Spinal Cord & Spinal Nerves Flashcards

1
Q

How many vertebrae are there?

A
  1. (/33)
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2
Q

How many vertebrae are there in each section of the spine?

A
CERVICAL - 7
THORACIC - 12
LUMBAR - 5
SACRAL - 5
COCCYX - 1 (/4)
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3
Q

How many spinal cord segments are there?

A

31.

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4
Q

How many spinal cord segments are there in each region?

A
CERVICAL - 8
THORACIC - 12 
LUMBAR - 5
SACRAL - 5
COCCYX - 1
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5
Q

Which 2 sections of the spine have an unusual number of spinal nerves?

A

CERVICAL - 7 vertebrae but 8 spinal nerve pairs

COCCYX - only 1 spinal nerve pair

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6
Q

What does each segment of the spinal cord give rise to?

A

1 pair of segmental spinal nerve.

-31 pairs in total

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7
Q

Where do spinal nerves leave the vertebral column in relation to vertebrae?

A
  • C1-7 emerge superior to corresponding vertebrae
  • C8 emerges inferior to vertebra C7
  • T1-Co emerge inferior to corresponding vertebrae
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8
Q

What is another name for thoracic spinal nerves?

A

Inter-costal nerves.

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9
Q

What is another name for T12 spinal nerve?

A

Subcostal nerve.

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10
Q

What is the cervical enlargement?

A

Spinal cord enlargement where brachial plexus leaves&raquo_space; arms.

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11
Q

What is the lumbar enlargement?

A

Spinal cord enlargement where sciatic nerve leaves&raquo_space; legs.

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12
Q

What sort of information do dorsal rootlets contain?

A

Sensory information.

-afferent fibres

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13
Q

What sort of information do ventral rootlets contain?

A

Motor information.

-efferent fibres

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14
Q

Where does the spinal cord terminate (inferior tip) in adults?

A

Conus medullaris (L1-2).

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15
Q

What is the cauda equina?

A

Bundle of spinal nerves inferior to conus medullaris (L2 downwards).
-dorsal and ventral roots of lumbar, sacral and coccygeal spinal nerves

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16
Q

Which part of the nervous system does the cauda equina belong to?

A

PNS.

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17
Q

What is the filum terminale?

A

Remnant of developing spinal cord.

-fine extension of pia mater from conus medullaris to coccyx.

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18
Q

What are the 2 parts of the filum terminale, and where do they terminate?

A
  • Internum - ~lower S2

* Externum - coccyx

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19
Q

What are the 3 layers of meninges that surround the spinal cord?

A
  • Dura mater
  • Arachnoid mater
  • Pia mater
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20
Q

How many layers of dura mater surround the spinal cord?

A

1 (meningeal).

-unlike 2 that surround the brain

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21
Q

What separates the dura mater from surrounding bone?

A

Fat-filled epidural (extra) space.

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22
Q

What does the pia mater form laterally?

A

Flat denticulate ligaments.

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23
Q

Where is CSF located?

A

Subarachnoid space.

-between arachnoid mater and pia mater

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24
Q

How does CSF enter the subarachnoid space?

A

Through lateral and median apertures of the ventricular system.

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25
Q

What is the periosteal layer of dura mater continuous with?

A

Periosteum of the skull.

-doesn’t surround spinal cord

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26
Q

What are denticulate ligaments?

A

Extensions from lateral pia mater to the canal wall.

-stabilise the cord

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27
Q

What is a ganglion (PNS)?

A

Collection of cell bodies.

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28
Q

What does the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) contain?

A

Cell bodies of 1* sensory fibres.

-take information from skin surface

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29
Q

What is an epidural?

A

Injection of local anaesthetic into epidural space.

  • does not pass through dura mater
  • localised effect
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30
Q

What is a spinal anaesthetic?

A

Injection of local anaesthetic into subdural space.

  • pierces dura mater
  • more spread effect
31
Q

What is the lumbar cistern?

A

Enlargement of subarachnoid space between the conus medullaris and dura inferior end of dura mater.
(L1/2 - S2)

32
Q

What does the lumbar cistern contain? (3)

A
  • CSF
  • Filum terminale
  • Cauda equina
33
Q

What is the lumbar cistern good for clinically?

A

Lumbar puncture (to withdraw CSF).

  • spinal cord not present
  • cauda equina moves out of the way
34
Q

How far down the vertebral canal does the spinal cord extend in a foetus (2-3 months)?

A

All the way down.

35
Q

What happens to the spinal cord as the back stretches?

A

The spinal cord doesn’t grow as fast as the vertebral canal, so regresses up it.
» leaves filum terminale

36
Q

What is the arterial supply to the spinal cord?

A
  • Unpaired anterior spinal arteries

- Paired posterior spinal arteries

37
Q

Where do spinal arteries typically arise?

A

Vertebral arteries.

38
Q

What are the vertebral arteries supported by along the length of the cord?

A
  • Segmental medullary arteries

- Radicular arteries

39
Q

What do spinal arteries come off in the neck?

A

Vertebral arteries.

40
Q

What do spinal arteries come off in the thorax?

A

Posterior intercostal arteries.

41
Q

What do spinal arteries come off in the abdomen?

A

Lumbar arteries.

42
Q

What do spinal arteries come off in the pelvis?

A

Lateral sacral arteries.

43
Q

What does white matter contain?

A

Tracts and axons.

-long myelinated pathways

44
Q

What does grey matter contain?

A

Cell bodies of axons.

-unmyelinated

45
Q

What sort of information does the dorsal grey horn contain?

A

Sensory.

46
Q

What sort of information does the ventral grey horn contain?

A

Motor.

47
Q

What originates at the lateral grey horn?

A

Autonomic nerves.

  • sympathetic and parasympathetic
  • T1-L2, S2-4
48
Q

Where does the pudendal nerve originate?

A

Lateral grey horn at S2-4.

-but it’s somatic (not autonomic)

49
Q

What sort of information do spinal nerves carry?

A

Mixed.

-motor & sensory

50
Q

What is the epineurium?

A

Protective outer sheath of connective tissue.

-formed from meningeal coverings surrounding spinal nerves

51
Q

What happens to the amount of white matter present as you ascend the cord?

A

Increased white matter as you ascend the cord.

52
Q

Where in the cord do ventral grey horns enlarge?

A

Cervical and Lumbosacral enlargements.

-motor fibres&raquo_space; limbs

53
Q

What is present on either side of the midline above T6?

A

2 dorsal columns on each side.

54
Q

What are the 2 dorsal columns either side of the midline above T6 called?

A
  • Gracile fascicle (MED)

- Cuneate fascicle (LAT)

55
Q

What information does the cuneate fascicle contain?

A

Sensory information from the arms.

56
Q

What information does the gracile fascicle contain?

A

Sensory information from the legs.

57
Q

How many dorsal column pathways are present below T6?

A

One on either side of the midline.

58
Q

What are laminae in the spinal cord?

A

Specific regions in grey matter with sensory/motor nuclei that give rise to certain nerves.

59
Q

At which cord level is the phrenic nucleus?

A

C3-5.

60
Q

Which lamina is the phrenic nucleus in?

A

IX.

61
Q

Is the dorsal column ipsilateral or contralateral?

A

Ipsilateral.

62
Q

What is the function of the dorsal column?

A
  • Joint position

- Vibration sense

63
Q

Is the lateral corticospinal tract ipsilateral or contralateral?

A

Ipsilateral.

64
Q

What is the function of the lateral coritcospinal tract?

A

Fine voluntary movement.

65
Q

Is the ventral corticospinal tract ipsilateral or contralateral?

A

Ipsilateral

66
Q

What is the function of the ventral corticospinal tract?

A

Fine voluntary movement.

67
Q

Is the spinothalamic tract ipsilateral or contralateral?

A

Contralateral.

68
Q

What is the function of the spinothalamic tract?

A
  • Pain
  • Light touch
  • Temperature
69
Q

What are the dorsal column, lateral&ventral corticospinal tract and spinothalamic tract?

A

Ascending and descending fibre tracts in the white matter.

70
Q

Where does the spinal cord terminate at birth?

A

~L3.

71
Q

Where does the spinal cord terminate in adults?

A

L1/L2.

72
Q

What sort of information does the lateral grey horn contain?

A

Autonomic.

73
Q

At what levels of the spinal cord can the lateral grey horn be seen in a cross section?

A

T1-L2 (sympathetic)

S2-S4 (parasympathetic)

74
Q

What happens to the amount of white matter as you ascend the spinal cord?

A

The amount of white matter increases as you ascend the spinal cord.