Spinal cord anatomy Flashcards
What is the terminal portion of the spinal cord called?
conus medullaris
Where does the spinal cord terminate in an adult?
L1/L2
(in a newborn - L3)
Where does the nerve root C2 exit the spinal cord?
above the C2 vertebrae (intervetebral foramina)
C1-C7 exit above corresponding vertebrae
C8 exits below C7
T1 below T1 etc…
What is the cauda equina?
nerves that descend below the termination of the spinal cord
Where is CSF found in the spinal cord?
in the sub arachnoid space
Where are the cell bodies of afferent neurons located?
dorsal root ganglia
Where are the cell bodies of efferent neurons located?
spinal grey matter
Where is the dorsal median sulcus?
How do transverse sections of the cord vary between the cervical and sacral regions?
higher levels contain greater amounts of white matter because ascending tracts gain fibres at each successive level
How many zones (lamina) is the grey matter of the spinal cord divided into?
10
