Class 3 - The Spinal Cord Flashcards

1
Q

List the protective layers of the spinal cord from outermost to innermost.

A
vertebrae
epidural space
dura mater
subdural space
arachnoid mater
subarachnoid space
pia mater
denticulate ligaments
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2
Q

The cervical enlargement is seen between…

A

C4-T1

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3
Q

The lumbar enlargement is seen between…

A

T9-T12

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4
Q

The conus medullaris ends at the level of…

A

L1-L2

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5
Q

What is the filum terminale?

A

extension of pia mater that fuses with the arachnoid and dura maters, then anchors the spinal cord to the coccyx

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6
Q

What is in the dorsal vs. ventral roots of the spinal nerve roots?

A

dorsal - sensory axons only

ventral - motor axons only

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7
Q

What is the cauda equina?

A

nerves that arise from the lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal regions of the spine move somewhat parallel to the spine downward before exiting the vertebral canal

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8
Q

The central canal is continuous with…

A

the fourth ventricle in the medulla

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9
Q

The ventral gray horns contain…

A

somatic motor cell bodies (nuclei)

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10
Q

The dorsal gray horns contain…

A

axons of sensory neurons + cell bodies of interneurons

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11
Q

Lateral gray horns are only present in…

A

the thoracic and upper lumbar segments of the spinal cord

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12
Q

What is contained in the lateral gray horns?

A

autonomic motor nuclei

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13
Q

Which white columns contain mostly motor tracts?

A

the anterior/ventral white columns

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14
Q

Which white columns contain only sensory tracts?

A

posterior/dorsal white columns

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15
Q

What is the conus medullaris?

A

terminating/tapering off of the spinal cord

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16
Q

The cauda equina is enclosed by… and surrounded by CSF in the ____ space

A

a bag-like structure of the dura and arachnoid mater

subarachnoid space

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17
Q

Where does a spinal tap draw CSF fluid from?

A

the subarachnoid space around the sac enclosing the cauda equina

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18
Q

Which meningeal layer is continuous with epineurium?

A

dura mater

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19
Q

What are the denticulate ligaments, and what are they for?

A

thickenings/extensions of the pia mater which suspend the spinal cord in the middle of its sheath to prevent sudden displacement

20
Q

What is the gray commissure?

A

the crossbar of the “H” which the central canal pierces through

21
Q

The posterior white funiculi can be divided into two tracts, which are:

A

gracile fasciculus

cuneate fasciculus

22
Q

Direct motor pathways are also called _____ and are for ______ movements

A

pyramidal

voluntary

23
Q

Indirect motor pathways are also called _____ and are for _____ movements

A

extrapyramidal

autonomic movements (such as maintenance of posture)

24
Q

What are the 3 possible fates for information entering the spinal cord?

A
  1. head straight to the brain
  2. synapse with interneuron –> ascend to brain
  3. spinal reflex pathway
25
Q

Where is the spinal cord the thickest?

A

lower cervical spine

26
Q

Spinal nerves C1-C7 all exit the vertebral canal ____ their corresponding vertebrae

A

above

27
Q

Spinal nerves T1-L5 all exit the vertebral canal ___ their corresponding vertebrae

A

below

28
Q

What is the function of the meningeal branch of spinal nerve roots?

A

to re-enter the intervertebral foramen and supply the vertebrae, ligaments, blood vessels of spinal cord + meninges

29
Q

The rami communicantes is a component of which division of the nervous system?

A

the ANS

30
Q

Lateral gray horns are found in which regions of the spinal cord?

A

thoracic and upper lumbar

31
Q

Which spinal nerve segments serve the upper and lower limbs?

A

the cervical and lumbar enlargements

32
Q

Which spinal nerve does NOT have a corresponding dermatome?

A

C1

33
Q

The phrenic nerve is made up of nerves from which spinal segments?

A

C3, C4, C5

34
Q

What is contained in the lateral gray horns?

A

autonomic motor nuclei

35
Q

What is the outermost covering of the spinal nerves?

A

epineurium

36
Q

Which space in the spinal cord holds CSF?

A

the subarachnoid space (and central canal)

37
Q

What is held in the epidural space?

A

fat + connective tissue

38
Q

The dura mater forms a sac around the spinal cord from the level of the foramen magnum to the…

A

level of S2

39
Q

Which of the following is found in the anterior white column of the spinal cord?

lateral corticospinal tract

lateral vestibulospinal tract

lateral reticulospinal tract

A

lateral vestibulospinal tract

40
Q

Which is the only sensory tract in the anterior white column?

A

anterior spinothalamic tract (or at least, part of it)

41
Q

Which of the following is found in the anterior white column of the spinal cord?

anterior spinocerebellar tract

anterior spinothalamic tract

posterior spinocerebellar tract

A

anterior spinothalamic tract

42
Q

A spinal tap draws CSF fluid from where?

A

the subarachnoid space at the level of the cauda equina

43
Q

Where is the spinal cord the thickest? And next thickest?

A

cervical spine, then lumbar spine

44
Q

In which region of the spinal cord are the lateral grey horns mainly present?

A

thoracic (mainly) but also lumbar

45
Q

The posterior white column contains…

A

only sensory tracts

46
Q

The anterior white column contains…

A

mostly motor tracts, plus the anterior spinothalamic tract