Spinal Cord & Spinal Nerves Flashcards
How many vertebrae are there?
- (/33)
How many vertebrae are there in each section of the spine?
CERVICAL - 7 THORACIC - 12 LUMBAR - 5 SACRAL - 5 COCCYX - 1 (/4)
How many spinal cord segments are there?
31.
How many spinal cord segments are there in each region?
CERVICAL - 8 THORACIC - 12 LUMBAR - 5 SACRAL - 5 COCCYX - 1
Which 2 sections of the spine have an unusual number of spinal nerves?
CERVICAL - 7 vertebrae but 8 spinal nerve pairs
COCCYX - only 1 spinal nerve pair
What does each segment of the spinal cord give rise to?
1 pair of segmental spinal nerve.
-31 pairs in total
Where do spinal nerves leave the vertebral column in relation to vertebrae?
- C1-7 emerge superior to corresponding vertebrae
- C8 emerges inferior to vertebra C7
- T1-Co emerge inferior to corresponding vertebrae
What is another name for thoracic spinal nerves?
Inter-costal nerves.
What is another name for T12 spinal nerve?
Subcostal nerve.
What is the cervical enlargement?
Spinal cord enlargement where brachial plexus leaves»_space; arms.
What is the lumbar enlargement?
Spinal cord enlargement where sciatic nerve leaves»_space; legs.
What sort of information do dorsal rootlets contain?
Sensory information.
-afferent fibres
What sort of information do ventral rootlets contain?
Motor information.
-efferent fibres
Where does the spinal cord terminate (inferior tip) in adults?
Conus medullaris (L1-2).
What is the cauda equina?
Bundle of spinal nerves inferior to conus medullaris (L2 downwards).
-dorsal and ventral roots of lumbar, sacral and coccygeal spinal nerves
Which part of the nervous system does the cauda equina belong to?
PNS.
What is the filum terminale?
Remnant of developing spinal cord.
-fine extension of pia mater from conus medullaris to coccyx.
What are the 2 parts of the filum terminale, and where do they terminate?
- Internum - ~lower S2
* Externum - coccyx
What are the 3 layers of meninges that surround the spinal cord?
- Dura mater
- Arachnoid mater
- Pia mater
How many layers of dura mater surround the spinal cord?
1 (meningeal).
-unlike 2 that surround the brain
What separates the dura mater from surrounding bone?
Fat-filled epidural (extra) space.
What does the pia mater form laterally?
Flat denticulate ligaments.
Where is CSF located?
Subarachnoid space.
-between arachnoid mater and pia mater
How does CSF enter the subarachnoid space?
Through lateral and median apertures of the ventricular system.
What is the periosteal layer of dura mater continuous with?
Periosteum of the skull.
-doesn’t surround spinal cord
What are denticulate ligaments?
Extensions from lateral pia mater to the canal wall.
-stabilise the cord
What is a ganglion (PNS)?
Collection of cell bodies.
What does the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) contain?
Cell bodies of 1* sensory fibres.
-take information from skin surface
What is an epidural?
Injection of local anaesthetic into epidural space.
- does not pass through dura mater
- localised effect