Chapter 13: Spinal Cord

Question 1

Functions of spinal cord (2)

Answer 1

• processing center for reflexes
• conduction pathway for sensory and motor nerve impulses

Question 2

spinal cord is protected by____ (3)

Answer 2

1. meninges
2. vertebrae
3. CSF

Question 3

vertebral column provides?

Answer 3

a body fortification around the spinal cord

Question 4

what are the meninges made of?

Answer 4

3 membranes that enclose the spinal cord

Question 5

pia mater

Answer 5

• innermost
• thin, delicate CT that closely adheres to brain and spinal cord tissue

Question 6

denticulate ligaments

Answer 6

thickenings of pia mater that suspend the spinal cord in the middle of the dural sheath

Question 7

arachnoid mater

what does it resemble?

Answer 7

• middle layer
• thin and transparent
• loosely attached to pia mater
• looks like sheets of gauze
• fits over CNS like sleeve

Question 8

subarachnoid space is filled with?

Answer 8

cerebral fluid

Question 9

arachnoid trebeculae

Answer 9

attaches to pia mater and arachnoid

Question 10

dura mater

Answer 10

• outermost
• tough, thick membrane in close contact with bones of cranium and spine (tubular sheath - dural sheath)

Question 11

meningeal layer

Answer 11

• inner dura mater
• faces arachnoid

Question 12

periosteal layer

Answer 12

• outer dura mater
• in contact with periosteum

Question 13

dural sheath

Answer 13

hollow tube attached by trebeculae

Question 14

subdural

Answer 14

btwn arachnoid and dura mater

Question 15

epidural

Answer 15

btwn periosteum and dura mater

Question 16

meningitis

symptoms

Answer 16

inflammation of the meninges

• headache, stiff neck, high temp, convulsions, ear ringing, projectile vomiting

Question 17

spinal tap

what does it measure?

Answer 17

removal of CSF from subarachnoid space

• used to measure CSF pressure
• isolate causative microbes for meningitis
• introduce antibiotics

Question 18

spinal cord begins ______ ends _______

Answer 18

as a continuation of the medulla oblongata

2nd lumbar vertebra (cord doesnt grow)

Question 19

cervical enlargements

Answer 19

C3-T2 nerves that innervate upper extremities come from this this enlargement

Question 20

lumbar enlargements

Answer 20

T11-L2 nerves that innervate lower extremities

Question 21

conus medullaris

Answer 21

tapered portion of the spinal cord

Question 22

cauda equina

Answer 22

nerve rootlets that come off the base of the spinal cord (conus medullaris)

Question 23

filum terminale

Answer 23

fibrous CT continuous with pia mater

• attached cauda equina to periosteum of coccyx as a ligament called coccygeal ligaments

Question 24

___ pairs of spinal nerves (total) are named and numbered according to what?

Answer 24

31 (62) region

level of the spinal cord they emerge from

Question 25

why are spinal nerves mixed?

Answer 25

they contain sensory and motor fibers

Question 26

cervical nerves

Answer 26

8 pairs

C1-C8

Question 27

Thoracic nerves

Answer 27

12 pairs

T1-T12

Question 28

Lumbar nerves

Answer 28

5 pairs

L1-L5

Question 29

sacral nerves

Answer 29

5 pairs

S1-S5

Question 30

coccygeal nerves

Answer 30

1 pair

Co1-Co2

Question 31

spinal nerves are the paths of ?

Answer 31

communication btwn the spinal cord and most regions of the body