Chapter 13 Flashcards
Meninges definition
Three protective, connective tissue coverings that encircle the spinal cord and brain
What are the three meninges?
- Dura mater
- Arachnoid mater
- Pia mater
Dura mater
- Most superficial
- Thick strong layer composed of dense irregular connective tissue
- Forms a sack from the foramen magnum in the occipital bone, to meningeal duramater of the brain, to the second sacral vertebrae
Arachnoid Mater
- The middle layer
- Thin, avascular, made up of cells and thin loosely arranged collagen and elastic fibres
- Deep to the duramater and his continuous through the foreman magnum with the arachnoid Mater of the brain
- between the duramater and the arachnoid Mater is a thin subdural space which contains interstitial fluid
Pia matter
- Innermost meninges
- Send transparent connective tissue layer that adheres to the surface of the spinal cord and brain
- Consists of thin squamous to cuboidal cells within interlacing bundles of collagen fibres and some fine elastic fibres
- Vascular supplies the nutrients and oxygen to the spinal cord
- Suspends the spinal cord in the middle of its dural sheath
Subdural space
Located between the duramater and the arachnoid Mater and contains interstitial fluid
Denticulate ligaments
- Thickening of the pia Mater
- they project laterally and fuse with arachnoid Mater an inner surface of the duramater between the anterior and posterior nerve root of spinal nerves on either side
- protect the spinal cord against sudden displacement that could result in shock
Subarachnoid space
Between arachnoid Mater and pia matter and contains shock absorbing cerebrospinal fluid
Cervical enlargement
- Superior enlargement
- Extends from the fourth cervical vertebrae C4 to the first thoracic vertebrae T1
- Nerves to and from the upper limbs arise from the cervical enlargement
Lumbar enlargement
- Inferior enlargement
- Extends from the ninth to the 12th thoracic vertebrae
- Nurse to and from the lower limbs arise from the lumbar enlargement
Conus medullaris
- The spinal cord terminates as a tapering conical structure
- Ends at the first and second lumbar vertebrae
Filum terminate
- Arises from the cornice medullaris
- Extension of the pia matter, fuses with the arachnoid and Dura Mater
- Anchors the spinal cord to the coccyx
Spinal nerves
The paths of communication between the spinal cord and specific regions of the body
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31
Where do the 31 pairs of spinal nerves emerge?
- Eight pairs of cervical nerves
- 12 pairs of thoracic nerves
- Five pairs of lumbar nerves
- Five pairs of sacral nerves
- 1 pair of coccygeal nerves
Roots
Two bundles of axons that connect each spinal nerve to a segment of the cord by even smaller bundles of axons called rootlets
Rootlets
Even smaller bundles of axons
Posterior root (dorsal)
Contain only sensory axons which conduct nerve impulses from sensory receptors in the skin, muscles, and internal organs into the central nervous system
Posterior (dorsal) root ganglion
Contains the cell bodies of sensory neurons
Anterior (ventral) root
Contain axons of motor neurons which conduct nerve impulses from the CNS to effectors
Cauda equina
Roots of lower spinal nerves that angle inferiority alongside the filum terminale in the vertebral canal like wisps of hair
White matter of spinal cord
- Surrounds grey matter
- Consist mostly of bundles of myelinated axons and neurons
What are the two grooves that puncture the white matter of the spinal cord?
- Anterior median fissure
- Posterior median sulcus
Gray commisure
Forms the crossbar of the H (gray matters shape in the spinal chord)
Central canal
Small space in gray commisure that extends the entire length of the spinal cord and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid
Anterior (ventral) white commisure
Anterior to gray commisure, connects the white matter of the right and left sides of the spinal cord
Nuclei
Clusters of neuronal cells bodies that form functional groups in the gray matter of the spinal cord and brain
Sensory nuclei
Receive input from receptors via sensory neurons
Motor nuclei
Provide output to effector tissues via motor neurons
Horns
How gray matter is subdivided on each side of the spinal cord
Posterior (dorsal) gray horns
Contain axons of incoming sensory neurons as well as cell bodies and axons of interneurons
Three regions of spinal white matter?
- Anterior (ventral) white columns
- Posterior (dorsal) white columns
- Lateral white columns
Tracts
Bundles of axons in CNS, can extend up or down spinal tract
Nerves
Bundles of axons in PNS