Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Neuroanatomy > Spinal Cord > Flashcards

Spinal Cord Flashcards

1
Q

Where does the spinal cord begin?

A

Foramen magnum

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

Where does the spinal cord end in adults?

A

L1 to L2

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

Where is the spinal cord located?

A

In the vertebral canal of the vertebral column

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

What are the functions of the spinal cord?

A

Sensory and motor innervation of the entire body inferior to head (via spinal nerves)

Two way condiction pathway between body and brain

Major centre for reflexes

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

Until what gestation does the spinal cord run the full length of the vertebral canal?

A

12 weeks gestation

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

What causes regression of spinal cord to L3/L2 by birth?

A

Rapid growth of vertebral canal - differential rates of growth

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

What is left at the caudal end of the vertebral canal due to the regression of the spinal cord during gestation?

A

Filum terminale

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

What is the filum terminale?

A

Fibrous tissue that is a continuation of pia mater

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

What is the function of the filum terminale?

A

Connects conus medullaris (caudal end of spinal cord) to coccyx

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

How many weeks post birth does the spinal cord reach L1/L2?

A

3 weeks post birth

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

What is the embryological cause of Spina Bifida?

A

Failure of vertebrae fusion in embryonic development

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

Which area of the spine does Spina Bifida usually occur?

A

Lumbosacral region

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

What are the four subtypes of Spina Bifida?

A

Occulta
Meningocele
Myelocele
Meningomyelocele

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

Where is the rostral end of the adult spinal cord?

A

Medulla oblongata

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

What is the caudal end of the adult spinal cord?

A

Conus medullaris

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

What is the cauda equina?

A

Collection of nerves at the caudal end of the spinal cord

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

At which vertebrae does the cauda equina emerge?

A

L3/L2

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

How many spinal nerves are there?

A

31 spinal nerve pairs

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

Which vertebrae do the nerve roots from the cauda equina emerge from?

A

L3 - S5

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

Which cistern is the conus medullaris located in?

A

Lumbar cistern

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

What are the meningeal layers of the spinal cord?

A

Pia

Arachnoid

Dura

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

What are the three potential spaces in the spinal cord meninges?

A

Epidural (outside the dura)

Subdural (between dura and arachnoid)

Subarachnoid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is the denticulate ligament?

A

Anchors the dura mater to the pia mater

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the spinal dura surrounded by?

A

Extradural venous plexus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What does the extradural venous plexus do?
Drains red marrow of spine
26
How does the extradural venous plexus facilitate metastasis of malignancies?
The plexus lacks valves, allows malignant cells to spread easily
27
What are the two spinal enlargements?
Cervical enlargement (brachial plexus) Lumbar enlargement (lumbo-sacral plexus)
28
What does the brachial plexus innervate?
Upper extremities
29
How many cervical spinal nerves are there?
8
30
How many thoracic spinal nerves are there?
12
31
How many lumbar spinal nerves are there?
5
32
How many sacral spinal nerves are there?
5
33
How many coccygeal spinal nerves are there?
1
34
Where do the spinal nerves lay in the vertebral column?
Intervertebral foramina
35
What forms the intervertebral foramina?
Space between the spinal pedicles
36
How is the spinal cord protected?
Bone - vertebral canal Ligaments - attach adjacent vertebrae to each other and anchors dura mater Epidural fat - acts as a cushion Meninges - act as a buffer
37
Where is CSF located in the spine?
Subarachnoid space
38
What is a lumbar puncture?
Procedure performed where a needle is inserted in the subarachnoid space to collect CSF
39
Why might a lumbar puncture be performed?
Control CSF pressure (e.g. intracranial hypertension) Detect CSF pressure Deliver anesthetic Evaluate CSF for infections and inflammatory conditions
40
What position must the spine be in for a lumbar puncture and why is this position important?
Must be flexed so the needle can pass between spinal processes
41
Between which vertebrae are lumbar punctures usually performed?
L3-L5
42
What is at the centre of the spinal cord?
Hollow central canal
43
Which type of matter surrounds the central canal?
Grey matter
44
Where is white matter located in the spinal cord?
Around the grey matter
45
What is the white matter of the spinal cord composed of?
Ascending and descending axon tracts
46
What is in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord?
Cell bodies of sensory interneurons
47
What is in the ventral horn of the spinal cord?
Cell bodies of motor neurons
48
Which is the 'thicker' horn on a diagram of a coronal section of spinal cord?
Anterior horn
49
How are Rexed's laminae of the grey matter of the spinal cord divided?
Based on cytoarchitecture
50
What are laminae 1 to 3 of the spinal cord known as?
Substantia gelatinosa
51
What is the substantia gelatinosa involved in?
Nociception
52
What medications work on the substantia gelatinosa?
Opiates
53
What information do the ascending fibers of the spinal cord carry?
Sensory information from body to brain
54
What information do descending fibers of the spinal cord carry?
Motor instructions from brain to spinal cord to stimulate muscle contraction or secretion from glands
55
What do commissural fibres of the spinal cord do?
Cross from one side of the spinal cord to the other
56
What are three major ascending pathways for somatic sensory information in the spinal cord?
Dorsal column pathways Spinocerebellar Spinothalamic
57
What are the two types of descending pathways for motor information in the spinal cord?
Pyramidal Extrapyramidal
58
Which two of the three major ascending pathways in the spinal cord decussate?
Dorsal column - medial lemniscus Spinothalamic
59
Which major ascending pathway in the spinal cord is ipsilateral and does not decussate?
Spinocerebellar
60
What information does the spinocerebellar ascending pathway provide and where does it project to?
Proprioception from skeletal muscles Projects to cerebellum
61
What information does the dorsal column medial lemniscus ascending pathway provide and where does it project to?
Discriminative touch sensation Projects through the thalamus to the somatosensory cortex
62
What information does the spinothalamic ascending pathway provide and where does it project to?
Nondiscriminate sensations such as pain, temp, and pressure Projects through the thalamus to the somatosensory cortex
63
Where does the medial lemniscus pathway decussate?
Medulla
64
Where does the spinothalamic pathway decussate?
Spinal cord
65
Which ascending pathway decussates in the medulla oblongata?
Medial lemniscus pathway
66
Which ascending pathway decussates in the spinal cord?
Spinothalamic pathway
67
Which ascending pathway is involved with proprioception?
Spinocerebellar
68
Which ascending pathway is involved with discriminative touch?
Medial lemniscus
69
Which ascending pathway is involved with non-discriminative touch?
Spinothalamic
70
What is an example of pyramidal descending tracts in the spinal cord?
Lateral corticospinal
71
What information does the lateral corticospinal pathway provide?
Voluntary movement to limb muscles
72
What information does the ventral corticospinal pathway provide?
Voluntary movement to axial muscles
73
Which descending tract decussates in the pyramids of the medulla?
Lateral corticospinal
74
Which descending tract decussates in the spinal cord?
Ventral corticospinal
75
Which corticospinal descending tract is extrapyramidal?
Ventral corticospinal

Neuroanatomy (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions