Flashcards in Spinal Cord Deck (14)
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1
Function and length of spinal cord
F: Nerve impulse propagation
A: Extends from medulla and foramen magnum to conus medullaris L1-2 IV joint
-cauda equina L2-S5 (PNS)
2
Spinal Nerves
31 paired spinal nerves
-8 cervical
-12 thoracic
-5 lumbar
-5 sacral
-1 coccygeal
3
What are the 2 enlargements of the spinal cord?
cervical
-C5-T1: brachial plexus
lumbar
-T11-L2: lumbosacral plexus
4
Meninges
Epidural space
Dura mater
Subdural space
Arachnoid mater
Subarachnoid space
Pia mater
5
Epidural space
"Cushion" composed of fatty tissue, lymphatics, blood vessels, nerve roots
6
Dura mater
single layer of fibrous tissue
-anchor for peripheral nerves to SC
-extends to S2 vertebral level
7
Subdural space
interstitial fluid
8
Subarachnoid space
contains CSF
-spinal tap takes place here
9
Pia mater
Filum terminale= fibrous extension of pia at the end of conus medullaris
-anchors SC to coccyx
10
Basic SC anatomy
Composed of gray (inside) and white (outside) matter
11
Gray matter anatomy
dorsal horn= sensory neurons
intermediate zone= interneurons
-T1-L2: lateral horn (symp. pregang neurons)
-S2-S4: lateral horn (para. pregang neurons)
ventral horn= motor neurons
-somatotopically organized
12
White matter ascending and descending columns
-dorsal column= sensory fibers (ascending)
-ventral column=mixed (primarily motor)
-lateral column= mixed
-some somatotopically organized, others not
13
White matter sulci, septum, and fissure
Dorsolateral sulcus: entrance for dorsal roots
Dorsal intermediate sulcus: splits dorsal columns into fasciculi cuneatus and gracilis
Ventral lateral sulcus: exit for ventral roots
Dorsal median septum: sheet of glial cells folded inwards
-Turns to dorsal median sulcus in caudal SC
Ventral median fissure: fold in pia mater
-Anterior spinal artery
14
