The Spinal Cord & Divisions of the Nervous System

Question 1

Name the 2 distinct branches of the nervous system.

Answer 1

The Central Nervous System and the Peripheral Nervous System

Question 2

Which components make up the two branches of the nervous system?

Answer 2

CNS (brain, brain stem and the spinal cord)

PNS (12 cranial nerves, 31 spinal nerves, ganglion

Question 3

How many pairs of sensory nerves do we have?

Answer 3

43 pairs of sensory nerves

Question 4

How many spinal and cranial nerves do we have?

Answer 4

31 spinal

12 cranial

Question 5

How many nerves contribute towards the formation of the following:

1. Cervical Nerves
2. Thoracic Nerves
3. Lumber Nerves
4. Sacral Nerves
5. Coccygeal

Answer 5

Cervical Nerves
4 cervical /4 Brachial

Thoracic Nerves
12 thoracic

Lumber Nerves
5 Lumber

Sacral Nerves
5 Sacral

Coccygeal
1 coccygeal

Question 6

Which artery supplies the spinal cord?

Answer 6

The anterior and posterior spinal arteries

Question 7

Where is the Sacral plexus in relation to the Sacrum?

Answer 7

Anterior

Question 8

Where is the Lumbar Plexus in relation to the Sacrum?

Answer 8

Posterior

Question 9

The spinal cord enlarges at what two levels?

Answer 9

The cervical enlargement is located proximally, at the C4-T1 level. The spinal cord also enlarges between L2 and S3.

Question 10

Can you explain why the spinal nerves enlarge at certain points?

Answer 10

Enlargement occurs at the cervical due to the formation of the brachial and the lumbosacral plexus.

Question 11

The peripheral nervous system is divided into 2 subdivisions. Name them.

Answer 11

Sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system

Question 12

Which division of the nervous system is responsible for voluntary conscious control of skeletal muscles?

Answer 12

Somatic

Question 13

What type of nerves innervate muscles?

Answer 13

Motor nerves/efferent nerves

Question 14

What neurotransmitter is responsible for the contraction of muscles?

Answer 14

Acetylecholine

Question 15

Which system controls all of our bodily functions that are out with our conscious control?

Answer 15

Autonomic

Question 16

Which part of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the fight or flight response?

Answer 16

Sympathetic nervous system

Question 17

Which part of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for rest and digest?

Answer 17

Parasympathetic nervous system

Question 18

Which cranial nerve is responsible for 90 percent of information sent through the PSNS?

Answer 18

Vegus nerve

Question 19

Which division of the nervous system inhibits the GI function?

Answer 19

Sympathetic

Question 20

Which division of the nervous system promotes an increase in blood pressure?
Why is blood pressure increased?

Answer 20

Sympathetic

Adrenaline constricts arteries

Question 21

Which division of the nervous system facilitates the GI tract?

Answer 21

Parasymathetic nervous system

Question 22

Which division of the nervous system promotes the secretion of saliva?

Answer 22

Parasympathetic

Question 23

Which nerves leave the jugular foramen?

Answer 23

Vegus nerve, accessory nerve 11, glossopharyngeal

Question 24

Which cervical nerves exit above the level of the corresponding vertebrae?

Answer 24

C1 to C7

Question 25

Which cervical nerves exit below the level of the corresponding vertebrae?

Answer 25

C8

Question 26

Which nerve exits below C7/T1?

Answer 26

C8

Question 27

Name the 5 terminal branches of the brachial plexus?

Answer 27

The musculocutaneous, median, ulnar, axillary, and radial nerves.

Question 28

What is the level of the lumber plexus?

Answer 28

T1, L1 to L4

Question 29

What Is the level of the sacral plexus?

Answer 29

L4 to S4

Question 30

Which nerve is responsible for meralgia paresthetica? At what level?

Answer 30

Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, L2/3

Question 31

Which is the nerve root level of the femoral nerve? What muscles does it innervate?

Answer 31

L2 to L4 Anterior division, sartorius, pectineus, illiacus, Posterior division. Quadriceps

Question 32

Which nerve innervates the adductors? At what level?

Answer 32

Obturator nerve, L2 to L4

Question 33

What is the nerve root level of the sciatic nerve?

Answer 33

L4 to S3 (Five nerves which conjoin as one)

Question 34

The sciatic nerve is split into the tibial and fibular branches. Name the nerve root levels.

Answer 34

Tibial nerve L4 to S3 | Fibular nerve L4 to S2

Question 35

Which nerve innervates the gluteus maximus? Level?

Answer 35

Inferior gluteal nerve, L5 to S2

Question 36

Which nerve innervates the TFL?

Answer 36

Superior Gluteal Nerve

Question 37

What is the nerve root to the pudendal nerve?

Answer 37

S2 to S4

Question 38

Which sphincters does the pudendal nerve innervate?

Answer 38

Urethral sphincter and the external anal sphincter

Question 39

What condition is associated with a reduction in sensation to the perineum?

Answer 39

Saddle Anastacia

Question 40

The spinal cord stems from the brain stem to?

Answer 40

L2

Question 41

What does the spinal card travel within?

Answer 41

Spinal canal/cavity

Question 42

Name the three layers of the spinal cord?

Answer 42

Dura Matter, Arachnoid Matter, Pia Matter

Question 43

Where is CSP found?

Answer 43

The space between the arachnoid matter and the pia matter (Arachnoid space)

Question 44

Which cells produce CSP?

Answer 44

Ependymal cells

Question 45

58. What is the function of CSP?

Answer 45

Supplies the brain and spinal cord with the nutrients they need

Question 46

The spinal cord ends?

Answer 46

The spinal cord ends at the conus medullaris

Question 47

Which fibrous band extends from the cons medullaris?

Answer 47

The filum terminale (FT) is a fibrous band that extends from the conus medullaris.

Question 48

Which nerve and level innervates the lateral compartment of the leg?

Answer 48

Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve L2/3

Question 49

Which muscles 3 muscles are innervated by the S1 nerve root?

Answer 49

Gastrocnemius, Soleus, Peroneal

Question 50

Where does the filum terminale end?

Answer 50

periosteum of the coccyx

Question 51

The elongation of the spinal cord stops at age?

Answer 51

4/5

Question 52

Why does the cauda equina form?

Answer 52

During the growth process, the elongation of the spinal cord stops around age 4 to 5, however the vertebral column continues to grow stretching the cord and giving the appearance of a horse’s tail.

Question 53

Damage to which spinal nerve root level results in quadriplegia?

Answer 53

C4

Question 54

Damage to the T6 nerve root results in which form of paralysis?

Answer 54

Paralysis below the chest.