2-E Spinal Meninges and Cord

Question 1

Where along the spinal cord are there enlargements for limb innervation?

Answer 1

cervical C4-T1 and lumbosacral T11- S1

Question 2

T/F Spinal cord levels do not necessarily correspond with vertebral column levels

Answer 2

TRUE

Question 3

How are spinal nerves are numbered relative to the vertebrae

Answer 3

Spinal nerve names do line up with the vertebral level: cervical spinal nerves exit superior to vertebra, throracic, lumbar and sacral spinal nerves exit superior to vertebrae

Question 4

What is the conus medullaris

Answer 4

inferior tip of the spinal cord

Question 5

What is the cauda equina.

Answer 5

“horse tail of caudal nerve roots running longer than the spinal cord itself

Question 6

What are the distinguished parts of the spinal cord gray matter where cell bodies are located?

Answer 6

dorsal horn, lateral horn and ventral horn

Question 7

Define nerve

Answer 7

a nerve is a group of axons/ fibers plus connective tissue

Question 8

What do you call the place that two spinal nerves meet to exchange fibers

Answer 8

plexus

Question 9

Draw a diagram including the folllowing parts: dorsal and ventral roots, dorsal root ganglion, dorsa and ventral ramous, posterior cutaneous branch, intercostal nerves with lateral and anterior cutaneous brances

Answer 9

Netter 185

Question 10

Name the three components of spinal nerve

Answer 10

somatomotor, post synaptic sympathetic (visero sensory) and somato sensory (general sensory)

Question 11

Define somatomotor

Answer 11

innervates skeletal muscle (voluntary)

Question 12

Define viscerosensory nerves

Answer 12

are post synaptic fibers, bring sensory feedback from organs

Question 13

Where are the cell bodies for the somatomotor, viscerosensory and somatosensory

Answer 13

ventral horn, lateral horn and DRG and dorsal horn respectively

Question 14

Define dermatome

Answer 14

area of skin innervated by a single spinal nerve

Question 15

Locate landmark dermatomes T-4, T10a dn T12

Answer 15

nipple line, umbillical line and bikini line

Question 16

Where does the shingles virus live?

Answer 16

DRG

Question 17

Describe the spinal dura, arachnoid and pia mater

Answer 17

dura mater (tough fibrous outer covering), arachnoid (pressed up against the dura, connected by tight junctions) pia mater is a very thin and vascular membrane that covers the spinal cord directly

Question 18

State the location and function of the : arachnoid trabeculae

Answer 18

below the arachnoid layer, spider web like fibrous space : filled with CSF: trabeculae connect to pia mater and support the subarachnoid space

Question 19

State the location and function of the denticulate ligament

Answer 19

connection between the dura and pia mater, made of pia mater and occurs between the ventral and doral roots

Question 20

State the location and function of the filum terminale

Answer 20

interanlly is pia mater, externally is pia and dura, anchors the spinal cord to the coccyx

Question 21

State the position and contents of the epidural space

Answer 21

outside the dural mater contains fat and loose connective tissue and epidural veous plexus

Question 22

State the position and contents of the subdural space

Answer 22

very small space that is usually only apparent during pathology, fills with serous fluid

Question 23

Where is the lumbar cistern

Answer 23

caudal to the medullary cone (L2-S4)

Question 24

Describe where a lumbar puncture is performed ideally.

Answer 24

between spinous processes of L3/L4 or L4/L5, needle puncture dura and arahnoid maters

Question 25

What is the difference between an epidural block and a spinal block

Answer 25

anesthesia is placed in the epidural space and the subaracnoid space respectively

Question 26

Describe the two parts of the arachnoid.

Answer 26

arachnoid barrier: flattened cells bound together by tight junctions; trabeculae: fine web-like connections to the dura mater

Question 27

Where is the largest subarachnoid space?

Answer 27

L2 which also contains the cauda equine