Spinal Cord Flashcards
Links the brain and the rest of the body
Extends from the Foramen Magnum to vertebrae L1-L2
Spinal Cord
Cone-shaped end of the Spinal Cord
Conus Medularis
The Spinal Cord is protected by? (3)
1) Vertebral Column
2) Cerebrospinal Fluid
3) 3 Meninges
* The Meninges that cover the Spinal Cord are continuous with thous covering the brain
The Pia Mater continues caudally (inferiorly, towards the tailbone/coccyx) beyond the Spinal Cord (Conus Medularis), and is refer to as?
Filum Terminale
*It passes through the dura to attach to the coccyx and helps anchor the Spinal Cord
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
Vertebral Canal
Aka Neural Canal or Spinal Canal
Contained within the Subarachnoid space
A bundle of spinal nerves, all of which originate from the Conus Medularis
Cauda Equina
Latin for “horse’s tail”
The dura mater extends to S2, where it is known as?
The Dural Sheath
Located between the dura and the interior surface of the Neural Canal
Contains veins, arteries and fat
Epidural Space
*an “epidural” is an injection of medication, often an analgesic, into the epidural space
The Spinal Cord is suspended within the dura mater by many ligaments, which extend from the pia mater, called?
Denticulate Ligaments
*Named for their tooth like appearance, they are believed to stabilize the spinal cord against motion within the vertebral column.
The area of the Spinal Cord from which a pair of dorsal and ventral roots arise
Spinal Cord Segment
*Within the Cord itself, there are no distinct boundaries between these segments
The anterior (Ventral) and posterior (Dorsal) roots join together at the intervertebral foramen (a bony channel between adjacent vertebrae) to form?
A Spinal Nerve
*particularly vulnerable site to injury
The Dorsal (posterior) root carries?
Afferent (Sensory) Info
The Ventral (anterior) root carries?
*from the Spinal Cord to the muscles and viscera
Efferent (Motor) Info
Moving inferiorly down the Spinal Cord, the length of the nerve roots progressively…
Increases
The lumbar and sacral spinal nerve roots below the conus medularis form the?
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
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
31
8 Cervical 12 Thoracic 5 Lumbar 5 Sacral 1 Coccygeal