Spinal Cord

Question 1

How many spinal nerves are there in the human body?

Answer 1

31 pairs for a total of 62 spinal nerves

Question 2

Where is the cervical enlargement located?

Answer 2

C5-T1

Question 3

Where is the lumbar enlargement located?

Answer 3

L1-S2

Question 4

Where do spinal nerves exit the cervical spine?

Answer 4

ABOVE their corresponding vertebral body (except for C8, which exits below C7 and above T1)

Question 5

Where do spinal nerves exit the thoracic and lumbar spine?

Answer 5

BELOW their corresponding vertebral body

Question 6

Pia mater extends caudally as__________.

Answer 6

filum terminale

Question 7

Spinal cord arteries come off of what?

Answer 7

vertebral arteries

Question 8

Describe anterior vs. posterior spinal arteries.

Answer 8

anterior- only one, relatively straight path

posterior- two tortuous arteries

Question 9

Dermatome at back of head?

Answer 9

C2

Question 10

Dermatome encompassing thumb and index finger?

Answer 10

C6

Question 11

Dermatome at nipples?

Answer 11

T4

Question 12

Dermatome at umbilicus?

Answer 12

T10

Question 13

Dermatome encompassing kneecap?

Answer 13

L3

Question 14

Dermatome encompassing lateral foot?

Answer 14

S1

Question 15

Which are the arteries that supply most of the cerebellum?

Answer 15

AICA, PICA, and SCA (anterior inferior cerebellar, posterior inferior cerebellar, superior cerebellar)

Question 16

The anterior median fissure of the spinal cord provides a groove for which structure?

Answer 16

anterior spinal artery

Question 17

The anterior lateral sulcus of the spinal cord provides a groove for which structure(s)?

Answer 17

ventral rootlets (efferent fibers)

Question 18

What is a funiculus vs. fasciculus?

Answer 18

funiculus- “large bundle” of axons
fasciculus- “little bundle” of axons
(bigger is more fun=funiculus)

Question 19

Contains finely myelinated and unmyelinated axons originating in the substantia gelatinosa and involved in sensory modulation.

Answer 19

zone of Lissauer, or dorsolateral fasciculus

Question 20

What is the cell body of origin for the sympathetic efferents?

Answer 20

intermediolateral nucleus (IML)

Question 21

What type of neurons are motor neurons?

Answer 21

large alpha motor neurons that are termed “lower motor neurons” or “the final common pathway”

Question 22

At which vertebral levels is the lateral horn found?

Answer 22

T1-L2, as the lateral horn contains the neuronal cell bodies of the sympathetic nervous system.