Spinal Cord

What is the relationship between the spinal cord and the brain?

The spinal cord is connected to the brain but has functional independence.

What are the functions of the spinal cord?

It integrates and processes information.

Where does the spinal cord begin?

At the medulla oblongata, passing through the foramen magnum.

To what level does the spinal cord extend?

The inferior border of L1.

What is the cervical enlargement?

An enlargement of the spinal cord resulting from the numerous nerves going to the arm.

What is the lumbar or lumbosacral enlargement?

An enlargement associated with nerves supplying the lower extremities.

What is the conus medullaris?

The tapered end of the spinal cord, located around L1–L2.

What is the filum terminale?

A structure extending from the conus medullaris to the coccyx, composed mostly of pia mater.

What is the cauda equina?

A bundle of spinal nerve roots extending below the end of the spinal cord.

What procedure is associated with the cauda equina?

A spinal tap.

What is the outer portion of the spinal cord composed of?

White matter containing myelinated axons.

What is the inner portion of the spinal cord composed of?

Gray matter containing neuron cell bodies, dendrites, and unmyelinated axons.

What are spinal cord tracts and columns?

Structures containing nerve fibers that run up and down the spinal cord.

What do ascending tracts carry?

Sensory impulses toward the brain.

What do descending tracts carry?

Motor impulses away from the brain.

What are white columns?

Collections of myelinated tracts in the spinal cord.

How is spinal cord gray matter arranged?

In nuclei within the gray horns.

What are the three types of gray horns in the spinal cord?

Anterior, posterior, and lateral gray horns.

What are the functions of nuclei in the gray horns?

They are specific to body regions and visceral, somatic, sensory, or motor functions.

What is spinal cord gray matter composed of?

Neuron cell bodies and unmyelinated cell processes.

What is found in the posterior gray horn?

Sensory neuron cell processes.

What is found in the anterior gray horn?

Somatic motor neuron cell bodies.

What is found in the lateral gray horn?

Autonomic motor neuron cell bodies.

What is the gray commissure?

The region of gray matter connecting the two sides of the spinal cord around the central canal.

What is the central canal?

A canal in the spinal cord that is continuous with the fourth ventricle.

How many spinal cord segments are there?

31 spinal cord segments.

What does each spinal cord segment represent?

The region from which a pair of spinal nerves originates.

What do the dorsal nerve roots and rootlets contain?

Sensory neuron cell processes.

What is the dorsal root ganglion?

A cluster of sensory neuron cell bodies; these neurons are pseudounipolar.

What do the ventral nerve roots and rootlets contain?

Motor neuron cell processes.

How is a spinal nerve formed?

The dorsal and ventral roots converge to form a spinal nerve.

Where does the spinal cord dura mater anchor and end?

It anchors at the foramen magnum and ends at S2.

What is the arachnoid mater associated with in the spinal cord?

The subarachnoid space, which contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

What is the pia mater?

The innermost meningeal layer that closely covers the spinal cord.

How far do the three spinal meninges cover the spinal nerve roots?

They cover the roots up to the point where the nerves exit the spinal column through the intervertebral foramina.

Dorsal root ganglion

Lateral horn

Name the type of cell indicated by the pointer.

Multipolar neuron

In the provided space below, type the name of the specific structure at the end of the arrow's point.

Anterior white column

Anterior white column

Lateral white column

Ventral root

Anterior horn

Posterior gray horn

Posterior white column

Sensory neuron