Spinal Cord -anatomy mcqs

The spinal cord occupies the entire vertebral canal

(yes/no)

no

The end of spinal cord (conus medullaris) in adults is at L2

(yes/no)

yes

The sacrum contains the subarachnoid space along the whole length of the sacral canal

(yes/no)

no

The atlas has the first cervical spinal nerve on its posterior arch

(yes/no)

yes

The first spinal nerve has the shortest roots and the last one the longest

(yes/no)

yes

The connection between the dorsal and lateral funicle is called Lisauer zone (zona terminalis)

(yes/no)

yes

Sulcus intermedius dorsalis is a groove between sulcus medianus dorsalis and sulcus dorsolateralis in the upper thoracic and cervical part of the spinal cord

(yes/no)

yes

Dorsal funiculus in the cervical segments contains fasciculus gracilis, laterally and fasciculus cuneatus, medially

(yes/no)

no

The spinal cord ends caudally at the coccyx

(yes/no)

no

If in the process of doing a lumbar puncture a spinal needle was inserted posteriorly in the midline until it had just penetrated the posterior longitudinal ligament, would the needle have entered the subarachnoid space?

(yes/no)

yes

The part of a spinal nerve that supplies the true back muscles and the skin overlying them is the:

- dorsal primary ramus

- dorsal root

- ventral primary ramus

- ventral root

dorsal primary ramus

A football player suffers a herniated (ruptured) intervertebral disc in his neck. The disc compresses the spinal nerve exiting through the intervertebral foramen between the 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae. Which spinal nerve is affected?

- C4

- C5

- C6

- C7

- C8

C6

A man has a herniated intervertebral disc between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae. If this disc compresses the spinal nerve in the intervertebral foramen immediately posterior to this disc, which spinal nerve would be affected?

- L3

- L4

- L5

- S1

- S2

L4

Both the dural sac and the subarachnoid space end at which vertebral level?

- L4

- L5

- S2

- S1

- S4

S2

It is decided to image the spinal cord and spinal nerve rootlets by doing a myelogram (injection of a radio-opaque dye into the subarachnoid space followed by a radiograph). In order to inject the dye without injury to the spinal cord, the injection is usually done below what vertebral level?

- L1

- L2

- L3

- L4

- L5

L4

The myelogram revealed that the dye had leaked out along the spinal nerves in the mid cervical region on the right side. For the dye to leak out, what layer must have been torn or ruptured?

- arachnoid

- denticulate ligament

- periosteum

- pia

- perineurium

arachnoid

In the lumbar spine, the L4 nerve root sleeve exits:

- above the pedicle of L4 and at the top of the intervertebral foramen

- above the pedicle of L4 and at the bottom of the intervertebral foramen

- below the pedicle of L4 and at the top of the intervertebral foramen

- below the pedicle of L4 and at the bottom of the intervertebral foramen

below the pedicle of L4 and at the top of the intervertebral foramen

Which structure does NOT contain efferent autonomic nerve fibers?

- dorsal ramus of C4

- dorsal root of T6

- ventral root of T3

- ventral ramus of L2

dorsal root of T6

It was noted that after the injury the patient´s face on the right side was flushed due to dilation of the blood vessels. The lack of vasoconstriction was due to interruption of what fibers somewhere along their course?

- somatic afferent

- somatic efferent

- parasympathetic

- sympathetic

sympathetic

A 60-year-old male presented with a number of unusual signs and symptoms in the facial region. Among others, it was found that the right side of his face was flushed (red). Further testing revealed a lack of ability to sweat in the same cutaneous region. Which nervous structures were most likely implicated in this set of clinical abnormalities?

- cranial outflow of the ans

- dorsal roots of cervical nerves

- gray rami communicantes of T5

- sympathetic nerve fibers

- vagus nerves

sympathetic nerve fibers

The conus medullaris:

- exhibits both a cervical and lumbar enlargement

- has a modification of neural tissue extending from its termination to the coccygeal ligament

- gives origin to most of the cauda equina

- is found at its lowest extent at S2

- is normally anesthetized to perform a spinal tap

gives origin to most of the cauda equina

A neuron with a cell body in the dorsal root ganglia could convey what type of fibers?

- motor to the deep back muscles

- motor to the pectoralis major muscle

- sensory from the skin overlying the trapezius

- sympathetic preganglionics to the suprarenal medulla

- visceral efferents to the stomach

sensory from the skin overlying the trapezius

Which is a source of axons found in the dorsal primary ramus of the 4th thoracic spinal nerve?

- afferent neurons arising from the skin overlying the trapezius muscle

- somatic motor neurons supplying the levator scapulae muscle

- somatic motor neurons supplying the rhomboid muscles

- somatic motor neurons supplying the trapezius muscle

afferent neurons arising from the skin overlying the trapezius muscle

The denticulate ligament:

- is a modification of pia mater

- is found between all dorsal and ventral roots

- attaches to the dural sac continuously

- has its terminal attachment at S2

- holds the radicular arteries in place

is a modification of pia mater

In order to expose the spinal cord from the posterior side, it is necessary to remove the:

- laminae, pedicles and ligamenta flava

- laminae, spinous processes and ligamenta flava

- pedicles, spinous processes and posterior longitudinal ligament

- transverse processes, pedicles and ligamenta flava

laminae, spinous processes and ligamenta flava

Cells that convey information to the CNS are: (which is true?)

- Afferent sensory neurons

- Pseudounipolar cells

- First neuron is the sensory pathway

- Located in the lateral horn of spinal cord

- With peripheral processes ending on somatic or splanchnic receptor

- Afferent sensory neurons

- Pseudounipolar cells

- First neuron is the sensory pathway

- With peripheral processes ending on somatic or splanchnic receptor

27. Dorsal roots of a spinal nerve: (which is true?)

- Are formed by the central processes of sensory neurons in the spinal ganglion

- Enter the ventrolateral sulcus of the spinal cord

- Convey somatosensory (proprioceptive and visceroceptive) information

- Are covered with pia mater

- Take part in the formation of the spinal nerve

- Are formed by the central processes of sensory neurons in the spinal ganglion

- Convey somatosensory (proprioceptive and visceroceptive) information

- Take part in the formation of the spinal nerve

The ventral roots of a spinal nerve: (which is true?)

- Convey motor information to the skeletal muscles

- Exit through the ventrolateral sulcus of the spinal cord

- Are ensheathed with dura mater spinalis

- Originate from the interneurons in the ventral horn

- Contain autonomic fibers

- Convey motor information to the skeletal muscles

- Exit through the ventrolateral sulcus of the spinal cord

- Are ensheathed with dura mater spinalis

- Contain autonomic fibers

The boundary between spinal cord and medulla oblongata is: (which is true?)

- Foramen magnum

- Decussatio pyramidum

- Exit of the first pair of spinal nerves

- Exit of the last pair of cranial nerves

- Cervical enlargement

- Foramen magnum

- Decussatio pyramidum

- Exit of the first pair of spinal nerves

A spinal segment is defined as that region of the spinal cord that (which is true?)

- Corresponds to a collection of nerves passing up or down within the white matter

- Corresponds to the region of the vertebral column (e.g. cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral) to which spinal nerves are sent

- Sends rootlets to a particular spinal nerve

- Underlies the neural arch of a particular vertebra in the adult

- None of the above

Sends rootlets to a particular spinal nerve

The spinal cord in the adult: (which is true?)

- Usually ends about the level of the lower border of the first lumbar vertebra

- Has its largest cross sectional area at the level of the lower cervical vertebrae

- Has an anterior median fissure and a posterior median septum

- Gives origin to the preganglionic fibers of all the parasympathetic nerves

- Receives its blood supply entirely from the vertebral arteries

- Usually ends about the level of the lower border of the first lumbar vertebra

- Has its largest cross sectional area at the level of the lower cervical vertebrae

- Has an anterior median fissure and a posterior median septum

The white matter of the spinal cord: (which is true?)

- Contains myelin fibers, non-myelin fibers, and blood vessels

- Has three columns

- Has white commissure posteriorly to the gray commissure

- Has root system and conductive system

- Is covered with arachnoidea

- Contains myelin fibers, non-myelin fibers, and blood vessels

- Has three columns

- Has root system and conductive system

The white matter of the spinal cord: (which is true?)

- Is located around the gray matter

- Contains two main fascicles along the whole length of the dorsal column

- Contains fasciculi proprii (own bundles)

- Ventral funiculus contains fasciculus interfasciculatus (bundle of Schultze)

- Ventral funiculus is between ventral median fissure and ventral roots

- Is located around the gray matter

- Ventral funiculus is between ventral median fissure and ventral roots

Grossly the spinal cord presents two swellings which are (which is true?)

- Cervical and thoracic

- Cervical and lumbar

- Thoracic and lumbar

- Thoracic and sacral

- Lumbar and sacral

Cervical and lumbar

35. All spinal nerves (which is true?)

- Are formed by the union of a ventral and dorsal nerve root

- Have a ganglion containing synapses on their dorsal root

- Are named and numbered according to the vertebra below which they emerge

- Receive a grey ramus communicans from the sympathetic nerve trunk

- Give off a white ramus communicans to the sympathetic nerve trunk

- Are formed by the union of a ventral and dorsal nerve root

- Receive a grey ramus communicans from the sympathetic nerve trunk

The cell bodies of the nerve fibres making up the fasciculus gracilis are found in (which is true?)

- Posterior root ganglia

- Posterior grey horn

- Nucleus gracilis

- Lateral grey horn

- Anterior grey horn

Posterior root ganglia

In the spinal cord (which is true?)

- There is more white matter in a cross section of the cervical region than the lumbar region

- The anterior horns of grey matter are larger in the lumbar region than in the thoracic region

- The fibres associated with the sensations of pain and temperature form a tract in the anterior columns of white matter

- Descending fibers from the motor areas of the brain are found in the lateral and anterior columns of white matter

- There are no descending fibers in the posterior columns

- There is more white matter in a cross section of the cervical region than the lumbar region

- The anterior horns of grey matter are larger in the lumbar region than in the thoracic region

- Descending fibers from the motor areas of the brain are found in the lateral and anterior columns of white matter

A spinal segment is defined by...

the exit of the roots of a spinal nerve

The trunk of a spinal nerve is formed in...

intervertebral foramen

The spinal cord white matter is organized around the gray matter in three columns called

-A:

-B:

-C:

- A: funiculus dorsalis

- B: funiculus lateralis

- C: funiculus ventralis

41. The spinal cord has the following number of segments:

- Cervical

- Thoracic

- Lumbar

- Sacral

- Coccygeal

- Cervical: 8

- Thoracic: 12

- Lumbar: 5

- Sacral: 5

- Coccygeal: 1

The border between spinal cord and medulla oblongata is defined by the following structures

-A:

-B:

-C:

- A: foramen magnum

- B: decussatio pyramidum

- C: exit of first pairs of spinal roots

In adults the spinal cord ends caudally at the level of...

second lumbar vertebra

List three elements at the caudal ends of the spinal cord

-A:

-B:

-C:

-A: cauda equina

-B: conus medullaris

-C: filum terminale

In spinal cord anaesthesia through the sacral hiatus the anaesthetic is introduced into:

the epidural space

Pain and temperature sensation is conveyed via:

lateral spinothalamic tract

Spinal cord enlargements are found in.... and ..... regions

the cervical and lumbar regions

To which of the A to D structures are 1 to 4 most closely related?

A) intervertebral foramen

B) spinal ganglion

C) brachial plexus

D) spinal cord

----

1) dorsal root of spinal nerve

2) trunk of spinal nerve

3) conus medullaris

4) cervical intumescentia

- Intervertebral foramen: trunk of spinal nerve

- Spinal ganglion: dorsal root of spinal nerve

- Brachial plexus: cervical intumescentia

- Spinal cord: conus medullaris

To which of the A to D structures are 1 to 3 most closely related?

A) ventral median fissure

B) epidural space

C) cerebrospinal fluid

D) terminal cistern

----

1) spinal dura mater

2) subarachnoid space

3) anterior spinal artery

- Ventral median fissure: anterior spinal artery

- Epidural space: spinal dura mater

- Cerebrospinal fluid: subarachnoid space

- Terminal cistern: subarachnoid space

To which of the A to C structures are 1 to 3 most closely related?

A) posterior funiculus of spinal cord

B) lateral funiculus of spinal cord

C) anterior funiculus of spinal cord

----

1) ventral corticospinal tract

2) fasciculus gracilis & cuneatus

3) ventral spinocerebellar tract

- Posterior funiculus of spinal cord: fasciculus gracilis & cuneatus

- Lateral funiculus of spinal cord: ventral spinocerebellar tract

- Anterior funiculus of spinal cord: ventral corticospinal tract

To which of the A to D structures are 1 to 4 most closely related?

A) grey commissure

B) lateral column

C) ventral median fissure

D) ventrolateral sulcus

----

1) spina pia mater

2) ventral root of spinal nerve

3) visceromotor neurons

4) canalis centralis

- Grey commissure: canalis centralis

- Lateral column: visceromotor neurons

- Ventral median fissure: spinal pia mater

- Ventrolateral sulcus: ventral root of spinal nerve