Neuroanatomy (revision)

Question 1

Describe the horns of the grey matter and what is contained within them?

Answer 1

H-shaped, contains neuron cell bodies within ‘horns’

• Dorsal/posterior horns -> cells bodies of interneurons
• Lateral horns -> visceral (autonomic) motor cell bodies (T1-L2 segments)
• Ventral/anterior horns -> somatic motor cell bodies

Question 2

What is contained in white matter?

Answer 2

Columns containing a number of ascending and descending tracts (axons). All tracts are paired and some decussate

• Ventral (ant) columns
• Lateral columns
• Dorsal (posterior) columns

Question 3

What nuclei are located in the dorsal root ganglion?

Answer 3

Sensory afferent fibre’s nuclei

Question 4

Where is the DRG found?

Answer 4

Posterior to the dorsal spinal nerve

Question 5

What is the spinal nerve?

Answer 5

• Mixed nerve, which carries motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the body
• Located in intervertebral foramen

Question 6

What kind of fibres are located in the ventral/anterior root?

Answer 6

Motor

Question 7

What fibres do anterior and posterior branches of the spinal nerve carry?

Answer 7

Motor and sensory

Question 8

How do nerve fibres exit from the cervical vertebrae?

Answer 8

• Above their respective vertebrae
• 1st spinal nerve passes above C1
• C8 nerve passes below C7 and above T1 as their is no 8th cervical vertebra

Question 9

What bone can be considered C0?

Answer 9

Occipital bone

Question 10

What fibres are carried by C1 nerve?

Answer 10

Motor only (supply neck muscles)

Question 11

Where does the spinal cord end?

Answer 11

L1/2 (females thought to be body of L2)

Question 12

In what region do spinal nerves not form plexuses?

Answer 12

Thoracic region (not T1)

Question 13

Where are the sympathetic cell bodieslocated?

Answer 13

• Lateral horn of T1-L2 segments
• Postganglionic cell bodies lie in paravertebral sympathetic ganglia
• Ganglia interconnected -> sympathetic chain

Question 14

Where are parasympathetic cell bodies found?

Answer 14

Midbrain and S2-4 segments

Question 15

What is the ganglion impar?

Answer 15

Where LandR sympathetic chains join, just anterior to coccyx

Question 16

WHat is there more of; sympathetic ganglion or vertebrae?

Answer 16

More vertebrae as some sympathetic ganglions merge

Question 17

What is the superior cervical ganglion composed of?

Answer 17

C1-4 sympathetic ganglia

Question 18

What is the middle cervical ganglion composed of?

Answer 18

C5-6

Question 19

What is the inferior cervical ganglion composed of?

Answer 19

C7-8

Question 20

What is the stellate ganglion?

Answer 20

• C7-T1 (inf cervical + T1)

- AKA Cervicothoracic ganglion

Question 21

What do sympathetics enter the sympathetic chain via?

Answer 21

The white ramus communicantes (WRC)

Question 22

What do sympathetics leave the sympathetic chain via?

Answer 22

Grey ramus communicantes (GRC)

Question 23

Where does the heart receive its sympathetics from?

Answer 23

Cervical ganglia (as heart develops in neck)

Question 24

In what region are there no WRC?

Answer 24

Cervical (as the fibres need to travel up)

Question 25

What does cholonergic mean?

Answer 25

capable of producing, altering, or releasing acetylcholine, or butyrylcholine ("indirect-acting"), or mimicking their behaviours at one or more of the body's acetylcholine receptor ("direct-acting") or butyrylcholine receptor types ("direct-acting")

Question 26

In what direction does grey matter "open up"?

Answer 26

Dorsally

Question 27

Where are the somatic neurone located?

Answer 27

The ends (between the 2 are the visceral)

Question 28

If a patient has a problem with their motor system but not their sensory where would you think the lesion/problem took place?

Answer 28

Near midline

Question 29

Where do peripheral nerves exit the spine?

Answer 29

Through intervertebral foramen

Question 30

What is the segment for the knee reflex?

Answer 30

L3/4

Question 31

What is the segment for ankle reflex?

Answer 31

S1

Question 32

How do you test L5

Answer 32

Ask the patient to extent their big toe against resistance

Question 33

What are the three layers of the meninges?

Answer 33

Dura, arachnoid, pia

Question 34

Where is CSF found between the meninges?

Answer 34

Arachnoid and pia (subarachnoid space)

Question 35

What is the space called between arachnoid and dura?

Answer 35

Subdural space

Question 36

What is the space called outside the dura?

Answer 36

Epidural space

Question 37

What is the arterial supply of the spinal cord?

Answer 37

- 2 post spinal arteries - 1 ant spinal artery - Radicular arteries reinforce these (come from spinal arteries and therefore intercostal) - Great anterior medullary artery of Adamkiewicz arises from aorta in lower thoracic or upper lumbar vertebral levels (major source of blood for lower 2/3s of spinal cord)

Question 38

Where does the internal vertebral venous plexus (ant and post.) lie?

Answer 38

In the epidural/extradural space (between dura and vertebrae)

Question 39

What does the internal vertebral venous plexus communicate with?

Answer 39

Cranial dural venous sinuses and pelvic veins -> spread of infection and metastasis - Also do not have valves and pressure gradients permit blood flow

Question 40

In what direction does the nucleus pulposus herniate?

Answer 40

Posterolaterally

Question 41

What is another type of injury to the spinal nerve?

Answer 41

Bone spurs (cracking back)

Question 42

What is included in the dorsal column?

Answer 42

- Fasiculus gracilis | - Fasiculus cuneatus

Question 43

WHITE MATTER TRACTS

Answer 43

LEARN

Question 44

What do sensory temperature fibres move up the spinal cord via

Answer 44

Lateral spinothalamic tract

Question 45

What sense goes to the cortex first then the thalamus?

Answer 45

Smell (all others go thalamus first)

Question 46

WHere are LMN bodies found?

Answer 46

Anterior horn

Question 47

Where do the UMN descend?

Answer 47

Lateral corticospinal tract

Question 48

Where is CSF absorbed?

Answer 48

Araqchnoid granulations to dural sinuses

Question 49

Where are dural sinuses located in meninges?

Answer 49

Between meningeal and periosteal lyers of dura. Then internal jugular and heart

Question 50

What are the 4 vessels which supply the brain?

Answer 50

- Internal carotid arteries (anterior) | - Vertebral arteries (posterior part)