Spine Revised

Question 1

Where does the spinal cord begin?

Answer 1

Occipital bone of the skull

Question 2

Where does the spinal cord end?

Answer 2

L1/L2

(IV disc between the two)

Question 3

What does the spinal cord form at it’s distal end?

Answer 3

Conus medullaris

Question 4

What is the fibrous extension of the conus medullaris?

Answer 4

Filum terminale

Question 5

Which two regions of the spine are enlarged?

Answer 5

Cervical and lumbar

Question 6

Why is their enlargement in the cervical and lumbar regions of the spine?

Answer 6

For limb innervation

Cervical enlargement for innervation of upper limbs
Lumbar enlargement for innervation of the lower limbs.

Question 7

Which level does the spinal cord terminate in a child?

Answer 7

Upper border of L3

Question 8

Which spinal nerves form the cauda equina?

Answer 8

L2-L5

Question 9

From which spinal structure does the cauda equina emerge from?

Answer 9

Conus medullaris

Question 10

Where does the filum terminale attach inferiorly?

Answer 10

Coccyx

Question 11

What is the function of the filum terminale?

Answer 11

Anchors inferior ends of the spinal cord and dural sac.

Question 12

What makes up the grey matter of the spinal cord?

Answer 12

Cell bodies

Question 13

What makes up the white matter of the spinal cord?

Answer 13

Nerve fibres

Question 14

What type of nerve impulse is associated with anterior horn cells?

Answer 14

Motor

Question 15

Which type of nerve impulse is associated with posterior horn cells?

Answer 15

Sensory

Question 16

Which type of nerve impulse is associated with lateral horn cells?

Answer 16

Autonomic

Question 17

What is the function of spinal meninges?

Answer 17

Protect and cushion the spinal cord

Question 18

Name the three layers of the meninges, starting with the most external.

Answer 18

Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater

Question 19

Which level does the dural sac terminate in adults?

Answer 19

S2

Question 20

In newborns, which level does the dura mater end at?

Answer 20

S3

Question 21

In newborns, where does the conus medullarus end at?

Answer 21

L3

Question 22

What is between pia mater and arachnoid mater?

Answer 22

Subarachnoid space

Question 23

What is found in the subarachnoid space?

Answer 23

Cerebrospinal fluid

Question 24

What is the space between the dura mater and vertebral bones?

Answer 24

Epidural space

Question 25

What is inflammation of the meninges known as?

Answer 25

Meningitus

Question 26

What can happen in those with meningitis?

Answer 26

Neurological damage or death

Question 27

Which two layers is the subdural space found in between?

Answer 27

Dura mata Arachnoid mata

Question 28

Where does the blood supply for the spinal cord come from?

Answer 28

Branches from the aorta

Question 29

What drains the spinal cord and vertebrae?

Answer 29

Vertebral venous plexus

Question 30

Plexus=?

Answer 30

Network

Question 31

Where would you find the vertebral venous plexus?

Answer 31

Fatty tissue in the episudral space

Question 32

Do the veins in the vertebral venous plexus have valves?

Answer 32

No

Question 33

What can the venous plexus provide a route for?

Answer 33

The metastasis of cancer cells

Question 34

What are nerves emerging from the spinal cord called?

Answer 34

Spinal nerves

Question 35

Which signals does a spinal nerve carry?

Answer 35

Spinal nerves are mixed nerves so carry motor, sensory and autonomic signals.

Question 36

Which fibres allow for voluntary movement?

Answer 36

Somatic fibres

Question 37

Which fibres allow for involuntary movement?

Answer 37

Autonomic fibres

Question 38

Give examples of involuntary structures.

Answer 38

Glands Organs Involuntary muscles e.g. cardiac

Question 39

Where do sympathetic nerve fibres arise from?

Answer 39

Lateral horn cells

Question 40

Where are lateral horn cells located?

Answer 40

T1-L2

Question 41

Where in the spinal cord is the origin for somatic fibres?

Answer 41

Anterior horn

Question 42

Where in the spinal cord is the origin for autonomic fibres?

Answer 42

Lateral horn

Question 43

How many ganglia are present in the autonomic pathway?

Answer 43

2

Question 44

What is another term for sympathetic chain?

Answer 44

Paravertebral ganglia

Question 45

What do white rami communicants do?

Answer 45

Carry sympathetic fibres from the spinal nerve to the sympathetic chain ganglion.

Question 46

What do grey rami communicants do?

Answer 46

Carry sympathetic fires from the paravertebral ganglia/sympathetic chain back to the ventral rami of spinal nerve.

Question 47

Which plexus supplies the upper limb?

Answer 47

Brachial plexus

Question 48

Which plexus supplies the lower limbs?

Answer 48

Lumbosacral plexus

Question 49

Are white rami communicants myelinated or unmyelinated?

Answer 49

Myelinated

Question 50

Are grey rami communicants myelinated or unmyelinated?

Answer 50

Unmyelinated

Question 51

What is the sympathetic trunk composed of?

Answer 51

Interconnected ganglia

Question 52

Where do sympathetic fibres arise from the spinal cord?

Answer 52

T1-L2

Question 53

Describe the three ways sympathetic nerve fibres can supply structures out with T1-L2.

Answer 53

1. Synapse in chain ganglia at the same spinal level before exiting the chain. 2. Ascend/descend within the sympathetic chain before synapsing in a different ganglion to the one it lies next to. 3. Run through the chain without synapsing and synapse instead in a prevertebral ganglion in the abdomen

Question 54

When would be a common example of a sympathetic fibre synapsing in the chain ganglia at the same spinal level?

Answer 54

When suppling the skin

Question 55

What are splanchnic nerves?

Answer 55

Nerves which arise from within the sympathetic thoracic trunk to innervate the abdomen

Question 56

How can parasympathetic nerves be carried?

Answer 56

By some cranial nerves Spinal nerves

Question 57

Give an example of a cranial nerve which can carry parasympathetic fibres.

Answer 57

Vagus nerve

Question 58

Which spinal nerves can carry parasympathetic fibres?

Answer 58

S2-4

Question 59

Give some examples of large autonomic nerve plexuses.

Answer 59

Cardiac (in thorax) Pulmonary Coeliac (in abdomen) Superior hypogastric (abdomen) Inferior hypogastric (pelvis)

Question 60

How do upper and lower imbs receive theeir autonomic supply?

Answer 60

Sympathetic nerves

Question 61

Do parasympathetic nerves travel or supply to any limbs?

Answer 61

No