Spinal Cord and Spinal Meninges

Question 1

What are the three layers that protect the spinal cord?

Answer 1

dura mater, arachnoid, pia mater

Question 2

what prevents side to side movement of the spinal cord?

Answer 2

denticulate ligaments

Question 3

what allows the spinal cord to float between the vertebral column?

Answer 3

subarachnoid space

Question 4

what space is not really a “space” and why?

Answer 4

subdural space

its not really a space because it fills with blood or other fluid due to pathologic reasons

Question 5

what space is outside the dura mater and what is it filled with?

Answer 5

the epidural space

it is filled with adipose tissue

Question 6

between the dura mater and subarachnoid?

Answer 6

subdural space

Question 7

lateral extension of the Pia mater that anchor the spinal cord to the dura mater?

Answer 7

denticulate ligaments

Question 8

strand of pia mater that descend from the end of the spinal cord to the coccyx?

Answer 8

film terminale

Question 9

spinal cord ends at approximately?

Answer 9

L1-L2

conus medullaris

Question 10

denticulate ligaments are positions between what structures?

Answer 10

dorsal root and ventral root

Question 11

there is an enlarged subarachnoid space between?

Answer 11

L2-S2

Question 12

The spinal cord has (blank) these levels contain more neurons to innervate the limbs?

Answer 12

cervical and lumbar enlargements

Question 13

what are the nerve roots inferior to the conus medullaris that descend within the vertebral canal to exit through the correct intervertebral foramina?

Answer 13

cauda equina

Question 14

Where is the best place to insert a needle to withdraw CSF?

Answer 14

subarachnoid space

Question 15

why might you want a lumbar puncture/ spinal tap?

Answer 15

to test for meningitis

Question 16

where does the needle pass between in a lumbar puncture/spinal tap?

Answer 16

needle passes between the spinous processes through the dura and arachnoid to enter the subarachnoid space. (epidural space, dura mater, subdural space, arachnoid)

Question 17

Epidurals stop where?

Answer 17

the epidural space so the nerve rootlets passing through there are anesthetized

Question 18

superficial area of the spinal cord, contains axons (fibers) and glial cells; axons are organized into tracts; allows the brain and brainstem to communicate with the spinal cord. Allows communication between distant levels of the spinal cord

Answer 18

White matter

Question 19

At the center of the cord; contains all the nerve cell bodies plus glial cells; cell bodies are sorted by function and are clustered in nuclei

Answer 19

gray matter

Question 20

contains interneuron cell bodies that receive sensory information (somatosensory and viscerosensery)

Answer 20

dorsal horn

Question 21

contains visceromotor cell bodies and is only present from T1-L2 and S2-S4

Answer 21

lateral horn

Question 22

contains somatomotor cell bodies for skeletal muscle

Answer 22

ventral horn

Question 23

contains cell bodies for all incoming sensory information at this level; it may ascend the tract to the brain; it may synapse in the spinal cord for a reflex

Answer 23

dorsal root ganglion

Question 24

cervical nerves exit?

Answer 24

above the vertebra with the same number

Question 25

thoracic, lumbar and sacral nerves exit?

Answer 25

below the vertebra with the same number

Question 26

area of skin innervated by a single spinal nerve (there is overlap from the nerves above and below)

Answer 26

dermatome

Question 27

C2 dermatome is the

Answer 27

back of the head

Question 28

T4 dermatome is the

Answer 28

Nipple line

Question 29

10 dermatome is the

Answer 29

umbilicus

Question 30

S1 dermatome is the

Answer 30

lateral foot

Question 31

S4/S5 dermatome is the

Answer 31

perianal region

Question 32

Clinic relevance/ diagnosis that can be found with dermatomes

Answer 32

level of spinal cord lesions
level of herniated discs
level to anesthetize
level involved in shingles