Spinal nerves Flashcards
What are spinal nerves?
The peripheral nerves that carry axons of neurons of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems to and from the spinal cord.
Does a spinal root leave the spinal core above or below the vertebrae?
What is different about the cervical region?
Below
The cervical region the root leaves the core above the vertebrae.
C7 has a root above and below.
How many spinal roots are there?
31
Where are the dorsal and ventral roots present?
At each segment or vertebral level (plus one at C8)
What do dorsal (posterior) roots do?
They’re afferent/sensory, carry information from the periphery to the CNS.
What do ventral (anterior) roots do?
They’re efferent/motor so they carry information from the CNS to the periphery in somatic motor and autonomic neurones.
What is a plexus?
When nerves come together to form a network together.
What spinal nerves make up the lumbar plexus?
From the spinal cord below vertebrae T12-L5
Which spinal roots does the femoral nerve arise from?
Spinal roots L2,3 and 4- supplies muscles and skin of the leg.
What are dermatomes and myotomes in general?
They’re a representation of the distribution of somatic nerves.
What is a dermatome?
A distinct area of skin that supplies and is supplied by spinal nerves.
What is the myotome?
A group of muscles that supplies and is supplied by spinal nerves.
