Lecture 2: Vertebral Column & Spinal Cord

Question 1

List the features of typical vertebrae.

Answer 1

Body
Vertebral arch
Transverse processes
Spinouis processes
Vertebral formaen
Intervertebral foramina

Question 2

Where do spinal nerves exit in the vertebral column?

Answer 2

Intervertebral foramina

Question 3

What are the different kinds of vertebrae?

Answer 3

Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacral
Coccygeal

Question 4

List the number of vertebrae in each section.

Answer 4

C - 7
T - 12
L - 5
S - 5 (fused)
C - 4 (fused)

Question 5

How do rips articulate with the thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 5

Most ribs articulate between two adjacent thoracic vertebrae

Question 6

The head of a rib articulates with the _____________ of the vertebrae.

Answer 6

Body

Question 7

The tubercle of a rib articulates with the _______________ process of vertebrae.

Answer 7

Tubercle

Question 8

What are intervertebral discs composed of?

Answer 8

Anulus fibrosis
Nucleus pulposus

Question 9

What is annulus fibrosis?

Answer 9

Peripheral part of a intervertebral disc, composed of fibrocartilage

Question 10

What is the nucleus pulposis?

Answer 10

Central, gelatinous part of the inervertebral disc

Question 11

What is the function of intervertebral discs?

Answer 11

Shock absorbers

Question 12

What rests in the vertebral canal?

Answer 12

Spinal cord

Question 13

What is found within the vertebral canal?

Answer 13

Epidural space
Meninges
Spinal cord

Question 14

What is the epidural space?

Answer 14

Area between vertebra and meninges

Question 15

What do you find in the epidural space?

Answer 15

Fat + Blood vessels (Veins & arteries)

Question 16

What are the coverings around the spinal cord?

Answer 16

Meninges

Question 17

What are the purpose of meninges

Answer 17

Protect and anchor the spinal cord

Question 18

What is the dura mater?

Answer 18

Outermost layer - dense CT

Question 19

Where does the dura mater end?

Answer 19

S2

Question 20

What is the subdural space?

Answer 20

Potential space between dura and arachnoid

Question 21

What is the subarachnoid space?

Answer 21

Real space between arachnoid and pia mater

Question 22

What is the subarachnoid spaced filled with?

Answer 22

CSF

Question 23

What do you find in the subarachnoid space?

Answer 23

Arteries & veins (plus CSF)

Question 24

What is the innermost meninge?

Answer 24

Pia mater

Question 25

Where do you find denticulate "ligaments"?

Answer 25

Pia mater

Question 26

What is the composition of the spinal cord?

Answer 26

Inner gray matter Outer white matter

Question 27

What is gray matter?

Answer 27

Neuron cell bodies and dendrites and unmyelinated nerve cell processes.

Question 28

What is white matter?

Answer 28

Myelinated axons

Question 29

What is the end of the spinal cord?

Answer 29

Conus medullaris

Question 30

What is inferior to the conus medullaris?

Answer 30

Cauda equina

Question 31

In embryo, what is the length of the spinal cord?

Answer 31

Entire length of vertebral canal

Question 32

As infants, what is the length of the spinal cord?

Answer 32

Ends at level of L3 vertebra

Question 33

As adults, what is the length of the spinal cord?

Answer 33

Typically ends at inferior border of L1 vertebra

Question 34

Nerves that come off the spinal cord are known as...

Answer 34

Spinal nerves

Question 35

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?

Answer 35

31 pairs

Question 36

Describe the different spinal nerve groupings.

Answer 36

Cervical: C1-C8 Thoracic: T1-T12 Lumbar: L1-L5 Sacral: S1-S5 Coccygeal: Coc1

Question 37

Where do C1-C7 nerves exit?

Answer 37

Superior to the bodies of their respective vertebrae

Question 38

Where does C8 exit?

Answer 38

Between C7 and T1.

Question 39

The remaining nerves (T1 and on) exit _________ to the bodies of their respective vertebrae.

Answer 39

Inferior

Question 40

Posterior (dorsal) root is...

Answer 40

sensory

Question 41

Anterior (ventral) root is..

Answer 41

Motor

Question 42

Posterior rami or anterior rami of SN: Serratus posterior superior

Answer 42

Intercostal N (anterior rami)

Question 43

Posterior rami or anterior rami of SN: Iliocostalis

Answer 43

Posterior rami

Question 44

Posterior rami or anterior rami of SN: trapezius

Answer 44

Cranial N XI (accessory) *Trick ?

Question 45

Posterior rami or anterior rami of SN: splenius cervicis

Answer 45

Posterior rami

Question 46

What is a dermatome?

Answer 46

a segment of skin innervated by a single spinal nerve (in theory)

Question 47

What is a dermatomal map?

Answer 47

map that shows general pattern of dermatomes

Question 48

What is the arterial supply to the spinal cord?

Answer 48

Anterior spinal artery Posterior spinal artery Radicular arteries

Question 49

What is the venous drainage fo the spinal cord?

Answer 49

Internal vertebral venous plexus External vertebral venous plexus

Question 50

What is a herniated disc?

Answer 50

Tear in annulus fibrosis that allows for the nucleus pulposus to protrude posterolaterally.