Class 3 - The Spinal Cord

Question 1

List the protective layers of the spinal cord from outermost to innermost.

Answer 1

vertebrae
epidural space
dura mater
subdural space
arachnoid mater
subarachnoid space
pia mater
denticulate ligaments

Question 2

The cervical enlargement is seen between…

Answer 2

C4-T1

Question 3

The lumbar enlargement is seen between…

Answer 3

T9-T12

Question 4

The conus medullaris ends at the level of…

Answer 4

L1-L2

Question 5

What is the filum terminale?

Answer 5

extension of pia mater that fuses with the arachnoid and dura maters, then anchors the spinal cord to the coccyx

Question 6

What is in the dorsal vs. ventral roots of the spinal nerve roots?

Answer 6

dorsal - sensory axons only

ventral - motor axons only

Question 7

What is the cauda equina?

Answer 7

nerves that arise from the lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal regions of the spine move somewhat parallel to the spine downward before exiting the vertebral canal

Question 8

The central canal is continuous with…

Answer 8

the fourth ventricle in the medulla

Question 9

The ventral gray horns contain…

Answer 9

somatic motor cell bodies (nuclei)

Question 10

The dorsal gray horns contain…

Answer 10

axons of sensory neurons + cell bodies of interneurons

Question 11

Lateral gray horns are only present in…

Answer 11

the thoracic and upper lumbar segments of the spinal cord

Question 12

What is contained in the lateral gray horns?

Answer 12

autonomic motor nuclei

Question 13

Which white columns contain mostly motor tracts?

Answer 13

the anterior/ventral white columns

Question 14

Which white columns contain only sensory tracts?

Answer 14

posterior/dorsal white columns

Question 15

What is the conus medullaris?

Answer 15

terminating/tapering off of the spinal cord

Question 16

The cauda equina is enclosed by… and surrounded by CSF in the ____ space

Answer 16

a bag-like structure of the dura and arachnoid mater

subarachnoid space

Question 17

Where does a spinal tap draw CSF fluid from?

Answer 17

the subarachnoid space around the sac enclosing the cauda equina

Question 18

Which meningeal layer is continuous with epineurium?

Answer 18

dura mater

Question 19

What are the denticulate ligaments, and what are they for?

Answer 19

thickenings/extensions of the pia mater which suspend the spinal cord in the middle of its sheath to prevent sudden displacement

Question 20

What is the gray commissure?

Answer 20

the crossbar of the “H” which the central canal pierces through

Question 21

The posterior white funiculi can be divided into two tracts, which are:

Answer 21

gracile fasciculus

cuneate fasciculus

Question 22

Direct motor pathways are also called _____ and are for ______ movements

Answer 22

pyramidal

voluntary

Question 23

Indirect motor pathways are also called _____ and are for _____ movements

Answer 23

extrapyramidal

autonomic movements (such as maintenance of posture)

Question 24

What are the 3 possible fates for information entering the spinal cord?

Answer 24

1. head straight to the brain
2. synapse with interneuron –> ascend to brain
3. spinal reflex pathway

Question 25

Where is the spinal cord the thickest?

Answer 25

lower cervical spine

Question 26

Spinal nerves C1-C7 all exit the vertebral canal ____ their corresponding vertebrae

Answer 26

above

Question 27

Spinal nerves T1-L5 all exit the vertebral canal ___ their corresponding vertebrae

Answer 27

below

Question 28

What is the function of the meningeal branch of spinal nerve roots?

Answer 28

to re-enter the intervertebral foramen and supply the vertebrae, ligaments, blood vessels of spinal cord + meninges

Question 29

The rami communicantes is a component of which division of the nervous system?

Answer 29

the ANS

Question 30

Lateral gray horns are found in which regions of the spinal cord?

Answer 30

thoracic and upper lumbar

Question 31

Which spinal nerve segments serve the upper and lower limbs?

Answer 31

the cervical and lumbar enlargements

Question 32

Which spinal nerve does NOT have a corresponding dermatome?

Answer 32

C1

Question 33

The phrenic nerve is made up of nerves from which spinal segments?

Answer 33

C3, C4, C5

Question 34

What is contained in the lateral gray horns?

Answer 34

autonomic motor nuclei

Question 35

What is the outermost covering of the spinal nerves?

Answer 35

epineurium

Question 36

Which space in the spinal cord holds CSF?

Answer 36

the subarachnoid space (and central canal)

Question 37

What is held in the epidural space?

Answer 37

fat + connective tissue

Question 38

The dura mater forms a sac around the spinal cord from the level of the foramen magnum to the...

Answer 38

level of S2

Question 39

Which of the following is found in the anterior white column of the spinal cord? lateral corticospinal tract lateral vestibulospinal tract lateral reticulospinal tract

Answer 39

lateral vestibulospinal tract

Question 40

Which is the only sensory tract in the anterior white column?

Answer 40

anterior spinothalamic tract (or at least, part of it)

Question 41

Which of the following is found in the anterior white column of the spinal cord? anterior spinocerebellar tract anterior spinothalamic tract posterior spinocerebellar tract

Answer 41

anterior spinothalamic tract

Question 42

A spinal tap draws CSF fluid from where?

Answer 42

the subarachnoid space at the level of the cauda equina

Question 43

Where is the spinal cord the thickest? And next thickest?

Answer 43

cervical spine, then lumbar spine

Question 44

In which region of the spinal cord are the lateral grey horns mainly present?

Answer 44

thoracic (mainly) but also lumbar

Question 45

The posterior white column contains...

Answer 45

only sensory tracts

Question 46

The anterior white column contains...

Answer 46

mostly motor tracts, plus the anterior spinothalamic tract