lecture 10 - the spinal cord & autonomic nervous system Flashcards
What are the components of the CNS?
Brain, brain stem & spinal cord
How many pairs of cranial nerves are there?
12
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31
What is the spinal cord a continuation of proximally?
The brain stem (medulla oblongata)
What vertebral level does the spinal cord extend to?
L1/L2
What is the terminal part of the spinal cord?
Conus medullaris
What covers the spinal cord?
Meninges
What are the 3 layers of the meninges?
Dura mater, Arachnoid mater, pia mater
What are the 2 enlargements of the spinal cord?
Cervical & Lumbosacral
What is an enlargement in the spinal cord?
An area where the cord has more neurons
What is the filum terminale?
A fine filament of connective tissue (part of the pia mater) that fixes the conus modularis to stabilise the spinal cord
What are the 2 parts of the filum terminale?
superiorly: Pial part
inferiorly: dural part
At what level does the subarachnoid space end?
S2
What layer of the meninges does the CSF circulate in?
Sub-arachnoid space
What is the outermost layer of the meninges?
Dura mater
What is the middle layer of the meninges?
Arachnoid mater
What is the innermost layer of the meninges?
Pia mater
What is the role of the denticulate ligament?
Lateral stabilisation of the spinal cord
What tissue forms the denticulate ligament?
Pia mater of the meninges
What structure is formed by the pia mater to stabilise the spinal cord?
Denticulate ligament
What is the name for the space between the outer meninges (dura mater) and the vertebral canal?
Epidural/extradural space
What is the name for the strands of conective tissue that make up the arachnoid mater?
Arachnoid trabeculae
What part of the spine is a lumbar puncture done on?
Between the spinous processes of L3 and L4 or L4 and L5
What are the key arteries that supply the spinal cord?
2 posterior spinal arteries, 1 anterior spinal artery, segmental spinal arteries (1 on each side at each level)