Nervous System LAB III Review

Comprehensive vocabulary review of spinal cord gross anatomy, meninges, spaces, plexuses (cervical, brachial, lumbar, sacral), peripheral nerves, and synaptic ultrastructure for BIOL 2402 Lab III.

Conus medullaris

Cauda equina

Filum terminale

Cervical and lumbar enlargements

Dura mater

Epidural space

Subdural space

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Subarachnoid space

The space between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater containing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the spinal cord, and nerve rootlets.

Denticulate ligament

Spinal nerve roots

Structures attaching to the spinal cord: dorsal rootlets and roots carry sensory input into the posterior cord, while ventral rootlets and roots convey motor output out of the anterior cord.

Dorsal and ventral rami

Primary branches of spinal nerves; dorsal rami supply posterior skin and deep/posterior back muscles, whereas ventral rami supply anterior skin and muscles.

Gray matter vs. white matter (Spinal cord)

Spinal cord gray matter consists of neuronal cell bodies and dendrites; spinal cord white matter consists of myelinated and unmyelinated axons.

Vagus nerve (CN X)

Cervical plexus

Phrenic nerve

Brachial plexus

Long thoracic nerve

Dorsal scapular nerve

Suprascapular nerve

Lateral pectoral nerve

Medial pectoral nerve

Upper subscapular nerve

Middle subscapular nerve (Thoracodorsal nerve)

Lower subscapular nerve

Medial brachial cutaneous nerve

Medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve

Axillary nerve

Musculocutaneous nerve

Median nerve

Ulnar nerve

Radial nerve

Lumbar plexus

Iliohypogastric nerve

Ilioinguinal nerve

Genitofemoral nerve

Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve

Femoral nerve

Obturator nerve

Sacral plexus

Sciatic nerve

Common fibular nerve

Tibial nerve

Superficial fibular nerve

Deep fibular nerve

Superior gluteal nerve

Inferior gluteal nerve

Pudendal nerve

Chemical synapse

A junction featuring a presynaptic end bulb with $Ca^{2+}$ voltage-gated channels and synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters, a synaptic cleft, and a postsynaptic membrane containing ligand-gated $Na^{+}$ channels.