ANATOMY Flashcards
enlargements of the SC
Cervical –> is related to the UL
Lumbar –> related to LL
Enlargements bc of extra grey mater in the cervical and lumbar regions for increased motor activity of the UL and LL respectively
length of spinal cord
upper border of L1
why is spinal cord shorter than vertebral canal?
during growth, the vertebral column grows faster than the spinal cord
what is the clinical relevance of spinal cord not completely occupying the vertebral column?
the space below spinal cord can be used to perform LP and Spinal anaesthesia
structures coming out of each spinal segment that forms the spinal nerves
rootlets (anterior and posterior) –> roots (anterior and posterior) –> spinal nerve
modalities of anterior and posterior roots of the SC
anterior–> Motor
posterior –> Sensory
structures at the end of SC
conus medullaris: tapered cone shaped termination
Filum terminale: thin connective tissue cord, continuation of conus medullaris, anchored to the dorsal of coccyx
meninges of SC
dura, arachnoid and pia
no space between dura and arachnoid
SAS contains CSF
Unlike the brain, dura is not directly attached to the bone to form a periosteum bc flexibility needed in SC for movement
epidural space between dura and ligaments flavum
function of denticulate ligament, how it is formed and its attachment
suspends the SC in the spinal canal
formed of Pia and arachnoid tissue
attached to the dura at points along the SC
internal Anatomy of SC
Grey matter on the inside and white matter on the outside
grey matter consists of neuronal cell bodies, axons, synapses, glial cells and BVs
white matter : axons and support cells
arranged column of axons running up and down the SC
IMP parts
- ventral median fissure
- dorsal median sulcus and septum
- ant and posterior grey horns + small lateral horn ( in T1 to L2, contains preganglionic sympathetic neurones)
- central canal (rostrally opens to the 4th ventricle)
spinal segments T1 to L2
thoracolumbar sympathetic outflow
Arterial supply of SC
3 major longidudinal arteries: 1 anterior and 2 posterior
Segmental arteries (from vertebral, intercostal and lumbar arteries)
radicular arteries that travels long the dorsal and ventral roots
Occlusion of any of the the artery supplying the spinal cord
lead to areas of spinal cord infarction
venous drainage of SC
Epidural plexus (Anterior & posterior internal venous plexus)
Epidural space and its clinical relevance
contains epidural fat and ant and post venous plexuses
cotinuous laterally with the exit point of the spinal nerve roots at the vertebral foramen
clinical relevance: for epidural anaesthesia
