Neuroanatomy: Spinal cord gross anatomy

Question 1

How many regions is the spinal cord divided into?

Answer 1

5 regions of the spinal cord: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal

Question 2

What are the meninges associated with the spinal cord?

Answer 2

All three layers of the meninges surround the spinal cord. They cover the initial part of spinal nerves then fuse with epineurium (connective tissue that helps nerves maintain integrity and keeps them from getting squished or pulled too hard)

Question 3

What is spinal cord enlargement?

Answer 3

There are two spinal cord enlargements, the cervical and lumbar. These are areas of the spinal cord where there are more neurons due to the connection to the arms and legs.

Question 4

What is the general function of the dorsal horns?, ventral horns?

Answer 4

The dorsal horn receives somatosensory information from the body and transmits it to the brain. The ventral horn contains motor neurons and exits the spinal cord to innervate skeletal muscle.

Question 5

What is the cauda equina?

Answer 5

a group of nerve fibers at end of spinal cord due to body growth since spinal cord does not grow with body therefore the nerve fibers will grow and fill the space