Vocab Terms

Question 1

Ligamentum nuchae is what?

Answer 1

Ligament nuchae is a ligament (ligaments connect bone to bone) made of fibroelastic tissue.

Question 2

Why is the Ligamentum nuchae important?

Answer 2

Connects foramen magnum and external occipital protuberance to spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae; it is a site for muscular attachment. If compromised muscle attachment to the spinous processes will be affected

Question 3

What is the Thoracolumbar fascia?

Answer 3

Thoracolumbar fascia band is a sheet of connective tissue (covers the thoracic areas of the deep muscles while thin, but is thicker in the lumbar area).

Question 4

Why is the Thoracolumbar fascia important?

Answer 4

Thoracolumbar fascia connects muscles and ligaments in the lumbar region, assists in supporting the spine, and provides stabilization and covering of muscles. If compromised the spine and muscles will be exposed and there will be higher risk of injury.

Question 5

What does the spinal accessory nerve innervate?

Answer 5

The spinal accessory nerve innervates with the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles.

Question 6

What does the dorsal scapular nerve innervate?

Answer 6

The dorsal scapular nerve provides innervation for rhomboid major and rhomboid minor muscles.

Question 7

Why is the Cranial Nerve X Vagus important?

Answer 7

The cranial nerve X Vagus is sensory for when we cough (reflex). It provides sensory on the tongue for taste. Provides motor fibers to the larynx and esophagus.

Question 8

Why is the spinal cord important?

Answer 8

The spinal cord is the way the body sends and receives reflexes throughout the body. If compromised certain reflexes would be affected.

Question 9

Why is the ventral root important?

Answer 9

Contains outgoing motor information to organs and the body.

Question 10

Why is the lateral horn important?

Answer 10

Contains the autonomic nerve fibers. The autonomic nervous system motor fibers that move smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glandular cells.

Question 11

Why is the ventral horn important?

Answer 11

Contains the motor nerve fibers.

Question 12

Why is the spinal nerve important?

Answer 12

The spinal nerves carry information to the muscles that allow us to perform movement. If compromised movement of the body would be affected.

Question 13

Why is the dorsal ramus important?

Answer 13

Sends and receives sensory and motor neurons to and from the back. If compromised sensory and motor issues would occur within the body.

Question 14

Why is the ventral ramus important?

Answer 14

Sends and receives sensory and motor neurons to and from the anterior part of the body and limbs.

Question 15

Why is the dermatomes important?

Answer 15

Area on the skin that is innervated by a single segment of sensory fibers. If compromised sensory issues would occur on that part of the skin.

Question 16

Why is the myotomes important?

Answer 16

Myotomes are when a group of skeletal muscles are innervated from a single spinal segment of motor fibers. If compromised, then motor movement from that group of skeletal muscles would be affected. Muscles can have more than one myotome. Can have parts of several muscles.

Question 17

Why is the spinal cord important/

Answer 17

The spinal cord holds the nervous system and nerve roots which controls every aspect of the human body. The spinal cord interprets internal and external stimuli and acts as the communication panel from the brain to the body. The spinal cord provides nerve innervations for muscles and organs throughout the body to allow us to move and function in everyday activities. If the spinal cord is compromised, such as a spinal cord injury, part or some function will be lost at the point of injury and below.

Question 18

Why is the conus medullaris important?

Answer 18

tapered lower end of the spinal cord.

Question 19

Why is dura mater important?

Answer 19

The dura mater is a compact membrane that offers protection to the brain and spinal cord. If the dura mater was compromised the support and protection of the brain, would be in danger.

Question 20

Why is arachnoid mater important?

Answer 20

The arachnoid mater is a thin membrane that offers protection to the brain and spinal cord. If the arachnoid mater was compromised the support and protection of the brain, would be in danger.

Question 21

Why is pia mater important?

Answer 21

The pia mater is a slender membrane that offers protection to the brain and spinal cord. If the pia mater was compromised the support and protection of the brain, would be in danger.

Question 22

Why is the filum terminale important?

Answer 22

The filum terminale assists in transporting nerve activation to the most caudal part of the body, the coccygeal nerve region. If injury occurred to this region the connection between the caudal part of the spinal column and the spinal meninges would be compromised.

Question 23

Why is the denticulate important?

Answer 23

The denticulate ligament acts as a stabilizing ligament of the spinal cord between the dura mater and the pia mater. If compromised, all the intrinsic workings of the spinal cord will not be stable.