Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Year 2 Term 2 C&M > C: Spinal cord and Spinal Nerves Anatomy > Flashcards

C: Spinal cord and Spinal Nerves Anatomy Flashcards

1
Q

The vertebral column contains how many vertebrae?

A 
30 (some say 33)
7 Cervical
12 Thoracic
5 Lumbar
5 Sacral
1(/4) coccygeal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How many spinal cord segments are there?

A

31

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How many spinal nerves does each spinal cord segment give rise to?

A

1 pair of segmental spinal nerves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How many spinal nerves are there, and of what type?

A 
31
8 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Where does C1 spinal nerve pass out of the spinal cord?

A

Between the base of the skull and C1 vertebra

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Where do the spinal nerves pass out relative to their corresponding vertebra?

A

Cervical spinal nerves pass out the vertebral column superior to the pedicles of their corresponding vertebra
Thoracic, lumbar and sacral and coccygeal pass out inferior to the pedicles of their corresponding vertebra

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Where does spinal nerve C8 pass out of the vertebral column?

A

Between C7 and T1 vertebra

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Where is the transition in nomenclature of nerves?

A

Between C7 and T1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How thick is the spinal cord?

A

About the thickness of a little finger

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What 2 enlargements can be seen in the spinal cord and why?

A

Cervical enlargement - gives rise to the brachial plexus

Lumbar enlargement - gives rise to nerves supplying lower limb

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the cauda equina?

A

Dorsal and ventral roots of lower lumbar and sacral and coccygeal segmental spinal nerves travelling to their corresponding vertebra

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the filum terminale?

A

Fine strand coming from the conus medullaris which travels and attaches to the coccyx, its an extension of pia mater and a remnant of the developing spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How many layers of meninges surround the spinal cord?

A

3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What 3 layers of meninges surround the spinal cord?

A

Dura mater (meningeal layer)
Arachnoid mater adhered tightly to the dura mater due to pressure of underlying CSF
Pia mater

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What separates the dura mater from bone?

A

Fat-filled epidural space

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the nature of the dura mater supplying the spinal cord?

A

Tough, fibrous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the nature of the arachnoid mater surrounding the spinal cord?

A

Thin, delicate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the nature of the pia mater surrounding the spinal cord?

A

Thin layer attached to the surface of the cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What lies between the arachnoid mater and pia mater?

A

Subarachnoid space containing CSF

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How does CSF enter the subarachnoid space surrounding the spinal cord?

A

By leaving the lateral and median apertures of the ventricular system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are denticulate ligaments?

A

Extensions of the pia mater, extending laterally from the spinal cord to attach to the walls of the spinal canal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the function of the denticulate ligaments?

A

To stabilise the spinal cord and prevent rotatory movement

23
Q

The periosteal layer of dura mater surrounding the brain doesnt go on to surround the spinal cord, what is it instead continuous with?

A

When it reaches the base of the skull it is continuous with the periosteum of the skull

24
Q

Dorsal and ventral rootlets contain what kinds of info?

A

Dorsal rootlets - sensory

Ventral rootlets - motor

25
Q

Dorsal and ventral rootlets carry what kind of fibres?

A

Ventral carry efferent fibres

Dorsal carry afferent fibres

26
Q

What is a ganglion?

A

A collection of cell bodies in the PNS

27
Q

What does a dorsal root ganglion contain?

A

Cell bodies of primary sensory fibres which are single fibres carrying info from a particular area of skin and have their cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglion and then a short projection from the dorsal root ganglion to the spinal cord

28
Q

What is the difference between and epidural and a spinal anesthetic?

A

Epidural - goes into the epidural space and does not pass through the dura mater, can be specific to certain spinal nerves
Spinal - pierces through the dura mater and enters the spinal canal, knocks out a larger portion of the body

29
Q

What is the lumbar cistern?

A

Enlargement of the subarachnoid space between the conus medullaris of spinal cord and inferior end of subarachnoid space and dura mater.

30
Q

What 3 things does the lumbar cistern contain?

A

1) CSF
2) Filum terminale
3) Cauda equina

31
Q

Why is the lumbar cistern a good place to administer a lumbar puncture?

A

Spinal cord is not present here so not at risk of damage
Nerve roots making up the cauda equina are mobile and move out of the way when a lumbar puncture is adminstered so are also not at risk of damage

32
Q

How does the length of the spinal cord change from foetus to adult and why?

A

Spinal cord extends the entire length of the spinal column in a foetus at 2-3 months - at this point all segmental spinal nerves are give off at their corresponding vertebral level
As the vertebral column grows at a faster rate than the spinal cord, at birth the spinal cord terminates at around L3 and by adulthood the spinal cord terminates at L1/L2

33
Q

What is the main blood supply of the spinal cord?

A

Receives arterial blood mainly via the unpaired anterior and paired posterior spinal arteries which typically arise from the vertebral arteries
The segmental medullary and radicular arteries support the spinal arteries along the length of the cord

34
Q

Which arteries do the spinal arteries come off in the neck, thoracic, abdominal and pelvic regions?

A 
Neck = vertebral
Thorax = Posterior intercostal
Abdomen = Lumbar
Pelvis = lateral sacral
35
Q

What is the difference between white and grey matter in the spinal cord?

A

White matter contains axons

Grey matter contains cell bodies

36
Q

We have a dorsal, a ventral and a lateral grey horn, each contains what kind of nuclei?

A

Dorsal grey horn = sensory
Ventral grey horn = somatic motor
Lateral grey horn = autonomic

37
Q

At what levels can a lateral grey horn be seen in a cross section of the spinal cord?

A 
(T1-L2) = sympathetic
(S2-S4) = parasympathetic
38
Q

What kind of fibres travel in the dorsal root?

A

Sensory

39
Q

What kind of fibres travel in the ventral root?

A

Somatic motor and visceral motor

40
Q

What happens to the amount of white matter as you ascend the spinal cord?

A

The amount of white matter increases as you ascend the spinal cord

41
Q

How does the size of the ventral grey horn change as you move along the cord?

A

Ventral grey horn is enlarged where motor fibres to the limbs arise
At the cervical (Upper limb) and lumbosacral (lower limb) enlargements

42
Q

Above which spinal cord segment can 2 dorsal columns be seen on each side of the midline and what are they called?

A

Above T6

Gracile fascicle medially and cuneate fascicle laterally

43
Q

What kind of sensory info is carried in the cuneate and gracile fascicle?

A

Sensory info from the lower limb is carried in the gracile fascicle and sensory info from the upper limb is carried in the cuneate fascicle, so the cuneate fascicle only arises at the level at which sensory info from the upper limb reaches the spinal cord

44
Q

What is meant by the statement that ‘the spinal grey matter is regionally specilised’?

A

The grey matter is divided into regions called laminae
These are the sights of sensory or motor nuclei
They each extend a varying length of the cord
Certain functions in the body relate to certain laminae

45
Q

Name 4 major ascending and descending fibre tracts?

A

1) Dorsal column
2) Lateral corticospinal tract
3) Ventral corticospinal tract
4) Spinothalamic tract

46
Q

What info is carried in the dorsal columns?

A

Joint position sense and vibration sense

47
Q

What info carried in the lateral and ventral corticospinal tracts?

A

Voluntary movement

48
Q

What info is carried in the spinothalamic tract?

A

Pain, light, touch and temperature sense

49
Q

Do the dorsal columns carry info from the contralateral or ipsilateral side?

A

Ipsilateral

50
Q

What is meant by ipsilateral?

A

Same side

51
Q

Do the lateral corticospinal tracts carry info to the contralateral or ipsilateral sides?

A

Ipsilateral

52
Q

Do the ventral corticospinal tracts carry info to the contralateral or ipsilateral sides?

A

Contralateral

53
Q

Do the spinothalamic tracts carry info from the contralateral or ipsilateral sides?

A

Contralateral

Year 2 Term 2 C&M (25 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions