Spinal Exam 1: Unit III (pg.16-17--vessels) Flashcards
What name is given to the opening located within the vertebral body - vertebral arch enclosure?
the vertebral foramen
The union of all vertebral foramina forms an apparent vertical cylinder called the ___.
the vertebral canal or spinal canal
What neural structures will occupy the vertebral foramen until the level of L2?
the spinal cord/spinal medulla/medulla spinalis
the proximal part of the peripheral nerve system
and meninges
What is the typical shape/outline of the vertebral foramen at each region of the spinal column/vertebral column?
cervical - triangular
thoracic - oval
lumbar - triangular
sacrum - triangular
At what vertebral level will the spinal cord typically terminate?
L1
At what vertebral level will the dural sac typically terminate?
S2
What are the segmental arteries of the cervical spine?
the vertebral artery
ascending cervical artery
deep cervical artery
What are the segmental arteries of the thoracic spine?
the deep cervical artery
superior (highest) intercostal artery
posterior intercostal artery
subcostal artery
What are the segmental arteries of the lumbar spine? (4)
the lumbar arteries
iliolumbar artery
lateral sacral artery
median (middle) sacral artery
What are the segmental arteries of the fifth lumbar vertebra? (3)
iliolumbar artery
lateral sacral artery
median (middle) sacral artery
What are the segmental arteries of the sacrum? (3)
iliolumbar artery
lateral sacral artery
median (middle) sacral artery
What segmental levels are supplies by the vertebral artery?
C1-C6
What segmental arteries are supplied by the ascending cervical artery?
C1-C6
What segmental levels are supplied by the deep cervical artery?
C7-T1
What segmental levels are supplied by the superior (highest) intercostal artery?
T1, T2
What segmental levels are supplied by the posterior intercostal artery?
T3-T11
What segmental level(s) is/are supplied by the subcostal artery?
T12
What segmental levels are supplied by the lumbar arteries?
L1-L4
What segmental levels are supplied by the median (middle) sacral artery?
L5, S1-S5 and coccyx
What segmental levels are supplied by the iliolumbar artery?
L5, S1-S5 and coccyx
What segmental level(s) is/are supplied by the lateral sacral artery?
L5, S1-S5 and coccyx
Which vertebra has the greatest number of segmental arteries associated with it?
L5
What are the segmental arteries for L5? (3)
iliolumbar artery
median (middle) sacral artery
lateral sacral artery
Which branch of the dorsospinal artery will penetrate the meninges to enter subarachnoid space?
spinal artery
Which branches of the spinal artery supply the contents of the epidural space?
osseous artery
anterior spinal canal artery
posterior spinal canal artery
What arteries are observed in the epidural space near the posterior longitudinal ligament?
anterior spinal canal artery and plexus
What arteries are observed in the epidural space near the ligamentum flavum?
posterior spinal canal artery and plexus
Which branches of the spinal artery supply the contents of the subarachnoid space?
anterior redicular artery
posterior redicular artery
anterior medullary feeder artery
posterior medullary feeder artery
Which vessel will supply the ventral/anterior nerve rootlet and nerve root?
anterior radicular artery
Which vessel will supply the dorsal/posterior nerve rootlets, nerve root and nerve root ganglion?
posterior radicular artery
Which artery is now said to enlarge and form the medullary feeder artery?
the radicular artery
What is the name given to the artery that lies in front of the spinal cord along its length?
anterior spinal artery
The anterior spinal artery is a branch of which artery?
the vertebral artery
Is the anterior spinal artery a single, continuous artery along the spinal cord?
no
As the anterior spinal artery continues along the spinal cord, which arteries unite along its length to give the appearance of a single continuous vessel?
anterior medullary feeder arteries
The posterior spinal artery is a branch of which artery?
the posterior inferior cerebellar artery
What is the position of the posterior spinal artery relative to the spinal cord?
it lies in the posterolateral sulcus along the spinal cord
Is the posterior spinal artery a single, continuous artery along the spinal cord?
no
As the posterior spinal artery continues along the spinal cord, which arteries unite along its length to give the appearance of a single continuous vessel?
the posterior medullary feeder arteries
What forms the arterial vasa corona?
anterior spinal arteries
posterior spinal arteries
communicating arteries
What is the generic name given to the arteries that penetrate the spinal cord?
intramedullary arteries
What are the intramedullary branches of the arterial vasa corona?
pial perforating arteries and central/ventral/sulcal perforating arteries
What artery gives off the ventral/central/sulcal perforating arteries?
the anterior spinal artery
What arterial vasa corona branches supply gray matter and most of the spinal cord?
ventral/central/sulcal perforating arteries
What intramedullary branches supply about one third of the spinal cord?
pial perforating arteries
What is the source for pial perforating arteries?
the pial plexus
What arteries form the pial plexus?
the posterior spinal arteries and the communicating arteries
What arteries are responsible for supplementing the arterial vasa corona along the cord?
anterior medullary feeders and posterior medullary feeders
What vessels drain the spinal cord?
pial veins
What will pail veins drain into?
venous vasa corona
Which vessels form the venous vasa corona?
anterior longitudinal veins
posterior longitudinal veins
communicating veins
Which vessels will drain the venous vasa corona?
anterior medullary veins
Which vessels will drain the ventral/anterior nerve roots?
anterior radicular veins
Which vessels will drain the dorsal/posterior nerve roots?
posterior radicular veins
What vessel will drain the dorsal/posterior nerve root ganglion?
posterior radicular veins
What veins are observed in the epidural space near the posterior longitudinal ligament?
anterior internal vertebral venous plexus
basivertebral vein
What lumenal feature of the anterior internal vertebral venous plexus vessels may function like valves of typical veins?
trabeculae
What veins are observed in the epidural space near the ligamentum flavum?
posterior internal vertebral venous plexus
What venous vessels are identified in the intervertebral foramen?
intervertebral veins
What is the unique feature of veins along the spinal cord?
they lack the bicuspid valve of typical veins
Identify the meninges of the spinal cord (spinal medulla or medulla spinalis).
dura mater
arachnoid mater
pia mater
Identify the meninges of the spinal cord (spinal medulla or medulla spinalis) and the commonly accepted meaning of each.
dura mater - tough mother
arachnoid mater - spider mother
pia mater - tender or delicate mother
What is the name given to the fluid within the epidural space?
interstitial fluid
What are the vascular contents of the epidural space?
anterior and posterior spinal canal artery and plexus
anterior and posterior internal vertebral venous plexus
basivertebral vein
What are the neural contents of the epidural space?
recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve
What ligaments are associated with the epidural space?
Hofmann/anterior dural/meningovertebral ligaments
ligamentum flavum
posterior longitudinal ligament
Which of the blood vessels of the epidural space will be found near the vertebral body?
anterior spinal canal artery and plexus
anterior internal vertebral venous plexus
basivertebral vein
Which of the nerves of the epidural space will be found near the vertebral body?
recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral
sinus vertebral nerve
Which of the ligaments of the epidural space will be found near the vertebral body?
posterior longitudinal ligament and
Hofmann/anterior dural/meningovertebral ligaments
Which of the blood vessels of the epidural space will be found near the lamina?
posterior spinal canal artery and plexus
posterior internal vertebral venous plexus
Which of the nerves of the epidural space will be found near the lamina?
recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral
sinus vertebral nerve
Which of the ligaments of the epidural space will be found near the lamina?
ligamentum flavum and Hofmann/anterior dural/meningovertebral ligaments
Which meningeal space is now thought to be a potential space, not an actual space?
subdural space - b/w the dura mater and the arachnoid mater
Which of the contents of the epidural space are more likely located near or around the posterior longitudinal ligament?
anterior spinal canal artery and plexus
anterior internal vertebral venous plexus
basivertebral vein
recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve
Hofmann/anterior dural/meningovertebral ligaments
Which of the contents of teh epidural space will be found near the lamina?
posterior spinal canal artery and plexus
posterior internal vertebral venous plexus
ligamentum flavum
recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve
Hofmann/anterior dural/meningovertebral ligaments
What is the name given to the fluid present within the subdural space?
serous fluid
What is the name given to the fluid with the subarachnoid space?
cerebrospinal fluid
What ligaments may be present in the subarachnoid space?
dentate/denticulate ligament
What is the name given to the lateral extension of pia mater along the spinal cord?
dentate (denticulate) ligament
What is the unique feature of veins along the spinal canal?
they lack the bicuspid valve of typical veins
In horizontal veiw, what direction of the spinal cord tends to be largest?
transverse
What are the spinal cord enlargement locations and the name given to each?
C3-T1, the vertical enlargement
T9-T12, the lumbar (lumbosacral) enlargement
Where is the greatest transverse diameter of the spinal cord?
C6
In which plane (or direction) will the diameter of the spinal decreases from C2 down to T1?
midsagittal or anterior-posterior plane
What spinal nerves originate from the lumbar (lumbosacral) enlargement?
L1-S3 spinal nerves
What is a generic cord level or origin - vertebral level combination for the lumbar (lumbosacral) enlargement?
L1, L2 cord levels in T9 vertebra
L3, L4 cord levels in T10 vertebra
L5, S1 cord levels in T11 vertebra
S2, S3 cord levels in T12 vertebra
What is the caudal end of the spinal cord called?
conus medullaris
What spinal nerves originate from the conus medullaries?
typically S4, S5, and Co1
In which vertebral foramen will the conus medullaries typically be observed?
L1
What is the name given to the nerve roots below L1?
cauda equina
What is the continuation of pia mater below the conus medullaris called?
filum terminale internum
What is the location and name given to the area where all meninges first converge at the caudal part of the vertebral column?
typically S2, the dural cul de sac
Neural tissue has been identified in what part of the filum terminate?
proximal part of the filum terminale internum
What is the fate of the neural tissue identified along the filum terminale internum?
it joins peripheral nerve roots of spinal nerves as high as L3 and as low as S4
What does the neural tissue associated with the filum terminale internum appear to innervate?
lower limbs and the external anal sphincter
The last arterial vasa corona creates what feature on angiogram?
cruciate anastomosis
What is the name given to the condensation of meninges below S2?
filum terminale externum
What is the name given to the condition in which the conus medullaris is located below L1 and the filum terminale is thickened?
tethered cord syndrome
What is the relationship between scoliosis and tethered cord syndrome?
it is suggested that the column will change normal curvature to mitigate damage to the spinal cord caused by a tethered cord
At the intervertebral foramen, what is the relationship between spinal nerve number and vertebral number along the cervical spine?
in the cervical spine, spinal nerves exit above the segment they are numbered after
(C8 nerve is the exception to this rule)
C3 nerve exits above C3 or between C2/C3
At the intervertebral foramen, what is the relationship between spinal nerve number and vertebral number along the thoracic and lumbar spine and the sacrum?
in the thoracic and lumbar spine and for the sacrum, spinal nerves exit below the segment they are numbered after (Co1 nerve is the exception to this rule).
T6 nerve exits below T6 or between T6/T7
What is the relationship between spinal nerve number, rib number and vertebral number in a thoracic intervertebral foramen?
the spinal nerve number relates to the upper segment number in the vertebral couple
the rib number relates to the lower segment number in the vertebral couple
i.e. T3 nerve exits the intervertebral foramen formed by T3/T4 and rib 4 joints with this vertebral couple
