Week 3: Anatomy for Neuraxial Anesthesia Flashcards
How many bones are in the vertebral column?
33 sequentially interconnected
What are the bones in the vertebral column separated by?
fibrocartilaginous disks
Where does the vertebral column start? End?
base of skull to tip of coccyx
Where are anterior curves of the vertebral column?
cervical and lumbar
Where are the posterior curves of the vertebral column?
thoracic ans sacral
What anatomical landmark is located at C7?
vertebra promins
What anatomical landmark is located at T7?
inferior angle of the scapula
What anatomical landmark is located at L4?
tuffier’s line
body of L4 or L4-L5 interspace
Define the sacral hiatus
lamina of last sacral vertebra is incomplete
What are the 8 structures you transverse with a needle for an spinal anesthetic procedure?
skin, subcutaneous fat and tissue, supraspinous ligament, interspinous ligament, ligamentum flavum, epidural space, dura and subarachnoid space
What are the three layers of the spinal cord?
dura mater
arachnoid mater
pia mater
What is the filum terminae?
fibrous band that extends from the conus medullaris to the coccyx. it fixates and stabilizes the distal SC
Describe the characteristics of the dura mater (2)
outermost tough fiberous later
extends from foramen magnum to S2-S3
Describe the characteristics of the arachnoid mater (3)
delicate middle layer
non vascular
ends at S2
Describe the two characteristics of the subarachnoid space?
between pia and arachnoid
CSF found here
Describe the two characteristics of the pia mater?
highly vascular and covers spinal cord
Describe the 2 characteristics of the subarachnoid space?
between pia and arachnoid
CSF found here
Describe the two characteristics of the pia mater?
highly vascular and covers spinal cord
What three structures compose the lower spinal cord?
conus medularis
filum terminae
cauda equina
What comprises the epidural space?
continuous space within vertebral canal
fat, arteries, veins, lympathetics, nerve roots
What is the average distance from the skin to the lumbar epidural space?
5 cm
What is the specific gravity of CSF?
1.003-1.009
How is arterial blood distributed?
segmental and longitudinal arteries
How much blood supply does the anterior supply the spinal cord?
2/3
What is the largest longitudinal artery?
artery of adamkieicz
supplies lower 2/3 of SC via anterior spinal artery
What feeds the anterior spinal artery?
anterior segmental medullary vessels of aorta
How many posterior arteries supply the spinal cord and how much blood do they supply?
2
1/3 of blood supply
Do epidural veins have valves?
no
Where are epidura veins prominently located?
lateral
Where are epidural veins prominently located?
lateral
