Intervertebral Disc: Innervation Flashcards
What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated?
the outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus
What part of the cervical intervertebral disc is highly innervated?
the middle third of the annulus fibrosus
What are the types of receptor endings in the intervertebral disc?
- nociceptors
- proprioceptors
What morphological classifications of receptor endings are present in the intervertebral disc?
- free nerve endings
- Pacinian corpuscles
- Golgi tendon organs
- Ruffini endings
- Meissner’s corpuscles
What is the relationship between size of the intervertebral disc and receptor endings?
the larger the disc, the greater the variety of receptor endings
What is the proposed function of receptor ending density in the anterior part of the intervertebral disc?
they provide feedback during extension
Other than receptor endings, what type of innervation is present in the intervertebral disc?
vasomotor postganglionic sympathetic nerve fibers to blood vessels
What are the sources of innervation of the intervertebral disc?
- the sinu-vertebral nerve (sinus vertebral nerve, recurrent meningeal nerve)
- fibers from the ventral primary ramus
- fibers from the white ramus communicans
- fibers from the paradiscal ramus communicans
- fibers from the gray ramus communicans
What nerves have been shown to give off the sinus vertebral/sinu-vertebral/recurrent meningeal nerve?
- the mixed spinal nerve
- ventral primary ramus
- dorsal primary ramus
- gray ramus communicans
- white ramus communicans
The recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve has typically been shown to originate from which source?
the gray ramus communicans
What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated by the recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve?
the outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus at the posterior part of the intervertebral disc
What is innervated by the recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve?
- the outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus at the posterior part of the intervertebral disc
- the posterior longitudinal ligament
- dura mater plus vessels and connective tissue of the epidural space
What forms the posterior neural plexus of the vertebral column?
recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve
What forms the anterior neural plexus of the vertebral column?
fibers from the ventral primary ramus
What forms the lateral neural plexus of the vertebral column?
- fibers from the ventral primary ramus
- fibers from the white ramus communicans
- fibers from the paradiscal ramus communicans
- fibers from the gray ramus communicans