Spinal Cord Flashcards
Where does the spinal cord begin?
At the foramen magnum.
Where does the spinal cord end?
At L1 or L2.
The spinal cord ends at a structure called…
conus medullaris..
There are two enlargements of the spinal cord. Name them and give their location.
Cervical enlargment: C4-T1. and Lumbosacral enlargment: L1-S1.
The anterior rami from this spinal cord enlargement make up the brachial plexus:
Cervical enlargement.
The anterior rami of this spinal cord enlargement make up the lumbar ans sacral plexuses:
Lumbosacral enlargement.
Why does the spinal cord end at L1/L2 and not follow the entire length of the vertebral column?
At birth, the vertebral column and the spinal cord are the same length. As people age, vertebrae grow much more quickly than the spinal cord does, accounting for their difference in size.
The spinal cord ends in a horse tail like structure called…
the cauda equina.
this filament of connective tissue runs from the conus medularis down to the coccyx and holds the spinal cord in place..
filum terminale
What structures protect the spinal cord?
The vertebrae, spinal meninges, and the cerebral spinal fluid.
The spinal meninges is comprised of what structures?
Dura Mater, Arachnoid mater, and pia mater.
In terms of surface landmarks, the high points of iliac crests which cross the spinal process of L4 or the L4/L5 disc is called the ___________ plane.
Supracristal Plane.
In terms of surface anatomy, the dimples corresponding to the two PSIS cross the point which marks the inferior extent of this structure…
The lumbar cistern.
