Neuroanatomy Flashcards
What is a spinal nerve root?
Connects spinal nerve
to segment of spinal cord
What are the two types of spinal nerve roots?
Dorsal root
Ventral root
What does the dorsal root carry?
Sensory fibres
What is the dorsal root ganglion?
Collection of cell bodies of afferent sensory neurones
What does the ventral root carry?
Motor and autonomic fibres
What are spinal nerves?
Merging of dorsal and ventral roots
contain both sensory and motor fibres
Where are spinal nerves located?
As they pass though the intervertebral foramen
What is the significance of the spinal nerve passing through the intervertebral foramen?
Marks the division of the CNS and PNS
How many spinal nerve roots are there?
31
How are the spinal nerve roots numbered?
Depending on the level at which they leave the vertebral column
Where does the spinal cord begin?
Inferior margin of medulla oblongata
Where does the spinal cord end?
Conus medullaris
at L2
Are spinal cord segments vertically aligned with their corresponding vertebrae?
Not really
How do lumbar, sacral, coccygeal nerves exit?
Long spinal nerve roots
descent down in cauda equina
then exit at their own intervertebral foramina
Where do C1 - C7 nerves exit?
Above their corresponding vertebrae
Where does C8 exit?
Above T1
Where do T1-L5 exit?
Below their corresponding vertebrae