spinal cord

Question 1

structure that links the brain and the rest of the body

Answer 1

spinal cord

Question 2

structure that extends from the foramen magnum to vertebra L1-2

Answer 2

spinal cord

Question 3

cone shaped end of the spinal cord

Answer 3

conus medullaris

Question 4

what protects the spinal cord

Answer 4

vertebrae, 3 meninges, cerebrospinal fluid

Question 5

are the meninges of the spinal cord continuous with those covering the brain?

Answer 5

yes

Question 6

at which end is the spinal cord thickest

Answer 6

superior

Question 7

what part of the nervous system is the cauda equina part of?

Answer 7

PNS

Question 8

continuation of the spinal cord in thin fibres past L1-2

Answer 8

cauda equina

Question 9

where is the cauda equina found relative to the meninges?

Answer 9

subarachnoid space

Question 10

the vertebral/neural foramina form what structure to protect the spinal cord

Answer 10

vertebral/neural/spinal canal

Question 11

a bundle of spinal nerves, all of which originate in the conus medullaris

Answer 11

cauda equina

Question 12

space located between the dura and interior surface of the neural canal

Answer 12

epidural space

Question 13

space in the spinal cord that contains veins, arteries, and fat

Answer 13

epidural space

Question 14

the injection of medication, often an analgesic, into the epidural space

Answer 14

an epidural

Question 15

a needles is inserted between two lumbar vertebrae below the conus meullaris, into the subarachnoid space, to extract CSF

Answer 15

lumbar puncture

Question 16

the area of the spinal cord from which a pare of dorsal and ventral roots arise

Answer 16

spinal cord segment

Question 17

what are the distinct boundaries between spinal cord segments

Answer 17

there are none

Question 18

structure at which the anterior and posterior nerve roots joint

Answer 18

intervertebral foramen

Question 19

bony channel between adjacent vertebrae

Answer 19

intervertebral foramen

Question 20

nerve root of the spinal cord that carries afferent information

Answer 20

dorsal/posterior

Question 21

nerve root of the spinal cord that carries efferent information

Answer 21

ventral/anterior

Question 22

structures found on each vertebra that project posteriorly to form spinous processes

Answer 22

laminae

Question 23

the length of nerve roots increases progressively moving which direction along the spinal cord

Answer 23

inferiorly

Question 24

structure formed by the lumbar and sacral spinal nerve roots below the conus medullaris

Answer 24

cauda equina

Question 25

how many pairs of spinal nerves/segments

Answer 25

31

Question 26

how many cervical spinal nerve pairs

Answer 26

8

Question 27

how many thoracic spinal nerve pairs

Answer 27

12

Question 28

how many lumbar nerve pairs

Answer 28

5

Question 29

how many sacral nerve pairs

Answer 29

5

Question 30

how many coccygeal nerve pairs

Answer 30

1-3

Question 31

how do names of spinal nerves correspond to the names of vertebrae

Answer 31

spinal nerves emerge inferiorly to vertebrae, except for cervical vertebrae

Question 32

how do names of cervical spinal nerves correspond to the cervical vertebrae

Answer 32

spinal nerve emerges superiorly from vertebrae of C1-7, then the C8 nerve emerges inferiorly to C7.

Question 33

anterior structure that partially divides the spinal cord into left and right sides

Answer 33

anterior median fissure

Question 34

posterior structure that partially divides the spinal cord into left and right sides

Answer 34

posterior median sulcus

Question 35

tissue that resembles a butterfly or letter H in the spinal cord

Answer 35

grey matter

Question 36

tissue surrounding grey matter

Answer 36

white matter

Question 37

tissue consisting of the cell bodies of neurons, neuroglia, unmyelinated axons, and dendrites of interneurons/motor neurons

Answer 37

gray matter

Question 38

structure within gray matter, filled with CSF and runs longitudinally through the spinal cord

Answer 38

central canal

Question 39

structure that runs through the spinal cord and is contiguous with the ventricular system of the brain

Answer 39

central canal

Question 40

axons carrying afferent signals entering the dorsal horn of grey matter usually synapse with hundreds of these

Answer 40

interneurons

Question 41

these connect with other neurons within the spinal cord and/or their axons form ascending sensory pathways that will synapse with higher brain centers

Answer 41

interneurons

Question 42

horn of gray matter that contains the cell bodies of lower motor neurons

Answer 42

ventral/anterior horn

Question 43

these innervate the muscles of the head

Answer 43

lower motor neurons in the cranial nerves

Question 44

where to lower motor neurons that leave the spinal cord innervate?

Answer 44

muscles of the body

Question 45

structure of grey matter, present at 14 levels of the spinal cord (T1-L2)

Answer 45

lateral horn

Question 46

the lateral horn cell bodies are the route for all of what system outflow

Answer 46

sympathetic nervous system

Question 47

aka for the sympathetic nervous system in reference to the spinal cord

Answer 47

thoracolumbar outflow

Question 48

aka for the parasympathetic nervous system in reference to the spinal cord

Answer 48

cranial sacral outflow

Question 49

motor neurons whose cell bodies are found in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and cranial nerve nuclei of the brainstem

Answer 49

lower motor neurons

Question 50

all voluntary movement relies on these neurons

Answer 50

lower motor neurons

Question 51

lower muscle neuron type that innervate extrafusal muscle fibres

Answer 51

alpha motor neurons

Question 52

aka for alpha motor neurons

Answer 52

anterior horn cells

Question 53

lower motor neuron type that innervate skeletal muscles

Answer 53

alpha motor neurons

Question 54

lower motor neuron type that innervates intrafusal muscle fibres

Answer 54

gamma motor neurons

Question 55

lower motor neuron type that are an important part of proprioception

Answer 55

gamma motor neurons

Question 56

tissue consisting of myelinated and unmyelinated axons of sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons

Answer 56

white matter

Question 57

tissue containing ascending and descending tracts

Answer 57

white matter

Question 58

bundled axons in the CNS

Answer 58

tracts

Question 59

these tracts are sensory tracts

Answer 59

ascending

Question 60

these tracts are motor tracts

Answer 60

descending

Question 61

most sensory tract names begin with this prefix and end with the part of the brain to which it leads

Answer 61

spino-

Question 62

motor tract names end with this suffix and begin with the part of the brain from which it originates

Answer 62

-spinal

Question 63

tract that carries information to the lower limb

Answer 63

fasciculus gracilis

Question 64

tract that carries information to the upper limb

Answer 64

fasciculus cuneatus

Question 65

a condition where the space in the vertebral canal narrows

Answer 65

spinal stenosis

Question 66

why does the spinal canal narrow?

Answer 66

degenerative changes in vertebrae as we age