Spinal cord and spinal nerves

Question 1

How do cervical spinal nerves differ from all other spinal nerves?

Answer 1

Cervical spinal nerves exit the spine above their correspondingly numbered vertebrae whereas all others exit below.
[Nb. there are 8 cervical nerves but only 7 vertebrae as the 8th cervical nerve exits below the 7th vertebrae]

Question 2

What is Cauda Equina syndrome?

Answer 2

Compression of the sacral nerves caused by disc herniation, tumour, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis or vertebral canal stenosis.
Causes symptoms such as inability to feel self urinating/ defecating, reduced ankle jerk reflex (S1-2) and lower limb sensory loss

Question 3

At which vertebral levels can a lumbar puncture be performed?

Answer 3

L3/L4 or L4/L5

L4/L5 or L5/S1 in children