Spinal Cord - Lecture 5

Question 1

what is the spinal cord

Answer 1

gray-ish white continuation of the brain from the medulla oblangata

Question 2

where does the spinal cord start

Answer 2

foramen magnum of the skull

Question 3

where does the spinal cord end

Answer 3

conus medullaris

b/w L1-L2

Question 4

what does the spinal cord include

Answer 4

sensory and motor nuclei (soma)

unmyelinated processes

neuroglia

Question 5

white matter is…

Answer 5

on the outside of the gray matter

opposite of the brain

Question 6

size of the spinal cord

Answer 6

45 cm long

diameter: 1-1.5 cm

weight: 30 grams

Question 7

fxn of the spinal cord

Answer 7

act as a 2 way conduit to and from the brain

central relay station

central processing system

Question 8

central relay station

Answer 8

receives incoming info from the body and brain

Question 9

central processing system

Answer 9

conveys outgoing info to the body and the brain

Question 10

protected from injury by the

Answer 10

bony spinal column

Question 11

why is protection so important

Answer 11

soft

gelatinous substance

Question 12

what offers additional protection

Answer 12

meninges

dura mater

arachnoid

pia matter

Question 13

2 main areas of thickening

Answer 13

cervical enlargement

lumbar enlargement

Question 14

cervical enlargement

Answer 14

C3-T2

supplies movement to UE from axial to appendicular skeleton

Question 15

lumbar enlargement

Answer 15

L1-L3

supplies movement to LE from axial to appendicular skeleton

Question 16

lumbar cistern

Answer 16

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

Question 17

lumbar cistern contains

Answer 17

cauda equina

filum terminale

CSF

Question 18

cauda equina

Answer 18

elongation of dorsal and ventral roots from the lumbar and sacral regions

horses tail

very set up for injury

Question 19

filum terminale

Answer 19

thin

non-nervous filament

attaches to coccygeal ligament

no nerves

Question 20

importance of lumbar cistern

Answer 20

CSF filled chamber w/o spinal cord covering

makes it available for spinal taps for diagnostic purposes

Question 21

central canal –> lumbar cistern

Answer 21

CSF filled canal that extends the entire length of the cord and ends within the filum terminale

Question 22

spinal meninges

Answer 22

dura mater

arachnoid

pia mater

Question 23

dura mater

Answer 23

“tough mother”

strong

Question 24

arachnoid

Answer 24

spidery looking

carries blood vessels

etc.

Question 25

pia mater

Answer 25

“delicate mother”

adheres tightly to surface of spinal cord

Question 26

conus medullaris

Answer 26

cone shaped end of the spinal cord

Question 27

where is the conus medullaris

Answer 27

b/w the end of the thoracic vertebrae (T12) and the beginning of the lumbar vertebrae (L1)

sometimes found b/w L1-L2

Question 28

@birth where is the conus medullaris

Answer 28

L3

Question 29

as an adult, the conus medullaris is

Answer 29

b/w L1-L2