Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves

Question 1

How many cranial nerves are there and how many spinal nerves?

Answer 1

12 cranial nerves, 31 pairs of spinal nerves

Question 2

Approximately where does the spinal cord terminate relative to the vertebral bodies (in the adult and adolescent)?

Answer 2

Between the L1 and L2 vertebral bodies

Question 3

Where do nerve roots merge to become spinal nerves?

Answer 3

At the IV foramina

Question 4

What are the two enlargements of the spinal cord?

Answer 4

Cervical enlargement and lumbosacral enlargement

Question 5

Which horn of spinal cord gray matter contains cell bodies of sensory neurons?

Answer 5

The posterior horn

Question 6

Which horn of spinal cord gray matter contains cell bodies of motor neurons?

Answer 6

The anterior horn

Question 7

Four types of fibers conveyed by spinal nerves

Answer 7

General Somatic Afferent (GSA), General Somatic Efferent (GSE), General Visceral Afferent (GVA), General Visceral Efferent (GVE)

Question 8

What do general somatic afferent nerve fibers do?

Answer 8

Relay sensory information from the skin, such as pain, touch, proprioception, pressure, etc.

Question 9

What do general somatic efferent nerve fibers do?

Answer 9

Communicate motor instructions to skeletal muscles

Question 10

What types of nerve fibers are carried in the dorsal ramus of a spinal nerve?

Answer 10

All 4 types (GSA, GSE, GVA, GVE). Same is true for ventral ramus