
- The core “butterfly” of the spinal cord
23
Q
Characteristiscs of gray matter
A
- Butterfly shape
- Made up of neurons
- Not myelinated
24
Q
Generalization of the “butterfly”
A
- The central “butterfly” is gray matter
- Gray matter contrains cell bodies, dendrites, and unmyelinated cells
25
**Posterior Dorsal Horns**
* Recieves sensory fivers from the spinal nerves
* The two dorsal projections of the gray matter recieves sensory fivers from the spinal cord
26
**Anterior (ventral) horns**
* Contains the cell bodies of lower motor neurons
* The tips of the ventral horns are boarder and less tapered than those of the dorsal horns
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**Gray Commissure**
* The central area of gray matter connecting the two vertical regions
28
**Central canal**
* The gray commissure surrounds the central canal of the spinal cord
* The central canal is a cerebrospinal fluid filled spaced that runs longitudinally through the entire length of the spinal cord
29
**Arachnoid Layer**
* Delicate, weblike middle layer of the meninges
30
**Pia Mater**
* Delicate inner layer of the meninges which is highly vascular
31
**Dura Mater**
* "Tough mother"
* The outermost, leathery double membraine layer of the meninges
32
**Epidural space**
* Space between the dura mater and the bones of the vertebral canal
33
**Subarachnoid Space**
* Space between the arachnoid layer and the pia mater that has threadlike projections and contains the spinal fluid
34
**Subdural space**
## Footnote
Space that is between the dura mater and the arachnoid layer
35
**Dorsal (Posterior) Root**
* The dorsal horns contain interneurons and sensory fibers that enter the cord from the body periphery via the dorsal root
36
**Dorsal (posterior) root ganglion**
* Sensory fibers
* Lacks motor neurons
* The cell bodies of these neurons are found in the enlarged are of the dorsal root (called the dorsal root ganglion)
37
**Tracts**

**Tracts**
* Collections of axons in CNS
38
**Nerves**

**Nerves**
* Collections of axons in PNS
39
**Ganglia**

**Ganglia**
* Collections of neuron cell bodies in PNS
40
**Nucleus (nuclei)**

**Nucleus (nuclei)**
* Collections of neuron cell bodies in CNS
41

**Dorsal Root**
* The dorsal root is an afferent root, meaning it carries neural signals from the limbs and organs back to the spinal cord and brain
* Afferent = sensory
42

**Dorsal Root Ganglion**
43

**Spinal Cord**
44

**Ventral Root**
45

**White Matter**
46

**Gray Matter**
47

**Spinal Ganglion**