L4: Dermatomes and Myotomes and the Lumbar spine Flashcards
What day in embryology does the neural tube begin to develop?
Day 18
Under the influence of the notochord
Segmented –> neural level
How many somites does the neural tube split into?
34-35 somites by day 30
What do the somites differentiate into?
Ventral –> sclerotome –> vertebrae and ribs
Dorsal –> dermamyotome
–> dermatome –> dermis
–> myotome –> muslce tissue
Why does the skin and muscle have a common nerve supply?
Develop single dermamyotome –> association with a specific neural level
Take nerve supply with them –> spinal (segmental) nerve
Define dermatome?
Area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve
What does the Foerster dermatome map show? What are some of the landmarks that help you learn the distribution?
Shows the neuronal supply to each area of skin on the body Anterior -Axilla level T2 -Nipples= T4/5 -Umbilicus= T10 -Groin= L1 -Knee= L3 -Small toe= S1
Posterior
- Back of head C2
- Back of neck C3
- Posterior shoulder C4
- S2 back of leg
- S5- bum hole!
Describe the structure of a typical neuron?
Cell body
Dendrites –> thin structures–> cell body
Axon–> axon hillock
What is the function of a neuron?
Receive, process and transmit information
Chemical and electrical signals
What is a myelin sheath?
Insulating layer–> speed up conduction
CNS–> Oligodendroctyres
PNS–> Schwann cells
What does a bundle of axons form in the CNS?
A tract
Describe the structure of a peripheral nerve?
Axon surrounded by Schwann cells Endoneurium--> connective tissue Axons--> bundled--> fascicles Perineurium--> connective tissue Fascicles grouped -->nerve Epineurium --> connective tissue
Describe the structure of the endoneurium? What does it contains?
- -> inner sleeve contains glycocalyx and mesh of collagen
- -> Endoneurial fluid
- -> Similar to BBB–> stops certain molecules crossing–> Analogous to CSF
- -> Nerve injury –> ↑ endoneurial fluid
What is contained within the epineurium?
High metabolic requirement
Blood vessels
Vasa Nervorum (small arteries)
What is a spinal nerve?
Short mixed nerve
Contains motor, sensory and autonomic fibres
Pass through intervertebral foramen
Compare the dorsal and ventral root?
Dorsal–> afferent–> sensory nerves
Ventral–> efferent –> motor neurones and autonomic fibres
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there? How are they named?
31 pairs of spinal nerves
Names according to level of VC that they emerge
Cervical spinal nerves–> named according inferior vertebrae e.g. C4 spinal nerve –> C3 vertebra superior, C4 vertebrae inferior
Thoracic/lumbar –> named according to superior vertebrae e.g. L3 spinal nerve–> L3 vertbrae superior, L4 vertebrae inferior
Where do the vertebra come from?
Sclerotome (ventral somite) –> + ribs thoracic region
Derived from two adjacent somites (half from each)
Where does the spinal cord pass?
Passes through vertebral foramen
Multiple form the spinal canal
Where do the spinal nerves leave?
Through intervertebral foramina
Where does the spinal cord run from?
Inferior margin of medulla oblongata (skull-- foramen magnum) Conus meduallris (L2) --> Cauda Equina
Why is the spinal cord shorter than the spinal canal?
Differential rates of growth
What do the sacral nerves exit through? What does S5 and coccygeal nerve exit through?
Sacral nerves–> sacral formaina
S5 and coccygeal –> sacral hiatus
What are rami?
The divisions of the spinal nerve after it has passed through the intervertebral foramen.
What are the division of the rami called? What do they supply?
Anterior or ventral rami–> muscles and skin of upper and lower limbs and lateral and ventral trunk
–> larger
Posterior or dorsal rami –> deep muscles and skin of the dorsal trunk
–> small
What nerve does each spinal nerve give off? What does this nerve do?
Meningeal branch
Re-enters spinal canal–> Intervertebral foramen
Supplies the vertebrae, ligaments of VC, blood vessels and meninges
Which part of the spinal cord gives out sympathetic fibres and which gives out parasympathetic fibres?
Sympathetic –> Thoracolumbar outflow –> T1-L2
Parasympathetic –> crainosacral outflow –> C1-8 and S1-5
What additional nerve is there in the thoracolumbar region? What is it contained within?
Preganglionic sympathetic nerve
White ramus (rami) communicans –> synapses
Exits via grey ramus (rami) communicans –> Post rami communicans
Why are they called the white and grey rami communicans?
White–> myelinated axons
Grey –> unmyelinated axons
What does the posterior (dorsal) rami divide into? What do they supply?
Divides into medial and lateral branches
- -> supply muscles and skin
- -> Inline with intervertebral foramen
Explain the anterior (ventral) rami distribution?
Skin and muscle of trunk–> segmented T2-L1
C1-C4 head, neck and shoulder
C5- T1–> upper limb (arm)
L1-S5 –> lower limb (leg)
What is the name of the plexus in the upper limb and the lower limb? What spinal nerves enter each?
Upper limb –> brachial plexus C5-T1
Lower limb –> Lumbosacral plexus L1-S5
What is significant about the anterior (ventral) rami in the limbs?
Supplies both the anterior (ventral) and posterior (dorsal) skin of the limbs
What do we mean by functional overlap?
Spinal nerve–> specific area –> does overlap a bit
Spinal nerve damage–> loss of sensation usually less extensive than expected
What is the axial line?
Junction between two dermatomes
Discontinuous spinal level
Midline of body in trunk
Limb–> anterior (ventral) and posterior (dorsal) axial lines –> mark the centre of the anterior and posterior compartments
In development which way do the limbs rotate?
Upper limb–> laterally 90 degrees
–> elbow and extensor muscles on posterior and lateral surface
Lower limb–> medially 90 degrees
–> knee and extensor muscles on anterior aspect
What is the pre-axial and post-axial borders?
Mark the border where flexors and extensors meet
Development
Pre-axial–> cephalic side
Post-axial–> caudual side
What marks the pre-axial and post-axial borders in a developed human?
Veins
Upper limb
–> Cephalic vein –> pre-axial border–> Lateral
–> Basilic vein–> post-axial border–> medial
Lower limb
–> Long (great) saphenous vein –> pre-axial border –> anteromedial aspect
–> Short (small) saphenous vein –> post-axial border –> posterior (posterolateral)
What happens to nerves in the brachial plexus?
Axons from single spinal nerves follow multiple different routes in plexus and emerge in several different peripheral nerves
What is unusual about peripheral nerves? What is the clinical consequence?
Contains fibres from more than one spinal nerve
Area of skin supplied–> doesn’t match dermatome map
Cutaneous innervation of that nerve
Sensory and motor nerves?
What is a myotome?
Group of muscle fibres supplied by a single spinal nerve
Usually muscle fibres in different muscles
How does a motor unit differ from a myotome?
Single motor neurone (single axon) and the muscle fibres it supplies
Myotome group of muscle fibres supplied by a single spinal nerve
What movements are associated with C5?
Shoulder abduction
External rotation
(Elbow flexion)
What movements are associated with C6?
Elbow flexion
Wrist extension
Supination
(Internal rotation of shoulder)
What movements are associated with C7?
Elbow extension
Wrist flexion
Pronation
(Finger flexion and extension)
What movements are associated with C8?
Finger flexion
Finger extension
(thumb extension, wrist ulnar deviation)