Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves

Question 1

There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, which are part of the

Answer 1

Peripheral Nervous System

Question 2

Named by the spinal nerves emanating from it

Answer 2

Spinal Cord segments

Question 3

Exit ABOVE the vertebra

Answer 3

C1-C7

Question 4

Exits BELOW C7

Answer 4

C8

Question 5

The remaining spinal nerves exit below the

Answer 5

Vertebra

Question 6

The only spinal nerves to exit ABOVE the vertebra are

Answer 6

C1-C7

Question 7

The spinal cord ends at

Answer 7

L1 at conus medullaris (tip of spinal cord)

Question 8

Comprises spinal nerves below the conus medullaris

Answer 8

Cauda Equina

Question 9

Contained within the lumbar cistern (duralsac)

Answer 9

Cauda Equina

Question 10

The sympathetic nervous system originates only from

Answer 10

T1-L3

Question 11

Contains cell bodies of motor neuron, sensory neurons, interneurons

Answer 11

Spinal Cord Gray Matter

Question 12

Has connections between neurons for reflexes, processing sensory and motor input, and relaying information into tracts

Answer 12

Gray matter

Question 13

Made up of long and short (between segments) pathways

Answer 13

Spinal cord white matter

Question 14

Spinal cord injury disrupts the

-Leads to paralysis

Answer 14

Long Pathway

Question 15

Interruption of long pathways leads to motor and sensory loss where?

Answer 15

BELOW the level of the lesion

Question 16

The amount of spinal cord white matter decreases as we move from

Answer 16

Cranial to Caudal

Question 17

What is the primary blood supply for the spinal cord?

Answer 17

Anterior spinal artery and posterior spinal arteries (2)

Question 18

Located in the ventral median fissure and supplies the anterior 2/3 of spinal cord

Answer 18

Anterior spinal artery

Question 19

Located in the posteriolateral sulci and supplies the posterior 1/3 of the spinal cord

Answer 19

Posterior spinal arteries

Question 20

Branches from the anterior and posterior spinal arteries that encircle the spinal cord

Answer 20

Vasocorona

Question 21

Anterior and posterior radicular arteries arise from

Answer 21

Segmental Arteries

Question 22

Branches of aorta or internal iliac arterat each spinal levelto serve respective roots and ganglia

Answer 22

Segmental Arteries

Question 23

Extensions of radicular arteries that penetrate dura to augment the spinal cord blood supply

Answer 23

Medullary Arteries

Question 24

Major artery at T9-11 in 75% of people.

-Supplies majority of lumbar and sacral spinal cord

Answer 24

Great radicular Artery of Adamkiewicz

Question 25

Fracture dislocations of vertebra can interfere with spinal cord

Answer 25

Blood supply

Question 26

Arterial disease can obstruct the

Answer 26

Great Radicular artery

Question 27

Occlusion of aorta during surgery can produce ischemic damage and lead to

Answer 27

Paralysis

Question 28

Located at endpoints between major vessels

-susceptible to ischemia

Answer 28

T4-T9 watershed area

Question 29

Susceptible to ischemia with low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, and vessel occlusion

-Most susceptible is central cord

Answer 29

T4-T9 watershed area

Question 30

Region of skin innervated by the spinal nerves

Answer 30

Dermatomes

Question 31

Touching the skin stimulates a specific spinal nerve and spinal cord segment

Answer 31

Dermatomes

Question 32

Most common cause of damage to a spinal nerve

Answer 32

Herniated Discs

Question 33

Spinal nerve damage due to herniated disc can happen in any part of the vertebral column. But the most common regions are

Answer 33

C5-6, C6-7, L4-L5, and L5-S1

Question 34

Most herniated discs resolve in

Answer 34

8 Weeks

Question 35

Most disc herniations are

Answer 35

Lateral

Question 36

T1 or T2 radiculopathy interupts the sympthetic pathway to the eye and can cause a

Answer 36

Horner’s Syndrome

Question 37

What are the three symptoms of the Horner’s Syndrome caused by T1 or T2 radiculopathy

Answer 37

Constricted pupil (miosis), Anhidrosis (decreased sweating), and ptosis (drooping of eyelid)

Question 38

Any herniation below C7 will affect the spinal nerve corresponding to the

Answer 38

LOWER vertebral body

Question 39

For example, a disc herniation between T5-T6 will affect the

Answer 39

T6 spinal nerve