Spinal Cord Anatomy

What does the grey matter contain?

• neuron cell bodies

• unmyelinated axons

What are nuclei?

aggregations of neuron cell bodies in the brain

What are ganglia

aggregations of neurone cell bodies in the PNS

What is in white matter?

• unmyelinated axons

• fasciculi/tracts

1

cervical C1-5

2

cervical intumescence C6-T2

3

Thoracolumbar T3-L3

4

brachial plexus

5

named nerves of the limb

6

lumbar intumescence L4-S3

7

caudal Cd1-5

8

functional divisions of the spinal cord

9

lumbosacral and pelvic plexi

10

named nerves of the limb

11

spinal nerves

What does the name of the spinal nerve follow?

vertebrae that part of the spinal cord is related to

1

dura mater

2

arachnoid

3

pia mater

What is the CNS housed in?

bone

What is the CNS covered in?

meninges

Is the dura mater, arachnoid or pia mater the outermost layer?

dura mater

Is the dura mater, arachnoid or pia mater the innermost layer?

pia mater

What is the epidural space?

space between dura mater and bone

Where do peripheral nerve axons converge to form a single spinal nerve?

intervertebral foramina

What do peripheral nerve axons do at each of the intervertebral foramina?

converge to form a single spinal nerve

Is the dorsal root of a spinal nerve sensory or motor?

sensory

Is the ventral root of a spinal nerve sensory or motor?

motor

What are the 2 roots of spinal nerves called?

• dorsal root

• ventral root

1

grey matter

2

white matter

3

dorsal horn

4

lateral horn

5

dorsal root

6

spinal ganglion

7

sensory neurone

8

ventral root

9

somatic motor neuron

10

preganglionic autonomic neurone

11

ventral horn

Where are there lateral horns?

between T1&L2, S2,S3 & S4 (species dependent)

Where does the dorsal ramus go?

dorsal to transverse processes of spine

Where does the ventral ramus go?

muscles ventral or below transverse processes of spine (hypaxial)

What does DRG stand for?

dorsal root ganglion

What are intervertebral foramen?

holes

What is the arrow pointing to?

vertebral foramen

Where do spinal nerves originate?

spinal cord

Where do spinal nerves emerge?

from vertebral column

What are the arrows pointing to?

intervertebral foramen

How many cervical nerves are there?

8

How many cervical vertebrae are there?

7

What is C1 between?

occipital bone (back of skull) and first cervical vertebrae (atlas)

1

C1

2

C2

3

C7

4

C8

5

T1

6

T2

7

skull

8

cervical vertebrae

9

thoracic vertebrae

1

mixed spinal nerve

2

dorsal root

3

sensory neurone

4

autonomic neurone

5

somatic motor neurone

6

ventral root

1

dura mater

2

white matter

3

grey matter

4

dorsal horn

5

intermediate horn

6

central canal with CSF

7

ventral horn

8

spinal cord

9

spinal ganglion

10

dorsal root

11

spinal nerve

12

sensory nerves

13

receptor

14

muscle

15

autonomic nerves

16

autonomic ganglion

17

ventral root

18

motor nerves

Does the dorsal funiculus contain sensory or motor fibres?

sensory

Does the lateral funiculus contain sensory or motor fibres?

mix

Does the ventral funiculus contain sensory or motor fibres?

mix (mostly motor)

What does the lateral funiculus go to supply?

flexor muscles

What does the ventral funiculus go to supply?

extensor muscles

1

dorsal funiculus

2

lateral funiculus

3

ventral funiculus

What are the 3 horns that are in grey matter?

• dorsal 

• intermediate

• ventral

Is the dorsal horn sensory, autonomic or motor?

sensory

Is the intermediate horn sensory, autonomic or motor?

autonomic

Is the ventral horn sensory, autonomic or motor?

motor

What are the 3 different funiculi in white matter?

• dorsal

• lateral

• ventral

Are the funiculi in grey or white matter?

white

What are the functions of the spinal cord?

• receiving and distributing information to the PNS

• local integration of sensory and motor functions for reflex activity

• relaying afferent/sensory info to brain centres

• relaying efferent/motor information from UMN & motor cortex

• forming connections between caudally directed tracts from the brain and cranially directed tracts, so they can regulate transmission of impulses in sensory systems