Nervous system - Lecture Twenty : Neuroanatomy III - Anatomy and function of the spinal cord and spinal nerves

4 important questions on Nervous system - Lecture Twenty : Neuroanatomy III - Anatomy and function of the spinal cord and spinal nerves

What are the 5 regions of the vertebrae column ?

  • Cervical : 7
  • Thoracic : 12
  • Lumbar : 5
  • Sacrum : 5 fused sacral vertebrae
  • Coccyx : 4 fused coccygeal vertebrae

Describe the external features of the spinal cord ?

  • The spinal cord sits inside the foramina(hole) of the vertebrae.
  • Starts at the foramen magnum (hole in the base of the skull).
  • Nerve roots exit the spinal cord and vertebrae colum at levels corresponding to the vertebral bodies.
  • Spinal cord finishes at the L1/L2 level of the spinal cord. At this level, the spinal cord tapers off at a structure called the conus medularis.

Describe the internal structure of the spinal cord ?

  • Everything coming off the spinal cord is part of the PNS.
  • Columns = bundles of axons (white matter)
  • Horns = bundles of cell bodies (grey matter)
  • Dorsal roots = Carry afferent information (into the spinal cord)
  • Ventral roots = Carry efferent information (out of the spinal cord)
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Describe and explain the structure of a Peripheral Nerve ?

  • Individual axons may or may not be myelinated.
  • Axons are covered in endoneurium.
  • Endoneurium-covered axons form bundles called fascicles.
  • Fascicles are covered in perineurium.
  • Fascicles bundle with each other and blood vessels to form a nerve.
  • These nerves are covered in epineurium.

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