Week 2: The Spinal Cord

Question 1

The function of the spinal cord is:

Answer 1

nerve impulse propogation

Question 2

The spinal cord extends from where to where?

Answer 2

Extends from the medulla and foramen magnum to conus medullaris L1 - L2 intervertebral joint

Question 3

After the spinal cord stops at the conus medullaris, where does it exit?

Answer 3

Cauda equina (L2 - S5)

Question 4

How many spinal nerves are there?

Answer 4

31

Question 5

How many cervical nerves are there?

Answer 5

8

Question 6

How many thoracic nerves are there?

Answer 6

12

Question 7

How many sacral nerves are there?

Answer 7

5

Question 8

How many coccygeal nerves are there?

Answer 8

1

Question 9

The cervical enlargement extends from ____________ . This is also known ______________.

Answer 9

C5 - T1; brachial plexus

Question 10

The lumbar enlargement enlargement extends from ____________ . This is also known ______________.

Answer 10

T11 - S2. Lumbosacral plexus

Question 11

What are 6 layers of the spinal cord meninges?

Answer 11

1. Epidural Space
2. Dura Mater
3. Subdural Space
4. Arachnoid Mater
5. Subarachnoid space
6. pia mater

Question 12

What is included in the epidural space of the spinal cord?

Answer 12

fatty tissue, lymphatics, blood vessels, nerve roots

Question 13

what are some characteristics of the dura mater in the spinal cord?

Answer 13

Single layer of fibrous tissue
Serves as anchor for peripheral nerves to spinal cord
extends to S2 vertebral level

Question 14

What is the difference between the meninges in spinal cord vs. cranium

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What is located in the subdural space in the spinal cord?

Answer 15

interstitial space

Question 16

What is located in the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord?

Answer 16

cerebrospinal fluid

Question 17

what is located in the pia mater of the spinal cord?

What does this extension do?

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

If the cauda equina is damaged, this is a ________ nerve injury.

Answer 18

peripheral

Question 19

What is the difference between a CNS injury and a PNS injury?

Answer 19

Peripheral nerves have the ability to regenerate.

cranial nerves do not.

Question 20

The grey mater of the spinal cord consists of the:

Answer 20

dorsal horn
Intermediate zone
ventral horn

Question 21

What neurons are located in the dorsal horn?

Answer 21

sensory neurons

Question 22

What neurons are located in the ventral horn?

Answer 22

somatotopically organized motor neurons

Question 23

What neurons are in the intermediate zone of the spinal cord?

Answer 23

Interneurons

@ T1 - L2 (lateral horn) - sympathetic preganglionic neurons
@ S2 - S4 (Lateral horn) - parasympathetic preganglionic neurons

Question 24

White matter of the spinal cord consists of 6 major structures such as:

Answer 24

1. Ascending and Descending Columns
2. Dorsolateral Sulcus
3. Dorsal Intermediate Sulcus
4. Ventral Lateral Sulcus
5. Dorsal Medium Septum
6. Ventral medium fissure

Question 25

The ascending and descending columns in the white matter are divided into the:

Answer 25

dorsal column ventral column lateral column

Question 26

The following columns of the ascending and descending columns have what type of fibers? Dorsal: Ventral: Lateral:

Answer 26

Dorsal: sensory Ventral: motor Lateral: mixed

Question 27

The dorsolateral sulcus is an entrance for:

Answer 27

the dorsal roots

Question 28

The dorsal roots enter at:

Answer 28

the dorsolateral sulcus

Question 29

What structure splits dorsal columns into fasciculi cuneatus and gracilis?

Answer 29

dorsal intermediate sulcus

Question 30

The dorsal intermediate sulcus splits the:

Answer 30

dorsal columns into fasciculi cuneatus and gracilis

Question 31

the ventral roots exit at:

Answer 31

the ventral lateral sulcus

Question 32

The ventral lateral sulcus is an exit for:

Answer 32

the ventral roots

Question 33

A sheet of glial cells folded inwards and turns to dorsal medium sulcus in the caudal spinal cord is best recognized as the:

Answer 33

dorsal medium septum

Question 34

What is the dorsal medium septum?

Answer 34

a sheet of glial cells turned inwards

Question 35

The dorsal medium septum turns to the dorsal medium sulcus in the:

Answer 35

caudal spinal cord

Question 36

The ventral medium fissure is FOLDED where:

Answer 36

in the pia mater.

Question 37

White matter (increases or decreases) as you move lumbosacral to cervical?

Answer 37

increases

Question 38

Volume of gray matter is highest in cervical and

Answer 38

lumbar enlargements