Spinal Cord Anatomy

Question 1

Answer 1

2 enlargements of spinal cord that contribute to brachial and lumbosacral plexuses (help house more motor neurons needed for limbs)
1)cervical intumescent
2) lumbosacral intumescent

Question 2

What are the denticulate ligaments and location

Answer 2

Bilaterally thickened pia mater along lateral side of spinal card to suspend spinal cord in CSF w/in subarachnoid space

Midway btw spinal roots

Question 3

What fills subarachnoid space? Epidural space ?

Answer 3

CSF, fat

Question 4

Epidural space is in spinal cord, brain, or both

Answer 4

Only spinal cord

Question 5

How is spiral cord segmented? # segments per region?

Answer 5

One segment per pair of nerves
8 cervical segments but only 7 cervical vertebrae,
T= 13
L= 7
S= 3
Caudal = 5

Question 6

Where do spinal nerves “exit”

Answer 6

Intervertebral foreman
Caudal to cervical region the nerves must travel to caudal margins of corresponding vertebra (due to “extra” 8th cervical nerve)

Question 7

Where is cervical enlargement and which nerves does
It contain?

Answer 7

Located at C6/7 IVD
Nerves C6,7,8 and T1 that innervate thoracic limb (brachial plexus)

Question 8

Where does spinal cord terminate?

Answer 8

L617 IVD

Question 9

What is caudal ligament?

Answer 9

Glial tissue enveloped by dural sheath after spinal cord termination