Spinal cord

Question 1

the spinal cord is a continuation of:

Answer 1

the brainstem

Question 2

The solid spinal cord ends at the _____ _____ around the level of ____-_____ in adults

Answer 2

conus medullaris around the level of L1-L2 in adults

Question 3

the conus medullaris is tethered to the coccyx by the _____ _____

Answer 3

filum terminale

Question 4

what are the 3 meningeal layers?

Answer 4

pia mater
arachnoid mater
dura mater

Question 5

what is the cauda equina?

Answer 5

consists of the spinal nerve pairs from L2, the sacral nerves and the coccygeal nerve

During early development, the cauda equina does not exist, and the solid spinal cord extends to the sacrum. (important to assess for sacral dimple prior to doing a caudal)

Question 6

What is tethered spinal cord syndrome?

Answer 6

a neurological disorder caused by tissue attachments that limit the movement of the spinal cord within the spinal column, resulting in low lying conus medullaris

Question 7

what is spina bifida?

Answer 7

a birth defect where there is incomplete closing of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord

Question 8

What are the 3 main types of spina bifida?

Answer 8

spina bifida occulta, meningocele, myelomeningocele

Question 9

describe spina bifida occulta

Answer 9

no or only mild symptoms
- hairy patch, dimple dark spot, swelling on the back

Question 10

describe meningocele

Answer 10

causes mild problems w a sac of fluid present at the gap in the spine

Question 11

describe myelomeningocele

Answer 11

AKA open spina bifida- most severe form. poor ability to walk, problems w bladder or bowel control, hydrocephalus, a tethered spinal cord

Question 12

Anterior spinal artery (single)

Answer 12

arises from vertebral artery and extends to the conus medullaris

Question 13

Posterior spinal arteries (paired)

Answer 13

arises from vertebral arteries and extends to the conus medullaris

Question 14

radicular arteries

Answer 14

arises from intercostal and lumbar arteries

Question 15

what is the artery of adamkiewicz?

Answer 15

largest anterior segmental medullary artery

typically arises from the left posterior intercostal artery btwn the 9th and 12 intercostal artery which branches from the aorta and supplies 2/3 of the spinal cord via the anterior spinal artery.

Question 16

what are the dorsal roots?

Answer 16

sensory nerve fibers arising from cell bodies in dorsal root ganglia

Question 17

what are the ventral roots?

Answer 17

motor fibers arising from the ventral horn of spinal cord

Question 18

spinal nerves

Answer 18

dorsal and ventral roots combine to form the spinal nerves

Question 19

what are interneuron cell bodies?

Answer 19

located in the dorsal horn of the spine, connect the sensory and motor neurons, and are responsible for our reflex responses to stimuli

Question 20

_____ cervical

Answer 20

8

Question 21

____thoracic

Answer 21

12

Question 22

____ lumbar

Answer 22

5

Question 23

___ sacral

Answer 23

5

Question 24

____ coccygeal

Answer 24

1