Anatomy: Spine and Spinal Cord

Question 1

What spinal cord end forms the posterior coccygeal ligament?

Answer 1

Filum terminale

Question 2

At what vertebral level does the spinal cord lay at each of the following ages?

3 months gestation
Birth
Adult

Answer 2

3 months gestation: end of spinal canal
Birth: L3
Adults: L1-L2

Question 3

Where does the C1 root exit?

Is there a dorsal root to C1?

Answer 3

C1 root exits between occiput and atlas

There is no dorsal root to C1

Question 4

Within the posterior nerve roots, where within the nerve root are pain/temperature sensation and proprioceptive fibers located?

Answer 4

Pain/temperature fibers are lateral

Proprioceptive fibers are medial

Question 5

How many posterolateral sulci are there and what lies near them?
What does the posterior intermediate sulcus separate?

Answer 5

2 posterolateral sulci and are near DREZs

Posterior intermediate sulcus separates fasiculus cuneatus from gracilus

Question 6

Which rexed laminae caps the posterior horn?
What inputs does it receive?
What type of sensation does it receive?
What neurotransmitters?

Answer 6

Rexed laminae I
DRG and from II
Pain/temperature
Substance P, Enkephalin, 5HT, Somatostatin

Question 7

Which rexed laminae is also known as the substantia gelatinosa?
Where does it receive inputs from?
What is the major neurotransmitter?

Answer 7

II
Posterior columns, dorsolateral, and lateral funiculi with slow pain (C fibers)
Substance P

Question 8

Which two rexed layers have a high density of opiate and substance P receptors?

Answer 8

Laminae I and II