Spinal Cord Flashcards
blood supply of spinal cord where located?
-2 posterior spinal arteries (right and left)
-1 anterior spinal artery
-Located in the subarachnoid
space
Anatomical divisions of nervous system
-Central nervous system (CNS): Brain and spinal cord
-Peripheral nervous system (PNS): Nerves distributed throughout the body
• 12 cranial nerves
• 31 spinal nerves
Functional divisions: afferent vs efferent
• Afferent (Sensory)
- Somatic: body wall structures
-Visceral: organs, blood vessels
• Efferent (Motor)
- Somatic: voluntary muscle movements
Autonomic
• Sympathetic- fight or flight
• Parasympathetic- rest or digest
Spinal cord development
- Up to 8th week of development the spinal cord and vertebral column are the same length
- Spinal nerves run directly into corresponding musculoskeletal blocks (somites)
- After 3rd month vertebral column elongates
- Spinal nerves must course inferiorly
-Cell bodies for spinal nerves are at a higher vertebral level than the structures
they innervate.
-More pronounced inferiorly
Spinal cord: Extent and Regionalization?
Superior border - Foramen magnum
Inferior border – L1/L2 (spinal nerves continue)
Regionalization
• Cervical (C1-C8) • Thoracic (T1-T12) • Lumbar (L1-L5) • Sacral (S1-S5) • Coccygeal (Co1)
Spinal cord: Length and weight
Length • In males it measures 45cm • In females it measures 43 cm
Weight • Spinal cord weighs approximately 35 grams
Shape: The spinal cord is an
elongated cylindrical
structure.
The shape is obscured by a cervical
enlargement and lumber enlargement.
At the termination it is dilated forming the
conus medullaris the conus
spinal cord enlargements?
- Cervical (C5-T1)
Source of brachial plexus, upper limb innervation
- Lumbosacral (L1-S3)
Lumbar/Sacral plexus
Lower limb innervation
Spinal cord: Inferior end
-Spinal cord cell bodies end inferiorly at the conus
medullaris.
-Spinal nerves continue inferiorly forming a
structure called the cauda equina.
-The pia mater extends to form a thin filament, the
filum terminale.
Spinal cord: Surface features
Anterior median fissure: Contains anterior vessels
Posterior median sulcus
Anterolateral sulcus: ventral rootlets emerge
Posterolateral sulcus: dorsal rootless emerge
Posterior intermediate sulcus: Present in cervical/upper thoracic levels
-Divides gracile and cuneate fibers of the posterior trac
spinal cord cross section
- central canal
- white matter: myelinated axons
- grey matter: contains neuron cell bodies
Grey matter: what does posterior (dorsal) horn consist of?
• Afferent/Sensory
afferent/sensory fibers
what does the anterior or ventral horn consist of?
somatic efferent/motor fibers
what does the lateral column of grey matter consist of and give the anatomy/function?
Autonomic Efferent fibers
- T1-L2 – Intermediolateral column (sympathetics), constitutes the thoracolumbar outflow
-S2-4 – Parasympathetics
• Give rise to pelvic splanchnic nerves.
Posterior horn: Cross-sectional anatomy, explain the marginal zone (MZ, posterior
marginalis)?
• located at the tip of the dorsal
horn ((Laminae I)
• Important for relaying pain and
temperature sensation to the
brain.
Posterior horn: Cross-sectional anatomy, explain Substantia gelatinosa of Rolando
- Present at the tip of the posterior horn
- It extends the entire length of spinal cord.
explain the dorsolateral tract of Lissauer
- White mater dorsal to the substantia gelatinosa
- It extends the entire length of spinal cord
explain nucleus proprius
- Ventral/anterior to substantia gelatinosa
- It extends the entire length of spinal cord
- it occupies the head and neck of the posterior horn