Spinal Cord

Question 1

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?

Answer 1

31

Question 2

Which spinal nerves pass through the intervertebral foramen above their appropriate vertebrae?

Answer 2

C1-C7

Question 3

Which spinal nerves pass through the intervertebral foramen below their appropriate vertebrae?

Answer 3

C8-coccygeal 1

Question 4

Where is the upper limit of the spinal cord?

Answer 4

Its junction with the medulla oblongata

Question 5

Where is the lower limit of the spinal cord in an adult?

Answer 5

L1/2 vertebrae

Question 6

Where is the lower limit of the spinal cord in an infant?

Answer 6

L3/4 vertebrae

Question 7

Grey matter of the spinal cord consists of bundles of axons trasnmitting information to and from the brain. T/F?

Answer 7

False - this is the white matter

Question 8

Why is the grey mater region of the spinal cord significantly larger in the cervical and lumbar regions compared to the thoracic and sacral regions?

Answer 8

The cervical and lumbar regions supply the upper and lower limbs respectively so will carry lots of sensory and motor fibres in comparison to the thoracic and sacral regions which innervate the trunk

Question 9

What are the three layers of the meninges, in order from most superficial to most deep?

Answer 9

Dura mater
arachnoid mater
pia mater

Question 10

Where does the epidural space exist?

Answer 10

Between the dura and the vertebrae

Question 11

Which layer of the meninges consists of trabecular?

Answer 11

arachnoid mater

Question 12

In which area of the meninges does CSF circulate?

Answer 12

Between the arachnoid and pill layers in the sub arachnoid space

Question 13

CSF is a filtrate of blood. T/F?

Answer 13

True

Question 14

Where does the dura mater Duse with the endosperm of the cranium?

Answer 14

Foramen magnum

Question 15

The dura mater is thin and inelastic. T/F?

Answer 15

True

Question 16

The arachnoid mater is thin and fibrous. T/F?

Answer 16

True

Question 17

How much CSF circulates in the subarachnoid space?

Answer 17

140ml

Question 18

How much CSF is produced each day?

Answer 18

500ml

Question 19

What is the function of the CSF?

Answer 19

Afford mechanical and immunological protection to the brain

Question 20

The Pia mater consists of a unicellular membrane. T/F?

Answer 20

True

Question 21

How is the Pia mater separated from the spinal cord?

Answer 21

Sub-pial space

Question 22

The denticulate ligaments are formed from the Pia mater. What is their function?

Answer 22

Prevent lateral displacement of the cord

Question 23

What is the clinical significance of the Boston venous plexus of the spinal cord?

Answer 23

Major route in the spread of cancer from deep pelvic regions

Question 24

Describe the blood supply to the spinal cord in the cervical and thoracic regions?

Answer 24

Anterior spinal artery

2 posterior spinal arteries

Question 25

From which arteries does the anterior spinal artery arise?

Answer 25

Intercostal arteries

Question 26

Which artery supplies the lower 1/3 of the spinal cord?

Answer 26

Artery of adamkiewicz

Question 27

What are the symptoms of anterior spinal artery syndrome?

Answer 27

Loss of urinary and or faecal continence | impaired motor function of the legs/spasticity

Question 28

Where are epidural injections and lumbar punctures taken from?

Answer 28

L3/4 or L4/5 junction

Question 29

What are the functions of lumbar puncture?

Answer 29

Diagnostic - withdraw CSF or measure CSF pressure | Therapeutic purposes - administration of antibiotics or a route for chemotherapy

Question 30

What is the name of the most caudal point of the spinal cord?

Answer 30

Conus medullaris

Question 31

Where does the filum terminale extend from?

Answer 31

The tip of the conus medullaris to the sacrum

Question 32

What is the function of the filum terminale?

Answer 32

Helps to hold the spinal cord in place

Question 33

Through which types of nerve fibres is painful stimuli transmitted to the dorsal horn?

Answer 33

A-delta | C fibres

Question 34

Through which type of nerve fibre is proprioceptive sensory information transmitted to the dorsal horn?

Answer 34

A-alpha fibres

Question 35

Mechanoreceptors convey sensory information to the dorsal horn via which type of fibre?

Answer 35

A-beta fibres

Question 36

The largest, myelinated fibres transmit nerve signals most slowly. T/F?

Answer 36

False - these fibres have the fastest conduction speeds

Question 37

From which horn of the spinal cord do motor fibres leave?

Answer 37

Ventral horn

Question 38

What is the name for the layers and columns seen in a transverse section fo the spinal cord?

Answer 38

Rexed's laminae

Question 39

In which columns in the spinal cord are the cell bodies of preganglionic sympathetic fibres found?

Answer 39

Interomedial lateral column

Question 40

In which laminae of the grey mater do sensory inputs from the skin terminate?

Answer 40

Laminae 1-4

Question 41

Veins in the spinal cord form the internal epidural venous plexuses and pass superiorly through the foramen magnum to drain into...?

Answer 41

The dural sinuses

Question 42

What is the name of the layers and columns which divide the grey matter of the spinal cord?

Answer 42

Rexed's laminae