Spinal Cord

Question 1

Describe the spinal cord - 5 marks

Answer 1

the elongated, cylindrical part of the CNS, lies in the upper 2/3rds of the vertebral canal within the neural canal, 42-45 cms longs, 2cm in diameter, links the brain and organs of the body

Question 2

Describe the enlargements of the spinal cord

Answer 2

the thickness varies throughout its length, 2 enlargements - Cervical (C3 to T1), Lumbar (L1 - S3)

Question 3

Describe the CSF and its role

Answer 3

flows through the central, canal of the cord and around the cord between the arachnoid mater and pia mater in the subarachnoid space, the CSF supports and cushions the spinal cord

Question 4

Describe the beginning and end of the spinal cord

Answer 4

it extends from the medulla oblongata to L2/L3

Question 5

Describe the conus medullaris

Answer 5

the pointed end at L1/L2

Question 6

Describe the files terminale

Answer 6

extends from the conus modularis, a fine fibrous ligament - anchors onto inner surface of sacrum

Question 7

The spinal cord is surrounded and protected by …

Answer 7

1 - the bony vertebrae
2 - the tough, connective tissue of the meninges
3 - a cushion of cerebrospinal fluid

Question 8

Describe the spinal meninges

Answer 8

surround the spinal cord and are continuous with the cranial meninges of the brain
Dura Mater
Arachnoid Mater
Pia Mater - contains blood vessels that supply oxygen nd nutrients to the spinal cord
Subarachnoid space - CSF

Question 9

There are nerve fibres given off from …

Answer 9

spinal cord rootlets

Question 10

These nerves fibres given off from spinal cord rootlets form …

Answer 10

anterior and posterior nerve roots (on both sides), these unite to form a spinal nerve at the intervertebral foramen

Question 11

How many pairs of spinal nerves emerge at regular intervals along the cord

Answer 11

31 pairs

Question 12

the spinal nerves emerge via …

Answer 12

the intervertebral foramen within the vertebra

Question 13

Each pair of nerve is said to arise from a …

Answer 13

spinal segment

Question 14

Name the different nerves and the amount of pairs of each

Answer 14

8 pairs of cervical nerves
12 pairs of thoracic nerves
5 pairs of lumbar nerves
5 pairs of sacral nerves
1 pair of coccygeal nerves

Question 15

Spinal nerves and the nerves that branch from them are part of which nervous system

Answer 15

peripheral nervous system, they connect the CNS to sensory receptors, muscles and glands to specific parts of the body

Question 16

The level of the spinal cord injury refers to …

Answer 16

the vertebra that the injury is closest to

Question 17

The “higher” the spinal cord injury is …

Answer 17

the greater the area of the body that may be affected

Question 18

Which is shorter: the spinal cord or the vertebral column

Answer 18

the spinal cord is shorter than the vertebral column

Question 19

How do the nerves from the lumbar, sacral and coccygeal regions of the spinal cord leave the vertebral column

Answer 19

not at the same level they exit the cord, the roots of these spinal nerves angle inferiorly in the vertebral canal from the end of the spinal cord like wisps of hair - collectively names the caudal equina