Spinal Cord Flashcards

1
Q

Links the brain and the rest of the body

Extends from the Foramen Magnum to vertebrae L1-L2

A

Spinal Cord

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2
Q

Cone-shaped end of the Spinal Cord

A

Conus Medularis

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3
Q

The Spinal Cord is protected by? (3)

A

1) Vertebral Column
2) Cerebrospinal Fluid
3) 3 Meninges
* The Meninges that cover the Spinal Cord are continuous with thous covering the brain

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4
Q

The Pia Mater continues caudally (inferiorly, towards the tailbone/coccyx) beyond the Spinal Cord (Conus Medularis), and is refer to as?

A

Filum Terminale

*It passes through the dura to attach to the coccyx and helps anchor the Spinal Cord

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5
Q

The Vertebral Foramina (hole in each vertebrae between the vertebral bodies and the lamina) of each vertebrae in the Spine form the?

Protects the Spinal Cord

A

Vertebral Canal

Aka Neural Canal or Spinal Canal

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6
Q

Contained within the Subarachnoid space

A bundle of spinal nerves, all of which originate from the Conus Medularis

A

Cauda Equina

Latin for “horse’s tail”

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7
Q

The dura mater extends to S2, where it is known as?

A

The Dural Sheath

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8
Q

Located between the dura and the interior surface of the Neural Canal

Contains veins, arteries and fat

A

Epidural Space

*an “epidural” is an injection of medication, often an analgesic, into the epidural space

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9
Q

The Spinal Cord is suspended within the dura mater by many ligaments, which extend from the pia mater, called?

A

Denticulate Ligaments

*Named for their tooth like appearance, they are believed to stabilize the spinal cord against motion within the vertebral column.

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10
Q

The area of the Spinal Cord from which a pair of dorsal and ventral roots arise

A

Spinal Cord Segment

*Within the Cord itself, there are no distinct boundaries between these segments

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11
Q

The anterior (Ventral) and posterior (Dorsal) roots join together at the intervertebral foramen (a bony channel between adjacent vertebrae) to form?

A

A Spinal Nerve

*particularly vulnerable site to injury

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12
Q

The Dorsal (posterior) root carries?

A

Afferent (Sensory) Info

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13
Q

The Ventral (anterior) root carries?

*from the Spinal Cord to the muscles and viscera

A

Efferent (Motor) Info

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14
Q

Moving inferiorly down the Spinal Cord, the length of the nerve roots progressively…

A

Increases

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15
Q

The lumbar and sacral spinal nerve roots below the conus medularis form the?

A

Cauda Equina

*these nerve roots travel caudally prior to exiting the spinal column below the conus medularis at their respective foramina in the lumbar vertebrae and sacrum

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16
Q

The Spinal Cord has how many spinal nerves and corresponding segments?

*the names of the spinal nerves correspond to the names of the spinal cord segement from which they emerge

A

31

8 Cervical
12 Thoracic
5 Lumbar
5 Sacral
1 Coccygeal
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17
Q

Each of the first 7 cervical nerves leaves the vertebral canal…

A

Above the corresponding vertebrae

18
Q

The 8th cervical nerve leaves the vertebral canal between?

A

The 7th cervical vertebrae and the 1st Thoracic vertebrae

*each of the subsequent nerves leaves below the corresponding vertebrea

19
Q

Partially divides the Spinal Cord into right and left sides (2)

A

Anterior Median Fissure

Posterior Median Sulcus

20
Q

Contains cell bodies of neurons, neuroglia, unmyelinated axons and the dendrites of interneurons and motor neurons

A
Grey Matter (of the Spinal Cord)
(butterfly shape or "H")
21
Q

A canal within the grey matter filled with Cerebrospinal Fluid

Runs longitudinally through the length of the entire Spinal cord

Contiguous with the ventricular system of the brain

A

The Central Canal (of the Spinal Cord)

22
Q

The grey matter in the Spinal cord is divided into

A

Horns

23
Q

The Ventral (anterior) horn contains the cell bodies of?

A

Lower Motor Neurons (LMN)

24
Q

Lower Motor Neurons in the Cranial nerves (leaving the brain stem) innervate?

A

Muscles of the head

25
Q

Lower Motor Neurons that leave the spinal cord innervate?

A

The Body

26
Q

Collective term for the brainstem and spinal cord

A

Neuraxis

27
Q

The 3 grey columns of the Spinal Cord

A

1) Anterior (horn) grey column
2) Posterior (horn) grey column
3) Lateral (horn) grey column

28
Q

The lateral horn is present at how many levels (through how many segments) of the spinal cord? Specifically through?

A

14 levels of the SC

Specifically through levels T1-L2

29
Q

All sympathetic Nervous System outflow is via the cell bodies of what level of the Spinal Cord, in the ventral horn?

A

T1-L2

*This is why the SyNS is also referred to as the thoracolumbar outflow

30
Q

Lower Motor Neurons are motor neurons whose cell bodies are found in the? (2)

A

Ventral horn of the Spinal Cord

The Cranial nerve nuclei of the brain stem

31
Q

All voluntary movement relies on Lower Motor Neurons which innervates skeletal muscle fibres and act as a link between?

A

Upper Motor Neurons and Muscles

32
Q

Lower Motor Neurons that innervate extrafusal muscle fibers

A

Alpha Motor Neurons

33
Q

Lower Motor Neurons that innervate intrafusal muscle fibers

A

Gamma Motor Neurons

34
Q

Consists of myelinated and unmyelinated axons of sensory neurons, interneurons and motor neurons

A

White Matter (of the Spinal Cord)

35
Q

Bundle of axons in the CNS

A

Tract

36
Q

Ascending tracts, traveling towards the brain are?

A

Sensory

37
Q

Descending tracts, traveling away from the brain are?

A

Motor

38
Q

Most sensory tracts names begin with ___, indicating they begin in the Spinal Cord, and the name will end with the part of the brain where the tract leads

A

“Spino-“

39
Q

Tracts whose names end in ____ are motor

A

“-spinal”

40
Q

A condition where the space in the spinal (vertebral) canal narrows as a result of degenerative changes in the vertebrae as we age. These changes cause excessive bone growth (osteophytes), ligament hypertrophy and loss of disc height.

Most commonly seen in adults over 50.

Symptoms vary and include pain, muscle weakness, loss of bladder, bowel and sexual functions

A

Spinal Stenosis

  • People with spinal stenosis find a bent forward position while walking or sitting down helps to decompress the area and relieve pain
  • *In severe cases laminectomy is an option to relieve pressure off the nerves