Chapter 12 (module 12.4) Flashcards
composed primarily of nervous tissue; responsible for both relaying and processing information;
spinal cord
what assists in providing a continuous protective covering of spinal cord and distal nerves at base?
brains’ meninges pass through the foramen
what are the three spinal meninges?
- dura mater
- arachnoid mater
- pia mater
Actual or potential spaces between spinal cord meninges are same as those found between cranial meninges with following features from superficial to deep
*epidural space, subdural space, and subarachnoid space
actual space due to absence of a periosteal dura; found between meningeal dura and walls of vertebral foramina; space is filled with veins and adipose tissue; cushions and protects spinal cord
epidural space
only a potential space much like epidural space surrounding brain; dura and arachnoid are normally adhered to one another
subdural space
found between arachnoid and pia mater; filled with CSF; base of spinal cord contains a large volume of CSF; useful site for withdrawing samples for clinical laboratory testing
subarachnoid space
local anesthetic medication is injected into epidural space through an inserted needle
epidural (spinal) anesthesia
needle inserted into subarachnoid space between fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae; avoids possibility of injuring spinal cord
lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
found between first and second lumbar vertebrae; composed of spinal pia mater; thin layer of pia continues through vertebral cavity to form an anchor that is attached to first coccygeal vertebra
filum terminale
components of PNS; carry sensory and motor impulses to and from spinal cord
spinal nerves
filled with CSF; seen in center of spinal cord; surrounded by two thin strips of gray matter (gray commissure); connects each “butterfly” wing
central canal
makes up anterior wing of gray matter and gives rise to anterior motor nerve roots; neuron cell bodies found in this region are involved in somatic motor functions (skeletal muscle contraction)
anterior horn (ventral horn)
makes up posterior wing of gray matter and gives rise to posterior sensory nerve roots; neuron cell bodies found in this region are involved in processing incoming somatic and visceral sensory information
posterior horn (dorsal horn)
found only in spinal cord between first thoracic vertebra and lumbar region; contains cell bodies of neurons involved in control of viscera via autonomic nervous system
lateral horn
