Lecture 2: Vertebral Column & Spinal Cord Flashcards
List the features of typical vertebrae.
Body
Vertebral arch
Transverse processes
Spinouis processes
Vertebral formaen
Intervertebral foramina
Where do spinal nerves exit in the vertebral column?
Intervertebral foramina
What are the different kinds of vertebrae?
Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacral
Coccygeal
List the number of vertebrae in each section.
C - 7
T - 12
L - 5
S - 5 (fused)
C - 4 (fused)
How do rips articulate with the thoracic vertebrae?
Most ribs articulate between two adjacent thoracic vertebrae
The head of a rib articulates with the _____________ of the vertebrae.
Body
The tubercle of a rib articulates with the _______________ process of vertebrae.
Tubercle
What are intervertebral discs composed of?
Anulus fibrosis
Nucleus pulposus
What is annulus fibrosis?
Peripheral part of a intervertebral disc, composed of fibrocartilage
What is the nucleus pulposis?
Central, gelatinous part of the inervertebral disc
What is the function of intervertebral discs?
Shock absorbers
What rests in the vertebral canal?
Spinal cord
What is found within the vertebral canal?
Epidural space
Meninges
Spinal cord
What is the epidural space?
Area between vertebra and meninges
What do you find in the epidural space?
Fat + Blood vessels (Veins & arteries)
What are the coverings around the spinal cord?
Meninges
What are the purpose of meninges
Protect and anchor the spinal cord
What is the dura mater?
Outermost layer - dense CT
Where does the dura mater end?
S2
What is the subdural space?
Potential space between dura and arachnoid
What is the subarachnoid space?
Real space between arachnoid and pia mater
What is the subarachnoid spaced filled with?
CSF
What do you find in the subarachnoid space?
Arteries & veins (plus CSF)
What is the innermost meninge?
Pia mater
Where do you find denticulate “ligaments”?
Pia mater
What is the composition of the spinal cord?
Inner gray matter
Outer white matter
What is gray matter?
Neuron cell bodies and dendrites and unmyelinated nerve cell processes.
What is white matter?
Myelinated axons
What is the end of the spinal cord?
Conus medullaris
What is inferior to the conus medullaris?
Cauda equina
In embryo, what is the length of the spinal cord?
Entire length of vertebral canal
As infants, what is the length of the spinal cord?
Ends at level of L3 vertebra
As adults, what is the length of the spinal cord?
Typically ends at inferior border of L1 vertebra
Nerves that come off the spinal cord are known as…
Spinal nerves
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31 pairs
Describe the different spinal nerve groupings.
Cervical: C1-C8
Thoracic: T1-T12
Lumbar: L1-L5
Sacral: S1-S5
Coccygeal: Coc1
Where do C1-C7 nerves exit?
Superior to the bodies of their respective vertebrae
Where does C8 exit?
Between C7 and T1.
The remaining nerves (T1 and on) exit _________ to the bodies of their respective vertebrae.
Inferior
Posterior (dorsal) root is…
sensory
Anterior (ventral) root is..
Motor
Posterior rami or anterior rami of SN: Serratus posterior superior
Intercostal N (anterior rami)
Posterior rami or anterior rami of SN: Iliocostalis
Posterior rami
Posterior rami or anterior rami of SN: trapezius
Cranial N XI (accessory)
*Trick ?
Posterior rami or anterior rami of SN: splenius cervicis
Posterior rami
What is a dermatome?
a segment of skin innervated by a single spinal nerve (in theory)
What is a dermatomal map?
map that shows general pattern of dermatomes
What is the arterial supply to the spinal cord?
Anterior spinal artery
Posterior spinal artery
Radicular arteries
What is the venous drainage fo the spinal cord?
Internal vertebral venous plexus
External vertebral venous plexus
What is a herniated disc?
Tear in annulus fibrosis that allows for the nucleus pulposus to protrude posterolaterally.
