Vascular Structures Of The Spine

Question 1

True or false: most capillaries feeding muscles are closed when at rest

Answer 1

True

Question 2

True or false: channels open during exertion

Answer 2

True

Question 3

What is the largest branch of the subclavian artery?

Answer 3

Vertebral artery

Question 4

Into how many parts are the vertebral arteries divided?

Answer 4

Four

Question 5

What are the boundaries of the 1st section of the vertebral artery?

Answer 5

*Subclavian artery to C7

Question 6

Between which muscles is the 1st section of the vertebral artery?

Answer 6

Longus coli and anterior scalene

Question 7

What structures are posterior to the 1st section of the vertebral artery?

Answer 7

C7 TP

Stella the ganglion (common nerve block)

Question 8

What are the boundaries of the 2nd section of the vertebral arteries?

Answer 8

C6-C1

Question 9

True or false: the 2nd section of the vertebral artery ascends through all transverse foramen

Answer 9

True

Question 10

What are the boundaries of the 3rd section of the vertebral arteries?

Answer 10

C1-foramen magnum

Question 11

Describe how the 3rd section of the vertebral artery passes the lateral mass of c1

Answer 11

VA passes medial and posterior to lateral mass of c1

Question 12

Where does the 3rd section of the VA rest?

Answer 12

Vertebral notch of posterior arch

Question 13

Through which ligament does the 3rd section of the VA pass?

Answer 13

Posterior Atlanta-occipital ligament

Question 14

What are the boundaries of the 4th section of the vertebral arteries?

Answer 14

Foramen magnum to basilar artery

Question 15

On what structure does the 4th section of the vertebral artery rest?

Answer 15

Posterior clivus

Question 16

What do the left and right VA’s merge to form?

Answer 16

Basilar artery

Question 17

What are the arteries of the spinal cord?

Answer 17

Anterior spinal artery
Posterior spinal artery
Radicular arteries

Question 18

From which arteries does the anterior spinal artery arise?

Answer 18

Two medial branches from vertebral arteries

Question 19

What is the approximate location of the anterior spinal artery in relation to the spinal cord?

Answer 19

Anterior to median fissure of cord

Question 20

What does the anterior spinal artery (asa) supply and what does it NOT supply?

Answer 20

*anterior 2/3 of cord

Does NOT supply posterior columns and horns

Question 21

What are the branches of the anterior spinal artery?

Answer 21

Anterior central arteries - supply ventral horn

Question 22

Where does the anterior spinal artery narrow?

Answer 22

Conus medullaris

Question 23

Where is the conus medullaris located?

Answer 23

Inferior border of L1

Question 24

From which arteries do the posterior spinal arteries arise?

Answer 24

Vertebral arteries - inferior to branching of anterior spinal arteries

Question 25

What portion of the spinal cord does the posterior spinal arteries supply?

Answer 25

Posterior 1/3 of cord | *either side of Posterolateral cord

Question 26

At what portion of the spine does the posterior spinal arteries begin to be fed by the radicular arteries?

Answer 26

Below the upper cervical region

Question 27

Which artery supplies the posterior spinal arteries below the upper cervical region?

Answer 27

Radicular arteries

Question 28

At what part of the spinal column does the posterior spinal arteries end?

Answer 28

Cauda equina

Question 29

What is the artery that creates a reinforcing network for the spinal cord?

Answer 29

Radicular arteries

Question 30

Where do the radicular arteries enter?

Answer 30

IVFs of sacrum foramina

Question 31

True or false: there are both anterior and posterior branches of the radicular arteries

Answer 31

True

Question 32

From which arteries do the radicular arteries develop?

Answer 32

Vertebral artery Deep cervical/ascending artery Posterior intercostals Lumbar and lateral sacral arteries

Question 33

From what do lumbar arteries arise?

Answer 33

Abdominal aorta

Question 34

What is another name for the artery of adamkiewicz?

Answer 34

Arteries radicularis magna (ARM)

Question 35

What is the artery of adamkiewicz?

Answer 35

A large radicular artery

Question 36

From what does the artery of adamkiewicz generally arise?

Answer 36

Left posterior intercostals

Question 37

What percentage of artery of adamkiewicz arise from the right posterior intercostals?

Answer 37

~17%

Question 38

At what level does the artery of adamkiewicz generally enter?

Answer 38

T9-L3

Question 39

True or false: loss of one artery of the spinal cord can lead to widespread deficit in the thoracic spine

Answer 39

True

Question 40

True or false: drop in pressure for 3-5 minutes in small radicular arteries can result in necrosis of neurons

Answer 40

True

Question 41

True or false: radicular arteries supply the vertebrae, meninges, and the spinal cord

Answer 41

True

Question 42

What is the function of the denticulate ligament?

Answer 42

Holds spinal cord in central position | *creates floor or shelf-like support for nerve roots

Question 43

Between which two structures is the denticulate ligament?

Answer 43

Arachnoid mater and dura mater

Question 44

The denticulate ligament runs medial to lateral or lateral to medial?

Answer 44

Medial to lateral

Question 45

True or false: spinal veins are a network of anastomosing vessels that run the entire length of the spine

Answer 45

True

Question 46

What are batson’s venous plexus?

Answer 46

Plexus separate from veins of thoracic and abdominal cavities

Question 47

Do batson’s venous plexus have valves within the veins of the spinal column?

Answer 47

No

Question 48

What is the valsalva maneuver?

Answer 48

Bearing down or pretending you’re blowing up a balloon

Question 49

What does the valsalva maneuver cause?

Answer 49

An increase in intra-abdominal pressure - blood is shunted to venous system - Increases pressure in cord - could cause pain in disc herniation patients

Question 50

What blood returns via the baton’s venous plexus?

Answer 50

Blood from the pelvis and abdomen

Question 51

What are the divisions of the external venous plexus?

Answer 51

Anterior external venous plexus | Posterior external venous plexus

Question 52

With which veins do the anterior external venous plexus communicate?

Answer 52

Basivertebral and intervertebral veins

Question 53

From what structure does the anterior external venous plexus collect blood?

Answer 53

Vertebral body

Question 54

Where is the posterior external venous plexus located?

Answer 54

Posterior surface of vertebral arch and processes

Question 55

Where does the internal venous plexus lie?

Answer 55

Within the central canal btwn osseous structures and dura mater

Question 56

What are the main channels of the internal venous plexus?

Answer 56

Two anterior channels | Two posterior channels

Question 57

Where are the basivertebral veins located?

Answer 57

Network of veins within the vertebral body

Question 58

Is a Hahn’s venous cleft problematic?

Answer 58

No

Question 59

What do the intervertebral veins drain?

Answer 59

Spinal cord Internal venous plexus External venous plexus