Spinal Cord and Meninges

Question 1

Visceral vs. somatic

Answer 1

Visceral - smooth and cardiac muscle

Somatic - Body walls and limbs

Question 2

How do brain and spinal cord connect?

Answer 2

Foramen magnum of the occipital bone of the scull

Question 3

How far down does spinal cord exten?

Answer 3

L1-L2

Question 4

How many spinal nerves associated with each spinal cord level?

Answer 4

2

Question 5

How are spinal nerves named?

Answer 5

In cervical, named for vertebra inferior to exit
Everywhere else, named for vertebra superior to exit
C8 is below C7

Question 6

More inferior nerve fibers are _______ and _____

Answer 6

longer and more vertical

Question 7

Conus Medullaris

Answer 7

Narrowing of spinal cord at the sacral and coccygeal spinal cord levels

Question 8

Cauda equina

Answer 8

Dorsal and ventral roots of inferior segments that travel until they can reach their respective intervertebral foramen

Question 9

Filum terminale

Answer 9

Extension of the pia mater which covers the spinal cord from the conus medullaris to the coccyx
Passes through cauda equina and pierces dura mater to attach to the coccyx

Question 10

White matter found where and composed of what?

Answer 10

Outer region

Myelinated axons

Question 11

Grey matter found where and composed of what and shape?

Answer 11

Inner region
H shape
Composed of neuronal and glial cell bodies

Question 12

Glial cells

Answer 12

Supporting cells for neurons

Question 13

Gray matter divided into

Answer 13

Anterior (ventral) horn and Posterior (dorsal) horn

Question 14

Ventral horn

Answer 14

Contains somatic motor neurons that innervate skeletal muscles

Question 15

Dorsal horn

Answer 15

Contains neurons that receive sensory information from spinal ganglia neurons

Question 16

ventral root and where it originates

Answer 16

Motor fibers that innervate somatic muscles

Originate from anterior horn neurons

Question 17

Dorsal Root and where it originates

Answer 17

Somatic Sensory fibers from periphery to the CNS. Originate from spinal ganglion neurons located external to the spinal cord

Question 18

Spinal ganglion and location

Answer 18

Collection of nerve cell bodies outside of the CNS
No synapses here
Located in intervertebral foramen
Unipolar neurons that have processes ending in dorsal horn
Peripheral processes associated with a sensory receptor

Question 19

Spinal Nerve and 2 branches

Answer 19

Relatively short structure that is formed by union of ventral root and dorsal root
Dorsal primary ramus and ventral primary ramus

Question 20

Dorsal primary ramus innervations

Answer 20

Innervates epaxial muscles and overlying skin

Question 21

Ventral primary ramus innervations

Answer 21

Hypaxial muscles and overlying skins (everything but true back muscles)

Question 22

Rami and Roots…which are mixed in function and whic are not?

Answer 22

Roots are not

Rami are mixed

Question 23

Dorsal root cell bodies lie _____

Answer 23

in spinal ganglion

Question 24

Ventral root cell bodies lie _____

Answer 24

in ventral horn

Question 25

Three layers of connective tissue that cover spinal cord

Answer 25

Dura Mater
Arachnoid Mater
Pia Mater

Question 26

Dura mater and how far does it extend?

Answer 26

External outer tough covering that extends to S2 levels of vertebral canal
Extends to the distal end of the spinal ganglion

Question 27

What does dura mater become continuous with

Answer 27

Epineurium of spinal nerves

Question 28

Dural sleeves

Answer 28

Extensions of Dura mater

Question 29

Dural Sac

Answer 29

Blind end pouch of dura mater that extends to S2 vertebral levels

Question 30

Arachnoid mater and how far does it extend?

Answer 30

Avascular membrane deep to the dura mater

Follows the dura mater

Question 31

Pia mater

Answer 31

Deepest layer. Adherent to spinal cord

Question 32

Denticulate ligaments

Answer 32

Lateral extensions of the pia mater which help anchor the spinal cord to dura mater
Run through the arachnoid and into dura mater

Question 33

How can you tell sepration between various ventral and dorsal roots

Answer 33

denticulate ligaments in between

Question 34

Epidural space

Answer 34

Lies superficial to dura mater

Contains fat and internal vertbral venous plexus

Question 35

Internal vertebral venous plexus

Answer 35

Drains spinal cord

Question 36

Is there epidural space in cranium?

Answer 36

No

Question 37

Subarachnoid space

Answer 37

Lies deep to arachnoid membrane but superficial of pia
Contains CSF
Exists in cranium

Question 38

What is CSF produced by?

Answer 38

Choroid plexus in ventricles of the brain

Question 39

Anesthesia above L4

Answer 39

Go into the subarachnoid space - spinal

Question 40

Anesthesia below L4

Answer 40

Stop before you hit dura mater - epidural

Question 41

Dermatome

Answer 41

Area of skin supplied by one spinal cord level
50% overlap
Three levels lost before deficit apparent

Question 42

Dermatomes we need to know

Answer 42

T4 - areola
T10 - umbilicus
L1 - lower extent of trunk

Question 43

Cutaneous innervation

Answer 43

Area of skin innervated by a peripheral nerve which may or may not have more than one spinal cord level within it

Question 44

Spinal cord receives blood supply from

Answer 44

Anterior spinal artery and posterior spinal arteries

Question 45

Size of spinal arteries as they move down

Answer 45

Decrease

Question 46

Segmental arteries and two types

Answer 46

Supplement spinal arteries at each vertebral level

Medullary and Radiclar

Question 47

Medullary arteries

Answer 47

Extend into the spinal cord and anastomose with the longitudinal arteries to receive their supply

Question 48

Radicular arteries

Answer 48

Supply the dorsal and ventral roots that aren’t supplied by segmental arteries

Question 49

Arteries in each spinal region

Answer 49

Lumbar arteries
Posterior intercostal arteries
Vertebral, ascending cervical, or deep cervical