Spinal Cord - Lecture 5 Flashcards
what is the spinal cord
gray-ish white continuation of the brain from the medulla oblangata
where does the spinal cord start
foramen magnum of the skull
where does the spinal cord end
conus medullaris
b/w L1-L2
what does the spinal cord include
sensory and motor nuclei (soma)
unmyelinated processes
neuroglia
white matter is…
on the outside of the gray matter
opposite of the brain
size of the spinal cord
45 cm long
diameter: 1-1.5 cm
weight: 30 grams
fxn of the spinal cord
act as a 2 way conduit to and from the brain
central relay station
central processing system
central relay station
receives incoming info from the body and brain
central processing system
conveys outgoing info to the body and the brain
protected from injury by the
bony spinal column
why is protection so important
soft
gelatinous substance
what offers additional protection
meninges
dura mater
arachnoid
pia matter
2 main areas of thickening
cervical enlargement
lumbar enlargement
cervical enlargement
C3-T2
supplies movement to UE from axial to appendicular skeleton
lumbar enlargement
L1-L3
supplies movement to LE from axial to appendicular skeleton
lumbar cistern
enlargement of the subarachnoid space b/w the conus medularis of spinal cord and inferior end of subarachnoid space and dura mater
important drainage area
lumbar cistern contains
cauda equina
filum terminale
CSF
cauda equina
elongation of dorsal and ventral roots from the lumbar and sacral regions
horses tail
very set up for injury
filum terminale
thin
non-nervous filament
attaches to coccygeal ligament
no nerves
importance of lumbar cistern
CSF filled chamber w/o spinal cord covering
makes it available for spinal taps for diagnostic purposes
central canal –> lumbar cistern
CSF filled canal that extends the entire length of the cord and ends within the filum terminale
spinal meninges
dura mater
arachnoid
pia mater
dura mater
“tough mother”
strong
arachnoid
spidery looking
carries blood vessels
etc.
pia mater
“delicate mother”
adheres tightly to surface of spinal cord
conus medullaris
cone shaped end of the spinal cord
where is the conus medullaris
b/w the end of the thoracic vertebrae (T12) and the beginning of the lumbar vertebrae (L1)
sometimes found b/w L1-L2
@birth where is the conus medullaris
L3
as an adult, the conus medullaris is
b/w L1-L2
