CH 16 Flashcards
Spinal cord
Spinal cord meninges and structure of spinal cord
- Epidural space
- Dura mater
- Subdural space
- Arachnoid mater
- Subarachnoid space
- Pia mater
Epidural space
- Actual space between the dura mater and periosteum of the vertebrae
- Contains areolar CT, blood vessels, adipose tissue
Dura mater
- Most external of the meninges
- Fuses with CT layers that surround spinal nerves
Subdural space
Narrow potential space that separates the dura mater from the arachnoid
Arachnoid mater
Deep to dura mater and subdural space
Subarachnoid space
Actual space filled with CSF
Pia mater
- Innermost meningeal layer that adheres directly to the spinal cord
- Delicate layer composed of elastic and collagen fibers that support some blood vessels supplied to the spinal cord
Spinal cord is continuous with the _______
medulla
Spinal cord gross anatomy
- Conus medullaris/ medullary cone
- Spinal nerves
- Cauda equina
- Filum terminale
- Enlargements
Pairs of spinal nerves exit cord and travel through ______________
intervertebral foramina
Conus medullaris/ medullary cone
Cone-shaped end of spinal cord; located at L1-L2
Cauda equina
Axons traveling through vertebral canal inferior to conus medullaris
Nerve roots that look like a horse’s tail
Nerve root
Initial portion of nerve that that originates directly from CNS
Nerve ramus
Branch of nerve
Filum terminale
Thin strand of pia mater that anchors the conus medullaris to the coccyx
Enlargements
Regions where the spinal cord has a greater diameter because more neuron cell bodies are there and more space is occupied by axons and dendrites
Part of the spinal cord that controls the upper and lower limbs
Cervical enlargement
Where nerves exit and supplies (contains neurons that innervate) upper extremities; Located in inferior cervical portion of spinal cord
Lumbosacral enlargement
Where nerves exit and supplies lower extremities
Gray matter of spinal cord
- Anterior horns
- Lateral horns
- Posterior horns
- Central canal
Gray matter is centrally located
Anterior horns
- Anterior masses of gray matter
- Contains cell bodies of somatic motor neuron
- Supply skeletal muscle
Lateral horns
- Lateral masses of gray matter in T1-L2
- Contains cell bodies of autonomic motor neurons exiting cord
- Supplies cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, glands
Posterior horns
- Posterior masses of gray matter
- Sensory neurons enter cord here
- Axons of sensory neurons and cell bodies of interneurons
Funiculus
Partitions white matter of spinal cord into 3 portions (anterior, posterior, lateral)
Tract
Smaller structural units that organizes axons of funiculus
Ascending tract
Tract from spinal cord to brain
Conduct sensory impulses
Descending tract
Tract from brain to spinal cord
Conduct motor commands
Posterior/dorsal median sulcus
Narrow, deep groove that dips internally on posterior surface
Anterior/ ventral median fissure
Slightly wider, shallow groove that dips internally on anterior surface