Spinal cord

Question 1

Spinal cord (3)

Answer 1

1) 17 inches in length

2) Protected by the surrounding vertebral column

3) Extends from brainstem to first lumbar vertebra

Question 2

Conus medullaris (spinal cord)

Answer 2

Official termination point of spine at first lumbar vertebra

Question 3

Cauda equina (spinal cord)

Answer 3

Collection of nerve roots that extends BEYOND the lumbar 1 termination of the spinal cord, which end at the coccyx

Question 4

Vertebral column

Answer 4

Column that protects the spinal cord

Question 5

Spinal dura mater (spinal cord)

Answer 5

Single layer sheath separated from vertebral column by a cushioning fat-filled EPIDURAL SPACE

Question 6

Filum terminale (spinal cord) (2)

Answer 6

1) Extension of pia mater meninge that runs from the conus medullaris to the coccyx

2) Provides inferior anchor for spinal cord

Question 7

Anterior median fissure and posterior median sulcus (spinal cord)

Answer 7

Two grooves on surface of spinal cord

Anterior groove is much deeper (facing front)

Question 8

Central canal (spinal cord)

Answer 8

Opening that runs the length of the spinal cord and is filled with CSF

Question 9

White matter of spinal cord (3)

Answer 9

1) Outer layer

2) Columns: Nerve fibers

3) Tracts:
a) Cross over to the opposite side in spinal cord
b) Ascending
c) Descending
d) Commissural (crossing over)

Question 10

Spinal nerve

Answer 10

Location where dorsal root (afferent information) and ventral root (efferent information) come together

Question 11

Gray matter of the spinal cord

Answer 11

1) Mixture of cell bodies of neurons

2) Organized into horns (attached by commisure)

Question 12

Gray commisure (spinal cord)

Answer 12

Cross bar that connects the smaller anterior horns

Question 13

Anterior (ventral) horns (2)

Answer 13

1) Somatic (voluntary) motor neurons

2) Efferent pathways

Question 14

Posterior (dorsal) horns

Answer 14

Afferent pathway from receptors by way of the dorsal root

Question 15

Lateral horns (of the gray matter) (2)

Answer 15

1) at thoracic level of the spinal cord

2) sympathetic motor neurons to visceral organs

Question 16

Spinal cord protection (3)

Answer 16

1) Vertebral column

2) Meninges: Spinal dura mater, epidural space, arachnoid mater, pia mater

3) CSF

Question 17

Spinal tap (2)

Answer 17

1) Removal of CSF for diagnostic testing

2) Done from subarachnoid space inferior to L1

Question 18

Dorsal root (2)

Answer 18

1) Incoming sensory neurons (afferent)

2) Dorsal root ganglion: cell bodies of afferent neurons

Question 19

Ventral root (2)

Answer 19

1) Axons of motor nerves

2) Leaving the spinal cord

Question 20

Receptors

Answer 20

Receive environmental stimuli and then initiate nerve impulses toward the CNS

Question 21

Effectors

Answer 21

Muscle fibers and glands which bring about a reaction to the stimulus in the PNS