vertebral canal and spinal cord Flashcards
spinal x ray
in the adult, the cord extends from the base of the skull to
L2 sometimes L1
spinal cord occupies how much of the vertebral canal
2/3
in the embryo, the spinal cord occupies
the entire length of the vertebral column
as a result of disproportionate growth of the vertebral column and the spinal cord
the lumbar and sacral/coccygeal nerve roots must grow the longest
dural sac
tough protective covering formed by dura mater
conus medullaris
tapered terminal portion of the cord at L1-L2 level
medullary cone
the collection of lumbar and sacral/coccygeal nerve roots
cauda equina
horses tail
filum terminale
internal and external portion that extends from the medullary cone at L2
a vestigial remnant of the caudal spinal cord that was in the tail of the embryo
there are \_(how many)__ cervical nerves and ___ cervical vertebrae
8 pairs of cervical nerves
7 CV
C1-C7 exit the vertebral canal _____ to the vertebra of the same number
superior
ex: c4 exits between c3 and c4
C8 spinal nerve exits below ____ and above ___
C7 and T1
spinal nerves from T1 to Co1 exit the canal along the ___ aspect of their corresponding vertebra
inferior
membranes that surround the spinal cord
spinal meninges
types of spinal meninges
dura mater
arachnoid mater
pia mater
The spinal meninges and the cerebrospinal fluid
help support and protect the spinal cord, nerve roots, and the cauda equina
the tough outer membrane of the spinal meninges
dura mater
dura mater
extends laterally into each intervertebral foramen along the dorsal and ventral roots of the spinal nerves forming the dural sleeve
delicate, intermediate membrane that lines the inside of the dura and dural sleeves
arachnoid matter
small septal-like projections or trabeculae fomr the inner suface of the arachnoid attach to the underlying ______ on the surface of the cord
pia mater
subarachnoid space
contains Cerebral spinal fluid CSF which helps protect the spinal cord and nerve roots
the subarachnoid space is ____ with the subarachnoid space surrounding the brain
continuous
this innermost membrane which firmly adheres to the surface of the spinal cord
pia mater
denticulate ligmanets
lateral extension of the pia mater between the dorsal and ventral roots which help to anchor the cord
a layer of adipose tissue between the vertebral canal and dura mater. also contains the epidural venous plexus
epidural space
blood supply to the spinal cord is dervied from
vertical (longitundinal) and horizontal (segmental) components
arteries of the spinal cord
- a single anterior spinal artery
- paired posterior spinal arteries which arise from the vertebral arteries
segmental medullary arteries
irregularly spaced vessels that anastimose with the longitudinal spinal arteries
8-10 of them that enter through the intervertebral foramina and provide additional blodo to the spinal cord
the tip of the spinal cord goes to
L2
internal filum terminal
extends from medullary cone to the tip of the dural sac
external filum terminale
extends from the tip of the dural sac to the sacrum/coccyx and helps anchor the spinal cord inferiorly
the spinal cord has ___ ______ that provide additional neurons for the innervation of the limbs
two enlargements
cervial and lumbosacral enlargement
nerve roots that arise from the lumbosacral enlargment an the medullarly cone form the
cauda equina
the L5 spinal cord level is located at the ____ vertebral column level
T12
The L5 spinal nerve exits the vertebral column via the intervertebral foramen along the ____ aspect of the L5 vertebrae, but ____ the disc
inferior
above the disc
in the lumbar vertebrae!
the vertical/longitudinal arteries of the spinal cord vascularize
the superior portions of the spinal cord
the largest segmental artery
great anterior segmental artery or artery of Adamkiewicz
this large important vessel generally arises from a lower intercostal artery (65% left side) and reinforces circulation to the inferior 2/3 of the spinal cord
artery of adamkiewicz
vertebral venous plexuses
interconnecting vertebral venous plexuses (VVP) run along the length of the vertebral column and typically have few valves if any… allowing blood to flow unimpeded up and down the vertebral column
Batsons plexus
direct venous connections between veins in the pelvis and veins along the posterior thoracic wall with the vertebral venous plexus in the vertebral colummn
how does prostate cancer travel to the brain?
through batsons plexus in the spinal cord
cancers that spread via vertebral venous plexuses
prostate
breast
lung
can sequester in these venous channels resulting in vertebral column bone cancer or travel to cranial cavity leading to metastatic brain cancer
protrusion of nucleus pulposus generally occurs
posterolaterally
where annulus is thin and poorly supported by posterior longitudinal ligament
The herniated material can impinge/compress the ____, ____, or ____ resulting in pain along the distribution of the compressed nerve(s)
spinal cord, spinal nerves, nerve roots of the cauda equina
the level of _______ determines which nerve or nerve roots are affected
disc herniation
posterolateral herniation
compressed spinal nerve
posterior herniation
compressed nerve roots of the cauda equina
a posterolateral disc herniation between L4 and L5 vertbral level usually affects the ___ spinal nerve root
L5
posterolateral disc herniation typicall affects the spinal nerve root of the
higher number
spinal cord is vascularized by longitudinal arteries that arise mainly from the ______ and ______ that enter the vertebral column via the IV foramen
vertebral arteries
segmental medullary arteries
surrounds the spinal cord and extends from the base of the skull to S2
dura mater
