Length of spinal cord
Location of spinal cord
in the upper two-thirds of the vertebral canal.
beginning of spinal cord
as the continuation of the medulla oblongata just below the foramen magnum.
Ending of spinal cord
1. Intrauterine life: Fills the whole vertebral canal.
2. In the new born: At the level of L3.
3. In the adult: At the level of the lower border of the L1.
Enlargments of spinal cord
Cervical enlargement: (C5-T1) in the cervical region & gives origin to brachial plexus.
Lumbar enlargement: (L1-S2) in the lumbar region & gives origin to lumbosacral plexus.
what is cauda equina?
individual spinal nerves within spinal cord
What are the layers of spinal meninges?
Description of The dura mater
the outer layer and ends at the level of the 2nd sacral vertebra (S2).
Discription of the arachnoid matter
the middle layer and ends at the level of the 2nd sacral vertebra.
Description of the pia matter
Filum terminale
It extends from the conus medullaris to the back of the coccyx.
2 denticulate ligaments
They extend from the pia mater, pierce arachnoid mater to be attached to the dura mater.
what is Lumbar Cistern?
It is a part of the subarachnoid space.
Extension of Lumbar Cistern
It extends from L2 to S2.
Significance of Lumbar Cistern
It is used for lumbar puncture (injection of drugs, anasthesia and CSF sampling).
Contents of Lumbar Cistern
which artries supply the spinal cord?
where does Anterior Spinal Artery arise from? and what does it supply?
where do the Two Posterior Spinal Arterie from? and what do they supply?
what is the major source of blood to the lower two-thirds of the spinal cord?
a. In the neck: from the vertebral & ascending cervical arteries.
b. In the thorax: from the intercostal arteries.
c. In the abdomen: from the lumbar arteries.
d. In the pelvis: from the lateral sacral arteries.
Venous drainage of the spinal cord
The veins correspond to the arteries and drain into the internal vertebral venous plexus in the epidural space.
How many spinal cord segments are there?
8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral and 1 coccygeal segment.
Roots of each segment
Each segment has a pair of dorsal and ventral nerve roots.
what characterizes the first and last spinal nerves?
Each of them only has a dorsal (Sensory) root and no ventral root