Week 2: The Spinal Cord Flashcards
The function of the spinal cord is:
nerve impulse propogation
The spinal cord extends from where to where?
Extends from the medulla and foramen magnum to conus medullaris L1 - L2 intervertebral joint
After the spinal cord stops at the conus medullaris, where does it exit?
Cauda equina (L2 - S5)
How many spinal nerves are there?
31
How many cervical nerves are there?
8
How many thoracic nerves are there?
12
How many sacral nerves are there?
5
How many coccygeal nerves are there?
1
The cervical enlargement extends from ____________ . This is also known ______________.
C5 - T1; brachial plexus
The lumbar enlargement enlargement extends from ____________ . This is also known ______________.
T11 - S2. Lumbosacral plexus
What are 6 layers of the spinal cord meninges?
- Epidural Space
- Dura Mater
- Subdural Space
- Arachnoid Mater
- Subarachnoid space
- pia mater
What is included in the epidural space of the spinal cord?
fatty tissue, lymphatics, blood vessels, nerve roots
what are some characteristics of the dura mater in the spinal cord?
Single layer of fibrous tissue
Serves as anchor for peripheral nerves to spinal cord
extends to S2 vertebral level
What is the difference between the meninges in spinal cord vs. cranium
the dura mater in the cranium is 2 layers
the dura mater in the spinal cord is 1 layer
The epidural and subdural space in spinal cord is BIGGER than in cranium
What is located in the subdural space in the spinal cord?
interstitial space
What is located in the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord?
cerebrospinal fluid
what is located in the pia mater of the spinal cord?
What does this extension do?
filum terminale, which is a fibrous extension of the pia mater at the end of the conus medullaris…
anchors the spinal cord to the coccyx.
If the cauda equina is damaged, this is a ________ nerve injury.
peripheral
What is the difference between a CNS injury and a PNS injury?
Peripheral nerves have the ability to regenerate.
cranial nerves do not.
The grey mater of the spinal cord consists of the:
dorsal horn
Intermediate zone
ventral horn
What neurons are located in the dorsal horn?
sensory neurons
What neurons are located in the ventral horn?
somatotopically organized motor neurons
What neurons are in the intermediate zone of the spinal cord?
Interneurons
@ T1 - L2 (lateral horn) - sympathetic preganglionic neurons
@ S2 - S4 (Lateral horn) - parasympathetic preganglionic neurons
White matter of the spinal cord consists of 6 major structures such as:
- Ascending and Descending Columns
- Dorsolateral Sulcus
- Dorsal Intermediate Sulcus
- Ventral Lateral Sulcus
- Dorsal Medium Septum
- Ventral medium fissure
The ascending and descending columns in the white matter are divided into the:
dorsal column
ventral column
lateral column
The following columns of the ascending and descending columns have what type of fibers?
Dorsal:
Ventral:
Lateral:
Dorsal: sensory
Ventral: motor
Lateral: mixed
The dorsolateral sulcus is an entrance for:
the dorsal roots
The dorsal roots enter at:
the dorsolateral sulcus
What structure splits dorsal columns into fasciculi cuneatus and gracilis?
dorsal intermediate sulcus
The dorsal intermediate sulcus splits the:
dorsal columns into fasciculi cuneatus and gracilis
the ventral roots exit at:
the ventral lateral sulcus
The ventral lateral sulcus is an exit for:
the ventral roots
A sheet of glial cells folded inwards and turns to dorsal medium sulcus in the caudal spinal cord is best recognized as the:
dorsal medium septum
What is the dorsal medium septum?
a sheet of glial cells turned inwards
The dorsal medium septum turns to the dorsal medium sulcus in the:
caudal spinal cord
The ventral medium fissure is FOLDED where:
in the pia mater.
White matter (increases or decreases) as you move lumbosacral to cervical?
increases
Volume of gray matter is highest in cervical and
lumbar enlargements
