Spinal Cord Flashcards
In horizontal view, what direction of the spinal cord tends to be largest?
Transverse
What are the spinal cord enlargement locations and the name given to each?
C3-T1 = cervical enlargement T9-T12 = lumbar (lumbosacral) enlargement
Where is the greatest transverse diameter of the spinal cord?
C6
In which plane (or direction) will the diameter of the spinal cord decrease from C2-T1?
Midsagittal or anterior-posterior plane
What is the generic cord level of origin - vertebral level combination of the lumbar (lumbosacral) enlargement?
L1, L2 cord levels in T9 vertebra
L3, L4 cord levels in T10 vertebra
L5, S1 cord levels in T11 vertebra
S2, S3 cord levels in T12 vertebra
What is the caudal end of the spinal cord called?
Conus medullaris
What spinal nerves originate from the conus medullaris?
Typically S4, S5, Co1
Which vertebral foramen will the conus medullaris typically be observed?
L1
What is the name given to the nerve roots below L1?
Cauda equina
What is the continuation of pia mater below the conus medullaris called?
Filum terminale internum
What is the location and name given to the area where all meninges first coverage at the caudal part of the vertebral column?
Typically S2 (dural cul de sac)
Neural tissue has been identified in what part of the filum terminale?
Proximal part of the filum terminale internum
What is the fate of the neural tissue identified along the filum terminale internum?
It joins peripheral nerve roots of spinal nerves as high as L3 and low as S4
What does the neural tissue associated with the filum terminale externum appear to innervate?
Lower limbs and the external anal sphincter
The last arterial vasa corona creates what feature on angiogram?
Cruciate anastomosis
What is the name given to the condensation of meninges below S2?
Filum terminale externum
What is the name given to the caudal attachment of the meninges?
Coccygeal medullary vestige
What is the name given to the condition in which the conus medullaris is located below L1 and the filum terminale is thickened?
Tethered cord syndrome
What is the relationship between scoliosis and tethered cord syndrome?
It is suggested that the column will change normal curvatures to mitigate damage to the spinal cord
What is the relationship between rib number and vertebral numbers at the costocentral joint?
Rib number always equates to same vertebral number at the costocentral joint rib 3 articulates with T3 segment and also with the T2 segment
Only Ribs 1, 11 and 12 typically joint with a single segment
What is the relationship between spinal nerve number, rib number and vertebral number in a thoracic intervertebral foramen?
The spinal nerve number relates to the upper segment number in the vertebral couple the rib number relates to the lower segment number in the vertebral couple
Which mammals have more than seven cervical vertebrae?
Ant bear
Three-toed sloth
Which mammals have less than seven cervical vertebrae?
Two-toed sloth
Manatee
Which vertebrae are typical cervical?
C3-C6
What is the appearance of the typical cervical vertebral body from the lateral view?
Posterior height is greater than anterior height by a few millimeters
What would be the direction of the cervical curve based on osseous features?
Posterior or kyphotic
What accounts for the direction of the typical cervical curve?
Intervertebral disc height
What is the direction of the typical cervical curve?
Anterior or lordotic
At which vertebral couple will the cervical curve again increase intervertebral disc height?
C5/C6
What is the effect of aging on the cervical vertebral body?
It diminishes the overall height of the vertebral body
What are the modifications of the superior epiphyseal rim of a typical cervical?
Anterior groove
Posterior groove
Right and left uncinate process
What are the names of lateral modification of the superior epiphyseal rim?
Uncinate process
Unciform process
Uncovertebral process
Uncus or lateral lip
At what developmental age will the uncinate process first be observed?
3rd-4th fetal month
What are the modifications of the inferior epiphyseal rim of a typical cervical?
Anterior lip
Posterior lip
Right and left lateral grooves
What is the joint classification for the anterior lip-posterior groove articulation?
Fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis
What is the joint classification for the uncinate process-lateral groove articulation?
Modified synovial saddle (diarthrosis sellar)
What is the joint classification for the spongy bone-intervertebral disc articulation?
Cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis
How many joint surfaces are present on the upper surface of a typical cervical vertebral body?
5
How many joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of a typical cervical?
10
What is the name given to the uncinate process-lateral groove articulation?
Joint of Luschka or uncovertebral joint
The joint of Luschka is formed from what surface?
Uncinate process
Lateral groove
What is the functional significance of the joint of Luschka?
Appears to stabilize the intervetral disc while accommodating flexion-extension and requiring coupled motion (axial rotation with lateral bending) in the cervical spine
What muscle attaches to the typical cervical vertebral body?
Longus colli muscle
What is the orientation and angulation of the pedicle of a typical cervical?
Posterolateral - 45 degrees
At what location on the vertebral body of a typical cervical will the pedicle attach?
To the side and in the center of the vertebral body?
What surface feature is located at the upper margin of the pedicle?
Superior vertebral notch
What ligament attaches to the lamina of a typical cervical?
Ligamentum flavum
What joint classification will be associated with the ligamentum flavum and its attachment?
Fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis
Ossification of the ligamentum flavum at the attachment site on the lamina will result in what feature?
Para-articular processes
Ossification of the ligamentum flavum at the attachment site on the lamina will be associated with which classification of bone?
Accessory bone
What is the outline of the vertebral foramen of a typical cervical vertebra?
Heart-shaped or triangluar
Which is the greatest diameter of the vertebral foramen of typical cervicals?
Transverse
What soft tissue diameter mimics the outline of the typical cervical vertebral foramen?
Transverse diameter of the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord
The greatest transverse diameter of the typical cervical vertebra occurs at?
C6
The greatest frequency of osteophytes associated with the vertebral body occurs at which typical cervical vertebral couple?
C5/C6
List, in order, the osseous parts of the typical cervical vertebra transverse process beginning at the vertebral body.
Costal element Anterior tubercle Costotransverse bar Posterior tubercle True transverse process
What muscles will attach to the anterior tubercle of a typical cervical vertebra?
Anterior scalene
Longus capitis
Longus colli
Anterior intertransversarii
What muscles may attach to the posterior tubercle of a typical cervical vertebra?
Splenius cervicis Iliocostalis cervicis Longissimus cervicis Levator scapula Middle scalene Posterior scalene Rotators Posterior intertransversarii
What muscles will attach to the costotransverse bar?
Middle scalene
Posterior intertransversarii
What is the name given to the collective rib-forming region?
Pleurapophysis
What is the name given to the superior margin of the costotransverse bar?
Sulcus for the ventral primary ramus of a cervical spinal nerve
What is the orientation and angulation of a typical cervical transverse process?
60 degrees anterolaterally (from midsagittal plane)
15 degreed inferiorly (from the horizontal plane)
What is the name given to the modification of the anterior tubercle of the C6 transverse process?
Carotid tubercle
What will cause remodeling of the anterior tubercle at C6?
Common carotid artery
What will occupy the typical cervical vertebra transverse foramen?
Vertebral artery
Vertebral venous plexus
Postganglionic sympathetic motor nerve fibers
What is the name of the surface feature observed between the ends of the articular pillar?
Groove/sulcus for the dorsal primary ramus of a cervical spinal nerve
What is the classic angulation of a typical cervical articular facet?
40-45 degrees from the coronal plane
Recent work suggests what angulation for typical cervical articular facets?
55-60 degrees
What is the orientation of the typical cervical superior articular facet?
Backward, upward, medial (BUM)
What is the orientation of the typical cervical inferior articular facet?
Forward, lateral, downward (FoLD)
What muscles will attach to typical cervical articular processes?
Longissimus capitis Longissimus cervicis Semispinalis capitis Semispinalis cervicis Multifidis Rotators
What muscles blend with the capsular ligament of cervical zygapophyses?
Semispinalis capitis
Multifidis
Rotator longus
The greatest range of flexion-extension among the typical cervical vertebrae occurs at which vertebral couple?
Typically C5/C6
What motions are coupled in the cervical spine?
Lateral bending and axial rotation
Ranges of coupled motion among the typical cervical vertebrae will be similar for what cervical vertebral couples?
C2/C3
C3/C4
C4/C5
Ranges for coupled motion among the typical cervical vertebrae will begin to decrease at cervical vertebral couple?
C5/C6
What is the usual condition for the Caucasian typical cervical spinous process?
They are bifid
What is the usual condition for the African-American typical cervical spinous process?
They are not bifid
What muscles may attach to the typical cervical spinous process?
Spinalis cervicis Semispinalis cervicis Semispinalis thoracis Multifidis Rotators Interspinalis
What forms the unique anterior boundary of the intervertebral foramen for the C4 spinal nerve?
Lateral groove of C3
Uncinate process of C4 forming the joint of Luschka
What will occupy the typical cervical vertebra transverse foramen?
Vertebral artery
Vertebral venous plexus
Postganglionic sympathetic motor nerve fibers
What will influence spinal kinematics?
Geometry of articular facets
Mechanical properties of connective tissue
Mechanical properties of muscle
What should be carefully considered when applying research results to a population?
Condition of the subject material (fresh cadaver, fixed cadaver, living subject)
Age range of the population studied
Method of measurement (X-ray, gonimeter, MRI, etc.)
What will form the anterior boundary of a typical cervical intervertebral foramen?
Lateral groove & vertebral body of the segment above
Uncinate process & vertebral body of the segment below
Intervertebral disc & the posterior longitudinal ligmaent
What will form the posterior boundary of a typical cervical intervertebral foramen?
Inferior articular process (post-zygapophysis)
Superior articular process (pre-zygapophysis)
Capsular ligament
Ligamentum flavum
What will form the superior boundary of a typical cervical intervertebral foramen?
Inferior vertebral notch or inferior vertebral incisure
What will form the inferior boundary of a typical cervical intervertebral foramen?
Superior vertebral notch or superior vertebral incisure
What will form the unique anterior boundary of a typical cervical intervertebral foramen?
Uncinate process of the segment below & the lateral groove of the segment above to form the joint of Luschka
