Spinal Cord Flashcards
Number of spinal nerves
31
Number of vertebra
33
C1 vertebra
Atlas
C2 vertebra
Axis
Number of cervical vertebrae
7
Number of thoracic vertebrae
12
Number of lumbar vertebrae
5
Number of sacral vertebrae
5 - fused to form sacrum
Number of coccyx vertebrae
4 — fused
Dens
Prominent spike on C2 vertebra
What does the transverse Foramen of the cervical vertebra contain
Vertebral artery and sympathetic chain
What cervical vertebrae does not have a bifid spinous process
C7
Thoracic vertebra spinous processes
Thinner and more descending
Thoracic vertebral Foramen
Circular
Lumbar spinous processes
Thick and broad
Lumbar vertebral Foramen
Triangular
2 enlargements of spinal cord
Cervical (C3-T1) to upper limbs
Lumbar (L1-S3) to lower limbs
Central canal
CSF surrounding spinal cord
What is the spinal cord covered by
Meninges
Dura—>arachnoid—>pia
Conus medullaris
Spinal cord tapers to a cone
Filum terminale
Spinal cord ends in a strand of tissue
Where does spinal cord end in adults
Between L1 and L2
Where does the spinal cord end at birth
L3
Where does the spinal cord end at 3 months of fetal life
Extends the whole length of spinal cord
Axons in dorsal cord
Afferent neurones- sensory
Axons in ventral cord
Efferent neurones- motor
Spinal nerves leave the spine- cervical segments
Around 1 vertebra higher than their corresponding vertebra
Except C8 which is below
Spinal nerves leave the spine- thoracic segments
1-2 vertebra below corresponding vertebra
Spinal nerves leave the spine- lumbar segments
3-4 vertebra below corresponding vertebra
Spinal nerves leave the spine- sacral segments
5 vertebra below corresponding vertebra
Number of pairs of cervical spinal nerves
8
Number of pairs of thoracic spinal nerves
12
Number of pairs of lumbar spinal nerves
5
Number of pairs of sacral spinal nerves
5
Number of pairs of coccygeal spinal nerves
1
3 layers of tissue covering nerves
Epineurium
Perineurium
Endoneurium
Funiculi
Fascicles can be collected into larger bundles
Epineurium
Outermost layer
Surrounds several fascicles