BMC L6

Question 1

Cross section of the spinal cord and vertebra

Answer 1

1. Pia mater
2. Arachnoid mater
3. Dura mater
4. Dorsal root ganglon
5. Subarachnoid space (contains CSF)
6. Subdural space
7. Epidural space (contains fat)

Question 2

State the role of filum terminale

Answer 2

Extends distally from the menginges
Attaches to coccyx
Anchors the spinal cord to the meninges

Question 3

Describe the location of the dura mater of the spinal cord

Answer 3

Extends from the magnum foramen to the filum terminale
SPINAL NERVES RUN THROUGH DURA MATER
DURA MATER SURROUNDS NERVE ROOT
AND FUSES WITH EPINEURIUM

Question 4

Describe the spinal cord external anatomy

Answer 4

SC begins at the occipital bone
SC ends as cauda equina at veterbal junction L1/L2

Question 5

Describe the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord

Answer 5

In the cervical region of the spinal cord, there is a section where it is enlarged, between C4 and T1, this is because the nerves serving arms emerge / leave from here

C4 to T1
Nerves serving arms emerge here

Question 6

Describe the Lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord

Answer 6

T11 to L2
Nerves serving legs emerge here

Question 7

State two functions of the spinal cord

Answer 7

2-way communication between CNS and PNS
Contains spinal reflex centre

Question 8

What is the cauda equina?

Answer 8

Collection of nerve roots at inferioir end of vertebral canal

Question 9

What is cauda equina syndrome? Symptoms and Cause

Answer 9

Symptoms:

• Low back pain, radiating down legs
  -Numbness around anus therefore, loss of bowel and bladder control

Cause:

Disk herniation / cancer / trauma / epidural hematoma

Question 10

Describe the internal anatomy of the spinal cord

Answer 10

Grey matter inside, white matter outside

2 grooves divide cord into right and left halves

Question 11

What are the two grooves which divide the spinal cord into right and left halves?

Answer 11

Ventral median fissure / anterior
Dorsal median sulcus / posterior

Question 12

What structure connects the left and right grey areas

Answer 12

Grey commisure

Question 13

Describe the distrobution of grey matter within each side of the spinal cord

Answer 13

Grey matter on each side of spinal cord is subdivided into regions called horns:

1. Dorsal horns (posterior horn): interneurones
2. Lateral horns: part of symp ANS, present in throracic and L1 and L2, motor neurones to SM and glands

DIAGRAM
3. Ventral horns (anterior horn) - somatic efferents - voluntary movements

Question 14

Describe the simplified spinal reflex

Question 15

How many spinal nerves are there?

Answer 15

31 pairs of spinal nerves

• 8 cervical nerves

-12 thoracic nerves

-5 lumbar nerves

-5 sacral nerves

-1coccygeal nerve

NOTE: 8 cervical nerves, 7 cervical vertebrae

Question 16

How to spinal nerves travel through the spinal cord?

Answer 16

Pass in/out superior to corresponding vertebrae via intervertebral foramen

Question 17

What is the white matter of the spinal cord?

Answer 17

Contains bundles of nerve axons - organised into TRACTS / FASCICLES
Grouped into 3 white columns (funiculi) on each side
DORSAL, VENTRAL, LATERAL FUNICULI
Allow comunication with CNS
May be ascending / descending tracts
(ascending - sensory)
(descending - motor)

Question 18

State two types of descending tracts

Answer 18

1. Direct pathways / pyramidal tracts
   VOLUNARY MOVEMENT
   Parkinson’s disease
2. Indirect pathways / extrapyramidal tracts
   PREVENTS UNWANTED MOVEMENT
   Huntington’s Chorea

Question 19

State the function of descending tracts

Answer 19

Deliver EFFERENT impulses
Brain to spinal cord

Question 20

What are the two types of spinal cord injuries

Answer 20

Can be complete / incomplete

Question 21

Give examples of complete spinal cord injuries

Answer 21

1. Quadriplegia
   Cervical regions
   Affects all 4 extremities
2. Paraplegia
   Thoracic and Lumbar, sacral regions
   Affects only 2 extremities

Question 22

Give examples of incomplete spinal cord injuries

Answer 22

1. Central cord syndrome
2. Anterior cord syndrome
3. Posterior cord syndrome
4. CAUDA EQUINA SYNDROME

Question 23

State the most common causes of spinal cord injuries

Answer 23

Fall
Assult
Sport
Degenerative causes
Tumours
Cancer
Disk herniation
Epidural Hematoma

Question 24

Describe the location / position of the spinal cord

Answer 24

Spinal cord located in vertebral canal in vertebral column

Question 25

Describe the vertebral column

Answer 25

Series of bones called vertebrae, separated by intervertebral disks

vertebral column divided into 5 regions:

1. Cervical 7
2. Thoracic 12
3. Lumbar 5
4. Sacrum 5
5. Coccyx 4

Question 26

State which two vertebrae in the vertebral columnn are fused

Answer 26

Sacrum and coccyx

Question 27

State the two topmost vertebrae and its function

Answer 27

Atlas c1 and axis c2
Form joint, connecting skull and spine

atlas and axis work together to help rotate the neck

Question 28

How are the two topmost vertebrae specialised to their function

Answer 28

Specialised to allow greater range of motion than any other vertebrae

GREATER MOTION / MORE MOVEMENT

Question 29

State the cause of lordosis

Answer 29

SWAYBACK

EXCESS ANTERIOIR CURVATURE OF LUMBAR VERTERBAL COLUMN REGION

common in pregnant women to PROTECT SPINAL CORD

Question 30

Describe the magnum foramen

Answer 30

“big hole”

where spinal cord enters to join to skull

Question 31

Describe the occipital condyle

Answer 31

Joint between C1 and skull

Answer 32

Tracts (ascending + descending) can only be white matter
Because they are axons

Question 33

State the two ascending tracts

Answer 33

Spinothalamic tract

Dorsal White Column tract