Spinal meniges Flashcards
Dura Mater
- Most exterior and densest
- forms a sac that closes at S2 vertebrae
- Is continuous with the cranial dura mater
- Extends out to the spinal nerves
- Attaches to the bondy framework
External Filum Terminale
Extention of the dural sac that anchors the sac to the coccyx
Dural/Thecal sac
Area encasing the entire CNS made of the dura mater
Meningitis
Any infection causing inflammation of the meninges. Diagnosed with a lumbar puncture (to get CSF for diagnosis)
Arachnoid mater
- Intermediate, more delicate layer
- follows the dura mater’s encasing
- forms trabeculae between the arachnoid and dura mater to connect the two
Pia mater
- Most internal/delicate of meninges
- Associated with blood vessels, rootlets, dorsal/ventral roots, merging with the spinal nerves epineurium
Denticulate ligament
Tissue found b/t dorsal/ventral rootlets that pierce into the arachoind mater in ~21 locations per side to stabilize the center od the dural sac
Internal filum terminale
extention of the pia mater that extends from the conus medullaris
Epidural space
- External to the dural sac
- Has fat and extensive internal vertebral plexus
Subdural space
B/t spinal dura and arachnoid mater, is more potential space
Sunarachnoid space
- b/t the arachnoid and pia mater
- Filled with CSF
Lumbar Cistern
Expanded portion fo the subarachnoid space that has high volumes of CSF ►great for spinal taps/injection of anesthetics
Epidural Pros/Cons
- Larger dose needed
- Longer onset of analgesia
- can be at any spinal level
- used segmentally
Spinal anaesthesia Pros/Cons
- Lower dosage
- Quicker onset
- only in lumbar region
- More generalized
Main arteries of the spinal cord
Anterior spinal artery (1)
Posterior spinal artery (2)
Segmental spinal arteries
- Branch from various sources and enter the intervertebral foramen
- give rise to anterior/posterior radicular/segmental medullary arteries
Anterior & Posterior Radicular arteries
Course along anterior/posterior spinal roots/rootlets to supply structures (radicular=roots), but do not connect to spinal arteries
Anterior & posterior radicular arteries
Periodically reinforce main spinal arteries (radicular arteries do not connect to spinal arteries)
Greater anterior segmental medullary artery
- aka Artery of Adamkiewicz
- Significantly larger (and thus more important) segmental medullary artery typically found on the left side from one of the lower intercostal arteries
Dorsal/Ventral spinal veins
- Drain directly into the internal vertebral plexus in subdural space
- vary in number (generally 3-5 anterior & posterior, one at each sulcus/fissure)
- on surface of spinal cord (pia mater)
Internal Vertebral plexus
- Valveless system of venous channels in the epidural space
- Connects with cranial dural sinuses, external vertebral plexus, and major veins in thorax, abdomen, & pelvis
- allows for the spread of infection and neoplastic cells
Recurrent meningeal branches
- Aka sinuvertebral nerves/recurrent nerves of Luschka/meningeal branch of spinal nerve
- Sensory for periosteum of vertebrae, posterior longitudinal ligament, outer portion of annulus fibrosus, and meningies
- Autonomic/sensory/sympathetic fibers
Autonomic fibers
aid is regulating blood flow
Portion of nerves that can lead to increased reflexive tone and referred pain from an intervertebral disc rupture or meningitis
Recurrent meningeal branches