Spinal Anatomy Flashcards
Number of SC segments
31
Number of cervical nerves
8
Origin of C1
Between occipital bone and atlas
Number of thoracic nerves
12, the first emerges below the first thoracic vertebra
Number of lumbar nerves
5
Number of sacral nerves
5
Number of coccygeal nerves
1
Borders of the anterior spinal column
Anterior median fissure
Anterolateral sulcus
Borders of the lateral spinal column
Anterolateral sulcus
Posterolateral suclus
What do the anterolateral and posterolateral sulci represent?
Point of entry for the ventrally located (motor) and dorsal (sensory) nerve roots
Borders of the posterior spinal column
Posterolateral sulcus
Posterior median fissure
What happens to the posterior spinal column above the level of T6?
Further divided into two tracts by the posterior intermediate sulcus
The medial fasciculus gracile and the more lateral fasciculus cuneatus
What structures fix the SC in place
Rostrally it is continuous with the brainstem
Laterally the spinal nerves exiting the vertebral foramina
Two attachments of dura mater
Dentate ligaments which are located between ventral and dorsal spinal roots and are extensions of the pia and arachnoid mater
What are the two attachments of the spinal dura mater?
Caudally as the filum terminalis with the coccyx and sacrum
Rostrally with the periosteum of the skull.
Rexed lamina I
Posteriomarginal nucleus
Rexed lamina II
Substantia gelatinosa
Rexed III + IV
Nucleus proprius
Function of Rexed lamina I-IV
Exteroreceptive sensations
Rexed lamina V
Neck of posterior horn
Rexed lamina VI
Base of posterior horn
Function of Rexed lamina V+VI
Proprioceptive sensations
Divisions of Rexed lamina VII
Medial
Two lateral
Medial division of Rexed lamina VII
Thoracic nucleus
Lateral divisions of Rexed lamina VII
Intermediomedial zone
Intermediolateral zone
Function of medial nucleus of Rexed VII
From C8-L3 receive information from muscle spindles and golgi tendon organ
Function of intermediomedial zone?
Gamma motor neurones involved in motor reflexes
Function of intermediolateral zone
Motor visceral function
Thoracolumbar sympathetic outflow
Caudal parasympathetic outflow
Rexed VIII
Commissural nucleus
Function of Rexed VIII
Regulates skeletal muscle contraction
Rexed IX
Ventral horn
Main motor area composed of alpha neurones
Rexed X
Grisea centralis
Function of Rexed X
Contains nuclei from autonomic system
Def: myotome
A group of muscles that is innervated by a single spinal nerve
Def: dermatome
Area of skin that receives sensory innervation from a single spinal nerve
Formation of spinal nerve
Dorsal nerve root (afferent), cell body in the DRG, fibres enter through dorsal suclus
Ventral nerve root (efferent) originate in cell bodies of ventral gray horn.
Unite to forma. spinal nerve and exit through corresponding intervertebral foramen.
After exiting from foramen, it divides into dorsal and ventral rami.
Dorsal rami-> skin on dorsal aspect of trunk and longitudinal muscles
VEntral rami_> motor and sesnory innervation to limbs and nonaxial skeleton.
Ventral ramus also communicates with sympathetic chain via white and gray rami communicantes
C1-4 nerve roots
Supply innervation to muscles and skin of neck and head
Contribute to diaphragm
Difficult to evaluate muscles so sensory distribution is the most effective
C2 landmarks
1cm lateral to the occipital protruberance or a point at least 3cm behind the ear
C3 landmark
Supraclavicular fossa MCL
C4 landmark
ACJ
C5 nerve root
Motor:
Deltoid (C5- axillary)- abduction
Biceps (C5,6- musculocutaneous nerve)- elbow flexion
Sensory:
Lateral aspect of arm (axillary nerve)
Reflex:
Biceps (C5.6)
How to assess integrity of C5
Motor:
Shoulder abduction
Elbow flexion
Sensory:
Regimental patch
Reflex:
Biceps
Motor:
Shoulder abduction
Elbow flexion
Sensory:
Regimental patch
Reflex:
Biceps
C5
How to assess integrity of C6
Motor:
Biceps (C5,6- musculocutaenous)
Wrist extension (C6,7- ulnar). Weakness in wrist extension due to isolated C6 compromise results in ulnar deviation
Sesnory:
Lateral forearm, thumb, index finger and one half of middle finger
Reflex:
Biceps (C5,6)
Brachioradials C6
Motor:
Biceps
Wrist extension
Sensory:
Lateral forearm, thumb, index finger and one half of middle finger
Reflex:
Biceps
Brachioradialis
C6
What is the best reflex to test C6 nerve root?
Brachioradialis
How to assess the integrity of C76 lesions
Motor:
Elbow extensors (radial)
Wrist flexors (median, ulnar), with C7 lesion wrist flexion results in ulnar deviation
Finger extensors
Sensory:
Middle finger, though it can also receive supply from C6 or 8
Reflex:
Triceps
Motor:
Elbow extensors (radial)
Wrist flexors (median, ulnar)
Finger extensors
Sensory:
Middle finger
Reflex:
Triceps
C7
How to assess the integrity of C8
Motor:
Finger flexion
Sensory:
Little finger
Reflex:
None
Motor:
Finger flexion
Sensory:
Little finger
Reflex:
None
C8
How to assess integrity of T1
Motor:
Finger abduction (T1, ulnar)
Finger adduction (C8,T1, ulnar)
Sensory:
Upper half of medial forearm and medial portion of arm
Motor:
Finger abduction
Finger adduction
Sensory:
Upper half of medial forearm and medial portion of arm
T1
Beevor’s sign
Present when the umbilicus of a patient is drawn up or down or to one side or the other when the patient is quarter way through a sit up
Indicates asymmetric weakness of the abdominal muscles
T4
Nipples
T6
Xiphoid process
T10
Umbilicus
T12
Inguinal ligament
How to assess the integrity of L1-3
Motor:
No specific muscle groups
Ilipsoas (L1-3)
Quadriceps (L-4)
Adductor L2-4
Sensory:
L1- oblique band just below the IL
L3- oblique band just above knee
L2- oblique band between L1 and L3
Motor:
No specific muscle groups
Ilipsoas
Quadriceps
Adductor
Sensory:
Oblique band just below the IL
Oblique band just above knee
Oblique band between L1 and L3
L1-3
How to assess integrity of L4
Motor:
Dorsiflexion and foot inversion (tibialis anterior, deep peroneal nerve)
Sensory:
Medial side of leg below the knee
Reflex:
Patellar (L2,3,4)
Motor:
Dorsiflexion and foot inversion (tibialis anterior, deep peroneal nerve)
Sensory:
Medial side of leg below the knee
Reflex:
Patellar
L4
Explain how to differentiate between L4 radiculopathy and peroneal nerve lesion
In peroneal nerve lesion, foot inversion is preserved as the peroneal nerve does not supply the foot inverter (tibialis posterior, tibial nerve) which is supplied by L4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJo0rERyBJM&feature=emb_title
How to assess for the integrity of L5
Motor:
EHL and extensor digitorum (deep peroneal nerve)- toe extension
Gluteus medius (SGN)- abduction of the hip
Reflex:
None
Sensory;
First dorsal webspace
How to differentiate between an L5 and deep peroneal nerve lesion
In an L5 lesion there will may also be loss of hip abduction (gluteus medius, SGN)
Motor:
Toe extension
Hip abduction
Reflex:
None
Sensory;
First dorsal webspace
L5 nerve root
How to assess integrity of S1
Motor:
Peroneus longus and brevis (superficial peroneal nerve)- ankle eversion
Gastrocnemius (S1/2, tibial nerve)- Ankle plantarflexors
Gluteus maximus (S1, IGN)- hip extensor
Reflex:
Achilles
Sensory:
Lateral aspect and part of plantar aspect of foot
Motor:
Peroneus longus and brevis (superficial peroneal nerve)- ankle eversion
Gastrocnemius (S1/2, tibial nerve)- Ankle plantarflexors
Gluteus maximus (S1, IGN)- hip extensor
Reflex:
Achilles
Sensory:
Lateral aspect and part of plantar aspect of foot
How to assess integrity of S1
How to assess integrity of S2-4
Motor;
Intrinsic muscles of foot- not testable
Anal sphincter
Sensory:
Skin surrounding anus
Reflex:
Anal wink
Unilateral
Neck and arm pain in distribution of single nerve root
Paraesthesia
Weakness may develop with association atrophy and fasciculations.
Hyporeflexia
?Cervical disk causing radiculopathy
Relationship between cervical disc and nerve roots
Typically impingement occurs in the spinal canal at the level of the disk space proximal to the the nerve’s exit point from the spinal canal
First exits between occiput and C1, second between C1 and 2
Eighth between C7 and T1
Herniated C3-4 disc impinges on
C4 nerve
Posterior neck and suboccipital pain sometimes affecting the ear
No motor deficit
?C3 radiculopathy
Paraspinous pain extending from root of the neck to mid-shoulder and posteriorly to level of scapula
May be aggravated by neck extension
Rarely, numbness
No motor deficit
?C4 radiculopathy
Shoulder pain to midpoint of lateral upper arm
No pain on manual rotation of shoulder
Deltoid weakness
+/- biceps hypreflexia
C5 radiculopathy
Most common cervical disc herniation
C6/7
Then C5/6
Pain and paraesthesia radiating from neck to lateral aspect of forearm and hand
Weakness of wrist extension and elbow flexion
Numbness involving lateral forearm and first and second digits
Brachioradialis reflex and biceps reduced
C6 radiculopathy
Pain and paraesthesia radiating across back of shoulder through triceps and posterolateral forearm into middle finger
Weakness in elbow extension, wrist flexion and finger extension
Reduced or absent triceps reflex
C7 radiculopathy
Pain involving little and ring finger, medial aspect of forearm
Weakness in finger flexion causing loss of grip strength or other fine motor activities
C8 radiculopathy
Uncinate process
Ridge of bone extending from superior lateral aspect of each cervical vertebra
Stabilises the spine and forms inferior medial wall of neural formanina
Enlargement can cause radiculopathy
Symptoms may be aggravated by neck extension
What clinical features differentiate cervical disc disease from spondylosis?
More than one cervical segment may be affected
Chronic and episodic in spondylosis rather than acute in cervical disc disease, thus more commonly associated with muscle atrophy and fasciculations
Features of thoracic disc disease
No typical clinical syndrome
Radicular pain may predominate in cases where there is lateral disc protrusion
Can cause cardiac like pain across the chest wall which does not cross the midline.
Can be confused for cardiac or GI disease
Acute persistent unilateral monoradiculopathy
Aggravated by sitting, sneezing or coughing, relieved by standing or bed rest
SLR positive
Motor/sensory deficit
L5/S1 distribution typically
?Lumbar disc disease
Paracentral disk herniation involves which nerve root
To the vertebra below the herniated disc
L4-5 paracentral disc contacts the L5 nerve root
Far lateral lumbar disc herniation affects which nerve root
Affects the exiting nerve root
i.e. L4/5 disc affects the L4 nerve
Chronic intermittent bilatearl posterior leg pain
Typically beginning in the buttocks and radiating downward in a non-radicular distribution, often burning, cramping or heavy feeling
Frequently associated with numbness or paraesrthesias
Pain precipitated by prolonged standing or walking (spinal extension) and relieved by forward bending, stiting or bed rest (flexion)
Reduced walking distances
Minimal or no back pain and motor or sphincteric dysfunction are late and inconsistent findings.
Negative SLR
Lumbar canal stenosis
Borders of lumbar lateral recess
Ventrally by posterior vertebral body
Laterally by pedicle
Dorsally by superior articular facet
Bilateral radicular pain associated with numbness and paraesthesias with mild or no low back pain
Tends to be worse on standing or walking
SLR negative
Neurologic findings are usually minimal though patients tend to have weakness or atrophy more often than those with central stenosis
Lateral recess stenosis
Mechanical low back pain aggravated by activity and improved with rest
May also produce radicular symptoms by traction or compression
Uncommon neurologic findings
Spondylolisthesis
Causes of spondylolisthesis
Degenerative
Isthmic
Traumatic
Dysplastic
Degenerative sponylolisthesis most commonly occrus
At L4/5
Traumatic and dysplastic spondylolisthesis most commonly involves which level
L5/S1
Def: Arachnoiditis
Chronic inflammatory condition affecting the meninges which occurs commonly at the lumbar spine
Can be secondary to surgery, myelography or introduction of other agents
Usually present with back pain and radicular leg pain
Aggravated by activity and not relieved by rest. Can be unilateral or bilateral symptoms.
Trauma
Radicular type pain with severe upper limb motor and sensory loss in a radicular distribution
Can be masked by associated brachial plexus injury
Cervical nerve root avulsion
Characteristic electrophysiological findings of nerve root avulsion
EMG and NCV used to differentiate from brachial plexus injury
Severe reduction or absence in compound motor action potentions, increase in pathological fibrillation potentials, completely normal sensory nerve action potentials
Why are there preserved SNAPs in cervical nerve root avulsion
Sensory root avulsion occurs proximal to DRG
Acute viral infection involving anterior horn cells
Presenting with myotomal weakness
Variable patterns of weakness- young children commonly have lower limb weakness, adults quadrapaaresis
?Polio
Why is isolated foot drop a relatively common finding in polio patients
Presence and extent of redundant innervation of a partiacular muscle e.g. quadriceps L2-4 is relatively spared whereas tibialis anterior L4 which is a single nerve root may present with more severe form of weakness
Why is complete resection of neurofibroma more difficult than Schwannoma
Nerve fibres are typically transversing the tumour whereas an schwannoma they are splayed over the fcapsule
Ascending weakness with lower extremities involved earlier.
Proximal and distal limb muscles equaly involved
Pain and myalgia
Progress to respiratory failiure
Autonomic dysregulation
GBS
T2DM
Painful paraesthesia of feet
Weakness atrophy typically of femoral or sciatic nervesS
Skin ulcers and loss of achilles reflex
Autonomic symptoms e.g. bladder dysfunction and hypotension
?Diabetic radiculopathy
Filum terminale
Caudal prolongation of the spinal pia mater that terminates on the dorsal surface of the coccyx
What are the main cell group of the dorsal horn
4:
Posteromarginal nucleus
Substantia gelatinosa
Nucleus proprious
Nucleus dosralis
Posteromarginal nucleus
Forms the cap of the dorsal horn
Many of the axons of the cells in this nucleus contribute to the spinothalamic tract
Substantia gelatinosa
Occupies most of the apex of the dorsal horn
Contains neurones and their processes as well as afferent fibres from te dirsal nerve eoot and descending fibres from supraspinal levels
Nucleus proprios
Anterior to substantia gelatinosa
Axons carried in the spinothalamic, spinocerebellar and propriospinal system
Nucleus dorsalis
Clark’es colum
Present in the base of the dorsal horn in segments C8-L3
Contains cell bodes whose axons form the dorsal spinocerebellar tract
Two cell groups of the intermediate gray
Intermediolateral cell group
Intermediomedial cell group
Intermediolateral cell group
Forms the lateral horn in segments T1-L2, gives rise to preganglionic sympathetic fibres
In segments S2-4 an equivalent column of cells projects preganglionic parasympathetic fibres
Intermediomedial cell group
Lies lateral to central canal throughout the length of the spinal cord
Receives visceral afferent fibres from the dorsal roots
Arrangement of fibres in the ventral horn
Somatotopically orientated in two ways
Neurones that innervate flexors are dorsal to extensors
Those that innervate te hand are lateral to the trunk
What are the two groups of neurones in the ventral horn
Medial group- axial musculature
Lateral- present only in cervical and lumbosacral enlargements- limb muscles