Spinal Cord Flashcards
How many spinal nerves are there in the human body?
31 pairs for a total of 62 spinal nerves
Where is the cervical enlargement located?
C5-T1
Where is the lumbar enlargement located?
L1-S2
Where do spinal nerves exit the cervical spine?
ABOVE their corresponding vertebral body (except for C8, which exits below C7 and above T1)
Where do spinal nerves exit the thoracic and lumbar spine?
BELOW their corresponding vertebral body
Pia mater extends caudally as__________.
filum terminale
Spinal cord arteries come off of what?
vertebral arteries
Describe anterior vs. posterior spinal arteries.
anterior- only one, relatively straight path
posterior- two tortuous arteries
Dermatome at back of head?
C2
Dermatome encompassing thumb and index finger?
C6
Dermatome at nipples?
T4
Dermatome at umbilicus?
T10
Dermatome encompassing kneecap?
L3
Dermatome encompassing lateral foot?
S1
Which are the arteries that supply most of the cerebellum?
AICA, PICA, and SCA (anterior inferior cerebellar, posterior inferior cerebellar, superior cerebellar)
The anterior median fissure of the spinal cord provides a groove for which structure?
anterior spinal artery
The anterior lateral sulcus of the spinal cord provides a groove for which structure(s)?
ventral rootlets (efferent fibers)
What is a funiculus vs. fasciculus?
funiculus- “large bundle” of axons
fasciculus- “little bundle” of axons
(bigger is more fun=funiculus)
Contains finely myelinated and unmyelinated axons originating in the substantia gelatinosa and involved in sensory modulation.
zone of Lissauer, or dorsolateral fasciculus
What is the cell body of origin for the sympathetic efferents?
intermediolateral nucleus (IML)
What type of neurons are motor neurons?
large alpha motor neurons that are termed “lower motor neurons” or “the final common pathway”
At which vertebral levels is the lateral horn found?
T1-L2, as the lateral horn contains the neuronal cell bodies of the sympathetic nervous system.
