6/18/25 Spinal Cord & Meninges

Question 1

What is the function of the vertebral column?

Answer 1

Provides bony protection of the spinal cord

Question 2

Where does the spinal cord sit within the vertebral column?

Answer 2

Within the vertebral formaen/canal

Question 3

How do the spinal nerves exit the spinal column?

Answer 3

Through the intervertebral foramen

Question 4

What is a laminectomy?

Answer 4

Removal of the spinous processes and lamina to access spinal meninges and cord

Question 5

What structures do the spinal meninges cover?

Answer 5

The spinal cord out to the spinal nerves

Question 6

3 layers of the spinal meninges

Answer 6

Dura Mater
Arachnoid Mater
Pia Matter

Question 7

How far does the dura mater extend?

Answer 7

To S2

Question 8

What is the name of the distal extent of the dural sac that surrounds the cauda equina?

Answer 8

Lumbar cistern (enlarged subarachnoid space from L2-S2)

Question 9

Where is the epidural space found?

Answer 9

Between the neural canal and dural sac (external to the dural sac)

Question 10

What is found in the epidural space?

Answer 10

Fat and the epidural venous plexus

Question 11

What are the 2 layers of the arachnoid mater?

Answer 11

External Layer (pressed up against dura)
Internal Layer (arachnoid trabeculae connecting to the pia)

Question 12

What are the 2 spaces of the arachnoid mater?

Answer 12

Subdural space
Subarachnoid space

Question 13

Where is the subdural space located?

Answer 13

Between the dura mater and the arachnoid mater

Question 14

What fluid resides in the subarachnoid space?

Answer 14

CSF

Question 15

What layer of the spinal cord lies directly upon the cord itself (deepest layer)?

Answer 15

Pia Mater

Question 16

In what layer of the spinal cord is there vasculature?

Answer 16

Pia Mater

Question 17

What are the stabilizing features of the pia mater?

Answer 17

Denticulate ligaments
Terminal filum

Question 18

What is the role of the denticulate ligaments?

Answer 18

To anchor the spinal cord laterally to the dural sac

Question 19

Where are the denticulate ligaments located?

Answer 19

Between ventral and dorsal roots/rootlets

Question 20

What is the role of the terminal filum?

Answer 20

Anchors spinal cord inferiorly to the dural sac and coccyx

Question 21

What space is CSF removed from during a lumbar puncture?

Answer 21

From the Lumbar cistern (subarachnoid space). Perform inferior to spinal cord at L4/L5

Question 22

During what procedure is an anesthetic placed in the subarachnoid space?

Answer 22

Spinal block

Question 23

During what procedure is an anesthetic placed in the epidural space?

Answer 23

Epidural block

Question 24

How far does the spinal cord extend downward?

Answer 24

To L1/L2

Question 25

What is the caudial end of the spinal cord called?

Answer 25

Medullary cone (at L1/L2)

Question 26

As you grow, is the medullary cone extending, or are the nerve roots extending?

Answer 26

Nerve roots

Question 27

What parts of the spinal cord are enlarged, and why are they enlarged?

Answer 27

Cervical (C4-T1) and Lumbosacral (L1-S2) Enlargements for limb innervation

Question 28

What structure is made of descending lumbar and sacral nerve roots distal to the medullary cone?

Answer 28

Cauda equina

Question 29

What part of the spinal nerve innervates the intrinsic back muscles?

Answer 29

Dorsal rami

Question 30

What nerve innervates the trunk, excluding the back?

Answer 30

Ventral rami

Question 31

Where are sensory cell bodies located?

Answer 31

Dorsal root ganglion

Question 32

Where are somatomotor cell bodies located?

Answer 32

In the inferior gray horns of the spinal cord

Question 33

Where are preganglionic sympathetic cell bodies located?

Answer 33

In the lateral gray horns of the spinal cord

Question 34

Where are postganglionic sympathetic cell bodies located?

Answer 34

In the sympathetic chain ganglia

Question 35

Are the preganglionic or postganglionic sympathetic fibers traveling through the dorsal and ventral rami?

Answer 35

Postganglionic sympathetic fibers

Question 36

Where do the spinal nerves travel from C1-C7?

Answer 36

Above (superior to) the associated vertebrae Example: Spinal Nerve C2 is above the C2 vertebrae, but below the C1 vertebrae

Question 37

True or False: There is a C8 vertebrae

Answer 37

False, only a C8 spinal nerve

Question 38

Where is the C8 spinal nerve located?

Answer 38

BELOW (inferior to) the C7 vertebrae

Question 39

Where are the spinal nerves located in the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral vertebrae?

Answer 39

Below (inferior to) the associated vertebrae Example: L5 nerve is located below L5 vertebrae.

Question 40

True or False: No matter the area, a spinal nerve affected by a disc herniation will have the same alphanumeric name as the vertebra below the ruptured disc

Answer 40

True L4/5 herniation affects the L5 nerve C2/C3 herniation affects the C3 spinal nerve