Week 3 Learning Issues Flashcards
Conus medullaris
cd extent of spinal cord tapers to an end called conus medullaris, located within caudal lumbar (or sacral in some species) vertebrea; includes sacral and cd spinal cord segments
spinal cord enlargements
cervical and lumbar enlargements; process information from thoracic and pelvic limbs
cervical enlargment
associated with the brachial plexsus; SC segments C6-T2
resides within vertebra C5-T1 (in dog)
lumbar enlargement
associated with the lumbosacral plexsus; SC segments L4-S1 involved in pelvic limb innervation and are larger while segments S1-S3 contribute to pudendal and pelvic nerves; spinal cord segments in L4-S3 range reside within vertebrea L3-L5 (dog)
dorsal median sulcus
longitudinal furrow running on dorsal midline of spinal cord (where alar plate grew together and fused)
ventral midline fissure
deep furrow that runs along v midline
dorsolateral and ventrolateral sulci
less striking than dorsal median sulcus and ventral midline fissure; runs length of spinal cord where dorsal and ventral rootlets enter spinal cord
vertebral foramen
ventral body plus dorsal arch of each vertebrea form this
vertebral arch
vertical pedicles and horizantal laminae
laminectomy
excision of laminae or dorsal arch
vertebral canal
sum of vertebral foramina form vertebral canal which surrounds spinal cord
intervertebral foramina
notches at junction of arch and body of each vertebrea create this; this accomindates passage of spinal nerves, arterial spinal branches, and interertebral veins
atlas intervertebral foramina
has 2 IVF to accomidate C1
transverse vertebral foramina
in vertebrea C1-C6 carry vertebral artery, vein, and nerve
dorsal and pelvic sacral foramina
between sacral segments S1, S2, S3; transmit dorsal and ventral branches of sacral spinal cord segments S1 and S2
ligaments of vertebral column
dorsal longitudinal ligament, interarcuate ligament, dorsal atlanto-occipital membrane, intercapital ligmanets
dorsal longitudinal ligament
on floor of vertebral canal, runs length of vertebral column
interarcuate ligament
aka yellow ligament; extends between vertebral arches bridgining interarcuate space, dorsal to vertebral canal
dorsal atlanto-occipital membrane
between arch of atlas and occipital bone
intercapital ligaments
T1-T10 transverse ligaments connect rib heads in pairs, on floor of vertebral canal dorsal to intervertebral discs, makes disc herniation less common in this region
intervertebral disc features
annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus, cartilagenous endplate
intervertebral disc
fibrous joints forming articulations between vertebral bodies
annulus fibrosus
fibrous outer capsule formed by concentric layers of collagen fibers with some elastic fibers between them; this is CT located btwn vertebral discs; sacral vertebrea = fused so no discs between them
annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus
annulus fibrosus is lateral to nucleus pulposus
nucleus pulposus
gelatinous central region of disc composed of water, proteoglycans, and collagen; this is a martrix which makes it gel like; this is mostly water
fx of nucleus pulposus
functions as shock absorber. It is a remnant of the notocord
cartilagenous endplate
connects IVD to vertebrea and contains blood vessels that supply the IVD
degenerative changes of intervertebral discs
include proliferation and disruption of collagen fibers of annulus, replacement of nucleus pulposus with fibrocartilage, and mineralization of nucleus pulposus. These changes can lead to bulging or extrusion of intervertebral disc material into vertebral canal which can impinge on or damage the spinal cord or nerves within vertebreal canal -> neurological deficits
meninges associated with the spinal cord
meningeal dura, arachnoid, pia matter; no periodstal dura around spinal cord
epidural space
exists in the spinal cord; bounded by meningeal dura on one side and periosteum of vertebrea or ligaments bridiging the space btwn vertebrea (interarcuate ligaments dorsally) on other
what is epidural space filled with
fat and blood vessels
notable epidural space
internal vertebral venous plexus
intrathecal injection
into subarachnoid space
tight junctions and meninges in spinal cord
tight junctions btwn cells of arachnoid cell layer create barrier restricting passage most molecules into underlying CSF; dura matter lacks tight junctions more like CT proper with ECM and fibers occupying spaces btwn cells
dorsal and ventral roots in spinal cord covered by
meniginges
rootlets and roots invested by
pia along their entire course
arachnoid and dura matter cuffs
form around roots as they course toward intervertebral foramina
intradural nerve roots
proximal spina roots are within columnar region of subarachnoid space, run length of vertebral canal