Spinal Cord

Question 1

Extent of Spinal Cord

Answer 1

Foramen Magnum -> Lower border of L1 Vertebra/Upper Border of L2

Question 2

Length Spinal Cord

Answer 2

45 cm Males

43 cm Females

Question 3

Origin of Dorsal Root Ganglion and Autonomic Ganglion

Answer 3

Neural Crest

Question 4

At Birth where does spinal cord end?

Answer 4

L3

Question 5

In Adults where does the spinal cord end?

Answer 5

Lower Border L1/Upper Border L2

Question 6

Surgery and Spinal taps are usually at what vertebra onward?

Answer 6

L3

Question 7

How many spinal nerves?

How are they distributed?

Answer 7

8 Cervical
12 Thoracic
5 Lumbar
5 Sacral
1 Coccygeal

31 Pairs Total

Question 8

Cervical Nerves all exit where?
What’s the exception?
How about the rest of the spinal nerves?

Answer 8

They usually exit ABOVE the corresponding vertebra

C8 exits BENEATH the C7 vertebrae

The rest exit below the vertebrae

Question 9

Spinal cord is flattened where?

Answer 9

Dorsoventrally

Question 10

Define: Conus Medullaris

Answer 10

Conical termination of spinal cord at the level of L1

Question 11

Location: Conus Medullaris

Answer 11

S2-S4 Cord Segments

Located between L1 and L2 Vertebrae

Question 12

Location: Cauda Equina

Answer 12

S5-L2 Segments

Question 13

Function: Filum Terminale

Answer 13

Anchors end of the spinal cord by inserting at dorsum of coccyx

Question 14

Function: Denticulate Ligaments

Answer 14

Shelves of pia mater that attach the spinal cord to the vertebrae laterally

Question 15

How many neurons in a spinal cord?

Answer 15

1 Billion

Question 16

Funiculi : White Matter :: Grey Matter : ?

Answer 16

Horn

Question 17

[White Matter]

Ascending tracts carry?

Answer 17

Sensory fibers from Spine -> Brain

Question 18

[White Matter]

Descending tracts carry?

Answer 18

Motor impulses from Brain -> Spine

Question 19

Define: Thecal Sac

Answer 19

Membrane of Dura Mater that surrounds the spinal cord and cauda equina

Question 20

Termination Point of Thecal Sac

Answer 20

S1

Question 21

Termination Point of Filum Terminale

Answer 21

S1

Question 22

[Grey Matter]

4 Major Parts

Answer 22

Posterior Gray Horn
Anterior Gray Horn
Lateral Gray Horn
Gray Commissures

Question 23

What types of nuclei are found in the Posterior Gray Horn?

Answer 23

Somatic and Visceral Sensory Nuclei

Question 24

What types of neurons are found in Anterior Gray Horn?

Lateral Gray Horn?

Answer 24

A: Somatic Motor Control
L: Visceral Motor Control

Question 25

Spinal Cord is divided into how many Laminae?

Answer 25

10

Question 26

[Spinal Cord Laminae]

Which are Dorsal?
Which are Ventral?

Answer 26

D: Lamina 1-6
V: Lamina 7-10

Question 27

Function: Lamina 6

Answer 27

Receives proprioceptive input and sensory information

Sites of origin of ascending projections to higher centres

Question 28

Function: Lamina 9

Answer 28

Contains motor neurons supplying limbs