Vertebral Canal and Contents Flashcards
What are the ligaments of the vertebral body
- anterior longitudinal ligament
- posterior longitudinal ligament
describe the features of the anterior longitudinal ligament
- on anterolateral aspect of vertebral bodies
- base of skull to sacrum
- 3 layers of dense collagen fibres
- deep fibres bind adjacent vertebrae together
- superficial fibres span multiple segments
Functions: - limits extension
describe the posterior longitudinal ligament
- within vertebral canal
- on posterior aspect of vertebral bodies
- from C2 to sacrum
- attached mainly to IV discs and margins of the vertebrae
- fat and vessels found between ligament and bone surface
Functions: - limits flexion weakly
- prevents posterior herniation of IV disc
what are the ligaments of the vertebral arch and processes
- ligamentum flava
- interspinous ligaments
- supraspinous ligaments
- intertransverse ligaments
- nuchal ligament
describe the ligamentum flava
- connect laminae of adjacent vertebrae
- strong elastic fibres
Function: - help maintain curvatures
- reinforce wall of vertebral canal posteriorly
- limit flexion
describe the interspinous ligaments
- connect adjacent spinous processes
- thin
- weak
- membranous
describe the supraspinous ligament
- connects the tips of spinous processes
- C7 to sacrum
- cord-like
describe the intertransverse ligaments
- connect adjacent transverse processes
cervical region - scattered fibres
thoracic region - fibrous
lumber region - membranous
describe the nuchal ligament
- thickened fibroelastic tissue
- from external occipital protuberance, posterior border foramen magnum, spinous processes C1-7
- continuous with supraspinous ligament
Function: - muscle attachment
- limits flexion
describe the foramen magnum
- nerve roots L1/2
- end narrows forming medullary cone
describe the cervical enlargement
- nerve roots C4-T1
- nerves to UL
describe the lumbosacral enlargement
- nerve roots L3-S3
- nerves to LL
describe the cauda equina
- ends at L3
- lumbar and sacral roots extend below end of spinal cord
describe the filum terminale
- remnant of the caudal part of spinal cord
describe the spinal dura mater
- tough outer covering
- attached to coccyx inferiorly by filum terminale
- lateral extensions of spinal dura cover nerve roots as dural root sheaths
what lies in the epidural space
- internal vertebral venous plexuses
- epidural fat
describe the spinal arachnoid mater
- delicate membrane lining dura
- arachnoid trabeculae connect arachnoid to pia
what lies in the subarachnoid space
- filled with CSF
- enlarged around conus medullaris to form lumber cistern (L2-S2)
what is the spinal pia mater
- covers spinal cord, nerve roots, and spinal blood vessels
what are the denticulate ligaments
- run on either side of the spinal cord between posterior and anterior nerve roots
- suspend cord in the dural sac
describe the arterial supply of the vertebral column
- 1 anterior spinal artery
- 2 posterior spinal artery
- run longitudinally from medulla oblongata to conus medullaris
- supported by medullary segmental arteries
- radicular arteries supplying nerve roots
describe the venous drainage of the vertebral column
- 3 ant. & 3 post. spinal veins
- drained by medullary and radicular veins
- join internal vertebral venous plexuses in epidural space
