Vertebral Canal Contents

Question 1

Anterior Longitudinal Ligament

• Where does it run?
• Layers
• Deep fibres
• Superficial fibres
• Limits

Answer 1

• Along the anterolateral aspect of vertebral bodies from the skull base to the sacrum
• 3 layers of dense collagen fibres
• Bind the adjacent vertebrae together
• Span multiple segments
• Extension

Question 2

Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

• Where does it run?
• Attached mostly to…?
• Found between ligament and bony surfaces?
• Limits
• Prevents

Answer 2

• Within vertebral canal on posterior aspect of vertebral bodies from C2 to sacrum.
• IC disks and margins of vertebrae
• Fat and vessels
• Flexion, although weakly
• Posterior herniation of IV disks

Question 3

Ligamenta Flava

• Connect what?
• What type of fibres are present?
• What does it reinforce?
• What does it limit?
• Helps to maintain what?

Answer 3

• Laminae of adjacent vertebrae
• Strong elastic fibres
• Wall of vertebral canal posteriorly
• Flexion
• Maintaining curvatures

Question 4

Ligaments of the spinous and transverse processes

• Interpinous ligaments
• Supraspinous ligaments
• Intertransverse ligaments

Answer 4

• Connect adjacent spinous processes, and are thin, weak and membranous
• Connect the tips of spinous processes, running from C7 to the sacrum. Are cord like.
• Connect adjacent transverse processes. In the cervical region the fibres are scattered, in the thoracic they are fibrous and in the lumbar region they are membranous.

Question 5

Nuchal Ligament

• What is it?
• What does it attach?
• Continous with?
• Function

Answer 5

• Thickened fibroelastic tissue
• External occipital protuberance, posterior border of the foramen magnum and the spinous processes of C1-C7.
• With the supraspinous ligament
• Muscle attachment and limiting flexion

Question 6

Spinal Cord and Nerve Roots

• Runs from
• Enlargements at
• Cervical spinal nerves named after? (1 exception)

Answer 6

• Foramen magnum to L1/2. End narrows to form the medullary cone.
• Cervical enlargement at C4-T1 for the upper limb, and lumbosacral enlargement at L1-S3
• The vertebra below. The exception is C8 - there is no C8 vertebra. T1-Co1 are named after the vertebra above.

Question 7

Cauda Equina and Filum Terminale

• Cauda equina
• Filum Terminale

Answer 7

• Lumbar and sacral roots extend below the end of the spinal cord
• Remnant of the caudal part of the spinal cord

Question 8

Spinal Meninges

Answer 8

Question 9

Spinal Dura and Epidural Space

• Spinal dura mater
• Epidural space

Answer 9

• Tough covering attached to coccyx inferiorly by the filum terminale. Lateral extensions cover nerve roots as Dural Root Sheaths.
• Internal vertebral venous plexuses and epidural fat

Question 10

Spinal Arachnoid and Subarachnoid Space

• Spinal Arachnoid Mater
• Subarachnoid Space

Answer 10

• Delicate membrane lining the dura. Arachnoid trabeculae connect it to the pia mater.
• Filled with CSF and enlarged around conus medullaris to form the lumbar cistern (L2-S2)

Question 11

Spinal Pia and Denticulate Ligament

• Spinal Pia Mater
• Denticulate Ligaments

Answer 11

• Covers spinal cord, nerve roots and spinal blood vessels
• Run on either side of the spinal cord between the posterior and anterior nerve roots and suspend the cord in the dual sac

Question 12

Arterial Supply of Vertebral Canal

• Arteries involved
• Run from and to

Answer 12

• Anterior spinal artery and the 2 posterior spinal arteries
• Longitudinally from medulla to conus medullaris

Question 13

Venous Drainage of Vertebral Canal

• Spinal veins
• Drained by
• Join the…?
• Vertebral venous plexus receives blood from…?

Answer 13

• 3 anterior and 3 posterior
• Medullary and radicular veins
• Internal vertebral venous plexuses in the epidural space
• Not just from spinal cord but also from vertebral bodies