Spinal Cord And Spinal Nerves

Question 1

Protective coverings of the spinal cord

Answer 1

The spinal cord is fragile so it’s protected by
•vertebra
•meninges
•cerebrospinal fluid

Question 2

Spinal cord protection by the vertebra

Answer 2

Provides a boney covering

Question 3

Spinal cord protection by the meninges

Answer 3

Bags of connective tissue containing blood vessels
3 types:
•Dura Mater- outermost layer 
•Arachnoid Mater- middle layer
•Pia Mater- innermost layer

Question 4

Denticulate ligaments

Answer 4

Thickenings of the Pia mater that anchor the spinal nerve to the coccyx this is known as the filum terminale

Question 5

Subarachnoid space

Answer 5

Located between the arachnoid and Pia mater.

Filled with cerebrospinal fluid

Question 6

Where does the spinal cord begin and end

Answer 6

Starts: Medulla oblongata
• foreman magnum

Ends: 1st or 2nd lumbar vertebra
• conus medullaris

Question 7

Cervical and lumbar enlargements

Answer 7

Innovation, meet up where arms and legs will be entering the spinal cord

Question 8

Spinal cord functions

Answer 8

1) it processes reflexes
2) it is the site for integration nerve impulses that arise locally or are triggered by the periphery and brain
3) it is a conduction pathway for sensory impulses to the brain and motor impulses to effectors

Question 9

Cauda equina

Answer 9

Rootlets
Tall of the horse
Sends sensory and motor neurons to the lower limbs

Question 10

Internal anatomy of the spinal cord:

Answer 10

Anterior median fissure
Posterior median sulcus
Both penetrate the white matter and divide it into right and left sides

Question 11

Gray matter of the spinal cord

Answer 11

Contains the grey commissure with in the centre is the central canal which contains CSF
An area of integration; make decisions

Question 12

Posterior horns

Answer 12

Receive sensory information

Question 13

Anterior horns

Answer 13

Send motor information

Question 14

White matter of the spinal cord

Answer 14

Information highways to and from brain into and out of spinal cord

Question 15

Posterior columns

Answer 15

Carry sensory information up spinal cord to the brain; touch sensations

Question 16

Anterior columns

Answer 16

Motor information down the spinal cord away from the brain

Question 17

Lateral columns

Answer 17

Sensory and motor, pain sensations

Question 18

Sensory tracts

Answer 18

Conduct nerve impulses toward the brain

Question 19

Motor tracts

Answer 19

Conduct impulses down the spinal cord

Question 20

Connection of spinal nerves

Answer 20

Spinal nerves connect the CNS to sensory receptors muscles glands and are part of the peripheral nervous system

Question 21

How many pairs of spinal nerves are down the spinal cord

Answer 21

31 pairs

Question 22

How are the 31 pairs of spinal nerves divided and named

Answer 22

8 pairs of cervical nerves 
12 pairs of thoracic nerves 
5 pairs of lumbar nerves 
5 pairs of sacral nerves 
1 pair of coccygeal nerves

Question 23

Spinal nerves

Answer 23

Carry both sensory and motor nerves. Right before it joins the spinal cord it splits the motor below and sensory above

Question 24

Roots

Answer 24

The two points of attachment that connect each spinal nerve to a segment of the spinal cord

Question 25

Posterior root

Answer 25

Carries sensory nerve fibres and conducts nerve impulses from the periphery into the spinal cord

Question 26

Anterior root

Answer 26

Contains motor neuron axons and conducts impulses from the spinal cord to the periphery

Question 27

Posterior root ganglion

Answer 27

Bump with cell body

Question 28

Connective tissue covering spinal nerves

Answer 28

Endoneurium: covers a single axon
Perineurium: axons that are going to the same place are bundled in a fascicle which is covered by perineurium
Epineurium:covers a nerve (bundle of fascicles)