Spinal cord, spinal nerve and meninges

Question 1

What are meninges

Answer 1

3 membranes which surround, protect and suspend the brain, spinal cord and spinal nerves

Question 2

What do meninges contain

Answer 2

CSF in the subarachnoid space

Question 3

What is the dura mater

Answer 3

Outermost, thick layer

Question 4

What is the dura mater called in the vertebral canal

Answer 4

The dural sac

Question 5

Where does the dura mater end

Answer 5

At the lower border of S2 vertebra, where it fuses with filum terminale

Question 6

Where is epidural space

Answer 6

Between periosteum and dura

Question 7

Where does the epidural space extend

Answer 7

Between the foramen magnum and sacral hiatus

Question 8

What does the epidural space contain

Answer 8

Internal vertebral venous plexus within fatty tissue

Question 9

Where is arachnoidea matter

Answer 9

It lies deep to and in contact with dura in the living

Question 10

Where does the arachnoidea mater end

Answer 10

At lower border of S2 vertebra

Question 11

What is the pia mater

Answer 11

• Innermost layer of meninx
• Thin and vascular closely adhered to the surface of the spinal cord

Question 12

What does pia mater cover

Answer 12

The surface of spinal roots

Question 13

What does the pia mater become

Answer 13

The filum terminale at the tip of conus medullaris, attached to the coccyx

Question 14

What does the pia mater form between roots of spinal nerves

Answer 14

Denticulate ligaments

Question 15

Describe the development of the spinal cord

Answer 15

• The vertebral column grows faster than spinal cord
• In the embryo, the spinal cord and vertebral canal are equivalent lengths
• In neonates, the spinal cord end at L3 vertebra
• In adults, the spinal cord extends from foramen magnum to disc between L1/L2

Question 16

What is the inferior end of the spinal cord

Answer 16

The conus medullaris which narrows as filum terminale

Question 17

What are the 2 enlargements of the spinal cord

Answer 17

• Cervical - between C4 - T1 (brachial plexus)
• Lumbosacral - between T11 - S1 (lumbosacral plexus)

Question 18

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there

Answer 18

31

Question 19

What are the anomalies of the vertebrae and spinal nerve relationship

Answer 19

• The are 7 cervical vertebrae but 8 cervical spinal nerves
• There are 1-4 coccygeal vertebrae but only 1 coccygeal nerve

Question 20

Where do C2 - L5 spinal nerves emerge through

Answer 20

Their own intervertebral foramen

Question 21

Where do S1-S4 spinal nerves emerge through

Answer 21

From anterior and posterior sacral foramina

Question 22

How are spinal nerves numbered in the cervical region

Answer 22

According to the vertebra below

Question 23

How are spinal nerves numbered below T1

Answer 23

According to the vertebra above

Question 24

What nerves do not make plexuses

Answer 24

Thoracic except T1 retain their segmental distribution and do not make plexuses

Question 25

What is the cauda equina

Answer 25

The root of lower lumbar and sacral spinal nerves, within the lumbar cistern

Question 26

Why is lumbar puncture performed

Answer 26

- Sample CSF for blood - Measure the pressure of CSF - Injection of anaesthetics - Injection of medications

Question 27

Why is the spinal puncture safest from the lumbar cistern

Answer 27

- Spinal cord ends at L1/L2 - Subarachnoid space extends to S2 - Cauda equina unlikely to be damaged

Question 28

What is the supracristal plane

Answer 28

A plane between the superior-most points of iliac crests, crossing L4 spinous process and L4/5 intervertebral disc