Neuroanatomy revision Flashcards
What is located in the dorsal horn in the spinal cord?
Cell bodies of interneurones
What is located in the lateral horn in the spinal cord?
Visceral (autonomic) motor cell bodies (T1-L2 segments sympathetic, S2-4 parasympathetic)
What is located in the ventral horns in the spinal cord?
Somatic motor cell bodies (voluntary movement)
How do the cervical spinal nerves leave the spinal cord?
- There are 7 cervical vertebra but 8 cervical spinal nerves • C1 passes above C1 (between C1 and occipital nerve)
- C8 passes between C7 and T1
What level does the spinal cord end at?
L1-L2 vertebral level
How can you test to see if there is a peripheral nerve impairment?
- Knee reflex: L3/L4
- Ankle reflex: S1
- L5: extend the big toe under pressure
Which space is the CSF in?
The subarachnoid space (between the Pia mater and arachnoid mater)
What is the blood supply of the spinal cord?
- Paired posterior spinal arteries
- Anterior spinal artery
- Radicular arteries
- The great anterior medullary artery of Adamkiewicz
What forms the posterior spinal arteries?
Vertebral artery or the posterior inferior cerebellar artery
What forms the anterior spinal artery?
Contributing branches of each vertebral artery
What forms the radicular arteries?
• Aorta -> intercostal arteries -> segmental spinal arteries -> radicular arteries
What forms the great anterior medullary artery of Adamkiewicz?
Arises from the aorta in the lower thoracic or upper lumbar vertebral levels
Describe the venous drainage of the spinal cord
- Internal vertebral venous plexus in the epi/extra dural space (between the dura and vertebra)
- Doesn’t have any valves- pressure gradients permit flow
What does the internal vertebral venous plexus communicate with?
- Cranial dural venous sinuses
* Pelvic veins
What is the vertebral disc composed of?
- Inner nucleus pulposus
* Outer anulus fibrosus
