Spinal Cord and ANS Flashcards
Where in the vertebral column does the spinal cord end in adults vs foetus?
12 week foetus - all the way
Adult - L1-2
What is the name of the lower end of the spinal cord?
Conus medullaris
What is the name of the bundle of nerve roots that continues from the spinal cord?
Cauda Equina
What is the name of the continuation of Pia mater down the caudal equina?
Filum terminale
What is the filum terminal externa?
Part of filum terminale that extends down the coccygeal
What is the lumbar cistern?
extension of subarachnoid space in the dural sac in the cauda equina
Dural cistern
Ends at s2 and has CSF inside. attaches to filum terminale externum
Nissl bodies
Found within somas and dendrites, containing rough endoplasmic reticulum (produces protein)
Where do spinal nerves exit the vertebral column?
Intervertebral foramen
Which nerves supply the brachial plexus?
C5 - T1, upper limbs
Which nerves supply the lumbosacral plexus and what does this innervate?
L1-S4, lower limbs
Dorsal root vs Dorsal rami
Dorsal root supplies sensory neurones, while dorsal rami supplies both sensory and motor neurones
Ventral rami vs Ventral root
Ventral rami - Sensory and motor innervation. Ventral root - motor nerves
Ventral rami vs dorsal rami
Ventral supplies anterior trunk and limbs
Dorsal supplies posterior back
What nerves innervate sympathetic outflow?
T1-L2/3
What is ischemia?
Deficiency of blood to the spinal cord can lead to ischemia
How can spinal cord injuries come about?
Blunt trauma, e.g. spinal cord compression from a slipped disc, leading to pinched nerves and complete/partial loss of function/sensation
What relevance do lumbar punctures have?
Clinically, we take punctures at L3-4 (after spinal cord) to give anaesthesia in the spine (c-section) or epidural (minor surgery)
Where is the lateral horn present and what is it?
From T1 - L2/3 and (s2-4) neurones cell bodies and holds sympathetic
What does the sympathetic chain allow?
All 31 nerves have sympathetic outflow - but nerves are only present in thoracolumbar regions. Allows nerves to travel up of down the chain to supply other nerves
What are splanchnic nerves?
Ones which don’t synapse in the sympathetic chain. They synapse after and supply abdominal organs
What are the 3 options for sympathetic fibres from the lateral horn?
1 - synapse in same position on the chain
2 - synapse up or down the sympathetic chain
3 - don’t synapse in the chain - synapse later (splanchnic nerves)
How does the face receive sympathetic nerve supply?
Sympathetic fibres travel up sympathetic chain and synapse at C1, C6 or C8. nerve fibre then travels up blood vessels to get to the face
