Vertebral Column/Spinal Column (Spinal Cord, Spinal Canal & Spinal Cord Relationships)

Question 1

In horizontal view, what direction of the spinal cord tends to be largest?

Answer 1

Transverse

Question 2

What are the spinal cord enlargement locations and the name given to each?

Answer 2

C3-T1, the cervical enlargement; T9-T12, the lumbar (lumbosacral) enlargement

Question 3

Where is the greatest transverse diameter of the spinal cord?

Answer 3

C6

Question 4

In which plane (or direction) will the diameter of the spinal decrease from C2-T1?

Answer 4

Midsagittal or anterior-posterior plane

Question 5

What spinal nerves originate from the lumbar (lumbosacral) enlargement?

Answer 5

L1-S3 spinal nerves

Question 6

What is a generic cord level of origin - vertebral level combination for the lumbar (lumbosacral) enlargement?

Answer 6

L1, L2 cord levels in T9 vertebra; L3, L4 cord levels in T10 vertebra; L5, S1 cord levels in T11 vertebra; S2, S3 cord levels in T12 vertebra

Question 7

What is the caudal end of the spinal cord called?

Answer 7

Conus medullaris

Question 8

What spinal nerves originate from the conus medullaris?

Answer 8

Typically S4, S5, and Co1

Question 9

In which vertebral foramen will the conus medullaris typically be observed?

Answer 9

L1

Question 10

What is the name given to the nerve roots below L1?

Answer 10

Cauda equina

Question 11

What is the continuation of pia mater below the conus medullaris called?

Answer 11

Filum terminale internum

Question 12

What is the location and name given to the area where all meninges first converge at the caudal part of the vertebral column?

Answer 12

Typically S2, the dural cul de sac

Question 13

Neural tissue has been identified in what part of the filum terminale?

Answer 13

Proximal part of the filum terminale internum

Question 14

What is the fate of the neural tissue identified along the filum terminale internum?

Answer 14

It joins peripheral nerve roots of spinal nerves as high as L3 and as low as S4

Question 15

What does the neural tissue associated with the filum terminale externum appear to innervate?

Answer 15

Lower limbs and the external anal sphincter

Question 16

The last arterial vasa corona creates what feature on angiogram?

Answer 16

Cruciate anastomosis

Question 17

What is the name given to the condensation of meninges below S2?

Answer 17

Filum terminale externum

Question 18

What is the name given to the caudal attachment of the meninges?

Answer 18

Coccygeal medullary vestige

Question 19

What is the name given to the condition in which the conus medullaris is located below L1 and the filum terminale is thickened?

Answer 19

Tethered cord syndrome

Question 20

What is the relationship between scoliosis and tethered cord syndrome?

Answer 20

It is suggested that the column will change normal curvatures to mitigate damage to the spinal cord

Question 21

What is the relationship between spinal nerve number, rib number and vertebral number in a thoracic intervertebral foramen?

Answer 21

• The spinal nerve number relates to the upper segment number in the vertebral couple
• The rib number relates to the lower segment number in the vertebral couple i.e. T3 exits the intervertebral foramen formed by T3/T4 and rib 4 joints with this vertebral couple.