Spinal Cord Anatomy Flashcards
In general, where is the end of the spinal cord?
L5-L7
How many spinal nerves are associated with a spinal cord segment?
a pair
How many spinal nerve pairs are there?
36
How many spinal cord segements are associated with the cervical vertebrae?
8
How many spinal cord segments are assoociated with the thoracic vertebrae?
13
How many spinal cord segments are associated with the lumbar vertebrae?
7
How many spinal cord segments are associated with the sacral vertebrae?
3
How many spinal cord segments are associated with the caudal vertebrae?
5
What is the cauda equina?
a collection of sacral and caudal spinal roots located in the foramen of the sacrum
Where is the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord?
from C6-T1
What is formed from the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord?
the brachial plexus
Where is the lumbosacral enlargement of the spinal cord?
from L4 - S1
What is formed from the lumbosacral enlargement?
the lumbosacral plexus
What are the internal structures of the spinal cord associated with white matter?
dorsal funiculus, lateral funiculus, and ventral funiculus
What tracts are located in the dorsal funiculus?
sensory tracts only
What tracts are located in the lateral funiculus?
sensory and motor tracts
What tracts are located in the ventral funiculus?
sensory and motor tracts
What internal structures of the spinal cord are associated with grey matter?
dorsal and ventral horn
What type of neurons are located in the dorsal horn?
sensory neurons
What type of neurons are located in the ventral horn?
motor neurons
What is white matter made up of?
axons and glial cells
What is grey matter made up of?
perikarya and their axons, dendrites, and glial cells
What are the three basic functions of the spinal cord?
mediates sensory and motor signals to/from the brain stem and cerebral cortex and mediates both sensory and motor spinal reflexes
If there is a lesion on an axon where will the degeneration occur?
distal to the lesion
If there is a lesion on a cell body of an axon where will the degeneration occur?
the whole axon will die
