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Spinal Cord Flashcards

1
Q

Paralysis following spinal cord injury

A
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2
Q

Where does the spinal cord begin

What is it continuous with at its origin

A

Begins at foramen magnum

Continuous with medulla

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3
Q

Diameter and length of the spinal cord

A

Diameter = 1-1.5cm

Length = 45cm

Hence occupies upper 2/3rd of vertebral canal of vertebral column

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4
Q

Where does the spinal cord terminate in

  1. Adults
  2. Children

Why does the spinal cord terminate before the vertebral column

A
  1. L1-L2 in adults
  2. Near L3 in young child

Rate of growth of bone (vertebral column) tissue is faster than the rate of growth of nerve tissue

Hence lumbar cistern below termination point

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5
Q

How the 3 meningeal layers transfer to spinal cord

A
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6
Q

What anchors the spinal cord in its position

A

Denticulate ligament

A continuation of pia mater

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7
Q

Name and indentify where there are enlargements in the spinal cord

A
  • Cervical enlargement - origin to brachial plexus (C3-T2)
  • Lumbar enlargement - origin to lumbosacral plexus (L1-S3)
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8
Q

Name the most inferior structure of the spinal cord

A

Spinal cord tapers off into CONUS MEDULLARIS

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9
Q

What is the cauda equina

A

Extension of bundle of nerve roots beyond the cord

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10
Q

What is the filum terminale

A

A prolongation of pia mater

Descends from conus medullaris to attach to coccyx (anchor)

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11
Q

Dissections of conus medullaris, cauda equina, meningeal layers and filum terminale

A
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12
Q

What opening do nerves pass through

A

Intervertebral foramina

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13
Q

Transverse section of spinal cord

A
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14
Q

How to distinguish the dorsal (sensory) root from the ventral (motor) root

A

Sensory ganglia - swelling

* Dorsal root ganglion

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15
Q

Dorsal/posterior roots are _______

A

Sensory

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16
Q

Ventral/anterior roots are ________

A

Motor

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17
Q

How is each root attached to the cord

A

By a series of rootlets

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18
Q

What does the spinal nerve branch into

A

Anterior/ventral ramus

Posterior/dorsal ramus

Series of smaller branches

19
Q

Transverse process of spinal cord & spinal nerve branches

20
Q

What is the dermatomal map

A

Each spinal nerve carries sensory information for a part of the body surface

Sensation lost in 1 dermatome only when approx 3 adjacent roots have been injured, hence there is a compensatory effect

21
Q

What do afferent nerve fibres do

A

Bring information to the spinal cord which then travels up to the brain

22
Q

What do efferent nerve fibres do

A

send information from the spinal cord out along nerves

23
Q

Transverse section of spinal cord

A

Note - grey matter is at the centre, white matter at the surface edge

24
Q

What lines the central canal

A

Ependymal cells

25
What happens if the fluid in the 4th ventricle does not drain down to the central canal
It goes to the 3 apertures in the roof of the 4th ventricle
26
Divisions of grey matter
Dorsal/posterior column Ventral/anterior column Lateral column (intermediate zone) Rexed's laminae - 10 zones
27
Where is true lamination confined to
Dorsal horn
28
What is the substantia gelatinosa in the dorsal grey column
Apex of dorsal grey column throughout cord length Receives afferents related to pain, temperature, touch from dorsal root
29
What is the nucleus proprius in the dorsal grey column
Ventral to substantia gelatinosa throughout the length Receives fibres from dorsal white columns Senses of position, movement (proprioception)
30
What is the nucleus dorsalis/Clarke's column in the dorsal grey column
Base of dorsal grey column C8 - L3/4 segments Proprioceptive signals - cells give rise to posterior spinocerebellar tract
31
What do the nerve cell groups in ventral gray columns do
Cell columns of lower motor neurons in ventral grey matter supply groups of muscles with similar functions
32
Difference between monosynaptic and polysynaptic
33
What is the amount of grey matter present proportional to
The amount of muscle innervated at that level
34
Define the 3 divisions of white matter
* Anterior/ventral funiculus - between anterior median fissure and anterolateral sulcus * Lateral funiculus - between anterolateral sulcus and posterolateral sulcus * Posterior/dorsal funiculus - between posterolateral sulcus and dorsal median sulcus
35
What do the ascending tracts of white matter carry impulses from
Pain Tactile, thermal, muscle and joint receptors =\> exteroeceptive and proprioceptive info
36
What are the descending tracts of white matter involved in Define their path
Descend down from cerebral cortex and brain Involved in control of movement, posture, muscle tone
37
Define intersegmental tracts
Fibres carry info from 1 segment to another Important intersegmental spinal reflexes
38
What are the principle fibre tracts of the spinal cord
39
Name the 3 arteries that supply the spinal cord
Anterior medial spinal artery 2 x smaller posterior spinal arteries
40
Where is the anterior median spinal artery located How much of the blood supply does it constitute
Located along the anterior midline of the cord Supplies most (75%) of the arterial blood supply to spinal cord
41
Where are the smaller posterior spinal arteries located How much of the blood supply do they constitute
Lie on each side of the cord posteriorly Supplies only 25% of the arterial blood supply to posterior region of spinal cord
42
Origin of the posterior spinal arteries
Directly from vertebral spinal arteries or INDIRECTLY from posterior inferior cerebellar arteries
43
Origin of anterior spinal artery
Formed by union of the 2 branches of the vertebral arteries
44
Veins of the spinal cord
Drain into 6 longitudinal channels * Anterior spinal v. * Posterior spinal v. * Anterolateral v. * Posterolateral v. =\> into anterior and posterior radicular veins * Radicular veins drain into internal vertebral venous plexus

CNS (36 decks)

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