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Anatomy 1 - Axial > Lecture 9 > Flashcards

Lecture 9 Flashcards

(48 cards)

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1
Q

What is the spinal cord?

A

Part of the central nervous system (CNS), is a continuation of the brainstem

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2
Q

Where is the spinal cord situated?

A

Inside the vertebral canal

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3
Q

How big is the spinal cord?

A
  • 40-50cm long
  • 1-1.5cm diameter
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4
Q

What age does spinal cord and vertebral column finish growing?

A
  • Spinal Cord = 4
  • Vertebral Column = 14-18
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5
Q

Where does the spinal cord extend from and where does it terminate?

A

Extends from the foramen magnum at the base of the skull to the L1/L2 vertebra where it terminates as the conus medullaris (medullary cone)

SCULL “Spinal Cord Until L2”

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6
Q

How many regions are there of the spinal cord?

A

4

  • Cervical
  • Thoracic
  • Lumbar
  • Sacral
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7
Q

How many segments are there of the spinal cord?

A

31

  • Cervical = 8
  • Thoracic = 12
  • Lumbar = 5
  • Sacral = 5
  • Coccygeal = 1
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8
Q

Where do dorsal and ventral roots and and leave the vertebral column?

A

Through the intervertebral foramen at the vertebral segments corresponding to the spinal segment

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9
Q

Where does the spinal cord have enlargement?

A

2 enlargements to accommodate for innervation of the upper and lower limbs
- At cervical level (upper limbs) C3-T1
- At lumbosacral level (lower limbs) L1-S2

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10
Q

What is the the filum terminale?

A
  • Meninges form a strand of fibrous tissue called ‘Filum terminal”
  • Extends from tip of conus medullaris to Co1
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11
Q

How many meningeal layers is the spinal cord covered by?

A

3
- Dura mater
- Arachnoid mater
- Pia mater

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12
Q

What does the epidural space do?

A

Separates the dura mater from the periosteum of the vertebral canal

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13
Q

What is the subarachnoid space?

A
  • Is between the arachnoid and pia mater
  • Filled with cerebrospinal fluid
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14
Q

How is the spinal cord attached to the dura?

A

By a series of lateral denticulate ligaments emanating from the pial folds.

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15
Q

What is the lumbar cistern?

A
  • Site for lumbar puncture
  • The subarachnoid space caudal to the medullary cone
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16
Q

What surrounds the canal?

A

Single layer of cells = ependymal layer

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17
Q

What surrounds the ependymal layer?

A

Gray matter

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18
Q

What is the shape and size of gray matter?

A
  • Varies depending on spinal cord level
  • At the lower levels, the ratio between gray matter and white matter is greater than in higher levels, mainly because lower levels contain less ascending and descending nerve fibers
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19
Q

A transverse section of the adult spinal cord shows:

A
  • White matter
  • Gray matter
  • Tiny central canal filled with CSF
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20
Q

Gray matter main columns:

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A
  • Dorsal horn
  • Intermediate column
  • Lateral horn
  • Ventral horn column
21
Q

Dorsal Horn

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A
  • Found at all spinal cord levels
  • Comprised of sensory nuclei that receive and process incoming somatosensory
22
Q

Intermediate column and lateral horn

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Comprise autonomic neurons innervating visceral and pelvic organs
23
Q

Ventral horn

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A
  • Comprises motor neurons that innervate skeletal muscle
24
Q

White matter

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Surrounds gray matter
  • Contains myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers
25
What do myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibres do?
Conduct information up (ascending) or down (descending) the cord
26
What are the columns of white matter?
- Dorsal column (or posterior) - Lateral column - Ventral column (or anterior)
27
What are dorsal root fibres?
Axons originated from the primary sensory dorsal root ganglion cells
28
What is the dorsal root ganglia?
Received information from the skin, skeletal muscle and joints to be relayed to the spinal cord.
29
What are ventral root fibres?
Axons of motor and visceral efferent fibers
30
Fibres emerge from poorly defined ventral lateral sulcus as:
Ventral rootlets
31
Ventral root
Ventral rootlets from discrete spinal cord section unite and from ventral root
32
How are spinal nerve roots formed?
by the union of dorsal and ventral roots within the intervertebral foramen
33
What does the spinal nerve rami include?
- Dorsal primary nerves (ramus) innervates -- the skin and muscles of back - Ventral primary nerves (ramuss) -- innervates the ventral lateral muscles and skin of the trunk
34
Where do spinal nerves exit?
All spinal nerves (except the first) exit BELOW their corresponding vertebra
35
Cervical Spinal Nerves
- 7 vertebra & 8 nerves - C1-C7 nerves exit above corresponding vertebral, C8 nerve exits below C7
36
Thoracic and upper lumbar regions spinal nerves
The difference between the vertebrae and cord level is three segments.
37
What are lumbosacral roots known as?
Cauda equina
38
What is each spinal nerve composed of?
Nerve fibers that are related to the region of the muscles and skin that develops from one body somite
39
What is a spinal segment defined as?
Dorsal roots entering and ventral exiting cord
40
Ascending Tract
Carries sensory information from the peripheral nerves to the brain
41
What are the 3 major pathways of the Ascending tract?
1. Dorsal Column - Carries information related to fine touch, vibration and proprioception 2. Spinothalamic Tract - Carries pain, temperature and crude touch 3. Spinocerebellar Tracts - Unconscious proprioception to the cerebellum for the motor coordination
42
Descending Tract
Responsible for transmitting motor commands from the brain to the peripheral nervous system
43
What are the two main categories of the descending tract?
1. Pyramidal Tracts - Control voluntary movements, especially fine motor control 2. Extrapyramidal tracts - Regulate posture, muscle tone and involuntary movements
44
Rami Communicates
Contain autonomic nerves that carry visceral motor and sensory information to and from visceral organs
45
Spinal Segment
- Functional unit of spinal cord - Defined by dorsal roots entering and ventral roots exiting
46
Where does spinal cord end in adults?
L1-L2
47
Dermatomes
Areas of the skin that is connected to s specific spinal nerve
48
Myotomes
Specific muscles that are supplied by a special spinal nerve

Anatomy 1 - Axial (15 decks)

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