Spinal Cord Anatomy and Organization Handouts
Spinal Cord Anatomy and Organization Handouts
Spinal Cord Anatomy and Organization Handouts
Spinal Cord Anatomy and Organization
Spinal Cord
Gross Anatomy
About 18 inches (45 cm) long
1/2 inch (14 mm) wide
Ends between vertebrae L1 and L2
31 Spinal Cord Segments
Based on vertebrae where spinal nerves originate
Cervical nerves: are named for inferior vertebra
All other nerves: are named for superior vertebra
Spinal Cord
Enlargements caused by:
Amount of gray matter in segment
Involvement with sensory and motor nerves of
limbs
Cervical enlargement
Nerves of shoulders and upper limbs
Lumbar enlargement
Nerves of pelvis and lower limbs
Spinal Cord Structures
Paired denticulate ligaments
Extend from pia mater to dura mater
Stabilize side‐to‐side movement
Blood vessels
Along surface of spinal pia mater
Within subarachnoid space
Spinal Cord
Conus medullaris:
thin, conical spinal cord below lumbar enlargement
Filum terminale:
thin thread of fibrous tissue at end of conus medullaris
attaches to coccygeal ligament
Cauda equina:
nerve roots extending below conus medullaris
Spinal Cord
Bilateral symmetry
Grooves divide the spinal cord into left and right
Posterior median sulcus
Anterior median fissure
Sectional Anatomy of the Spinal Cord
White matter
Is superficial
Contains myelinated and unmyelinated axons
Gray matter
Surrounds central canal of spinal cord
Contains neuron cell bodies, neuroglia,
unmyelinated axons
Has projections (gray horns)
The gray horns
Posterior gray horns: contain somatic and
visceral sensory nuclei
Anterior gray horns: contain somatic motor
nuclei
Lateral gray horns: are in thoracic and lumbar
segments; contain visceral motor nuclei
Gray commissures
Axons that cross from one side of cord to the
other before reaching gray matter
Spinal Roots
Two branches of spinal nerves
Ventral root: contains axons of motor neurons
Dorsal root: contains axons of sensory neurons
Dorsal root ganglia: contain cell bodies of sensory neurons
The Spinal Nerve
Found on each side
Dorsal and ventral roots join To form a spinal nerve
Mixed Nerves
Carry both afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) fibers
Organization of Gray Matter
The cell bodies of neurons form functional groups called nuclei
Sensory nuclei:
dorsal (posterior)
connect to peripheral receptors
Motor nuclei:
ventral (anterior)
connect to peripheral effectors
Organization of White Matter
Posterior white columns
Anterior white columns
Anterior white commissure: area where axons
cross from one side of spinal cord to the other
Lateral white columns
Tracts or fasciculi
Bundles of axons
Relay same information in same direction
Ascending tracts: carry information to brain
Descending tracts: carry motor commands to
spinal cord
Spinal Meninges Meninges
Specialized membranes isolate spinal cord from Arachnoid Mater
surroundings Middle meningeal layer
Functions of the spinal meninges include Arachnoid membrane
Protect spinal cord Simple squamous epithelia
Carry blood supply Covers arachnoid mater
Continuous with cranial meninges
Meningitis: Meninges
Viral or bacterial infection of meninges Interlayer Spaces of Arachnoid Mater
Subdural space
Three Meningeal Layers Between arachnoid mater and dura mater
Dura mater ‐ Outer layer of spinal cord Subarachnoid space
Arachnoid mater ‐ Middle meningeal layer Between arachnoid mater and pia mater
Pia mater ‐ Inner meningeal layer Contains collagen/elastin fiber network
Filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Dura Mater Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
Tough and fibrous Carries dissolved gases, nutrients, and wastes
Cranially Spinal tap withdraws CSF
Fuses with periosteum of occipital bone
Is continuous with cranial dura mater
Caudally
Tapers to dense cord of collagen fibers
Joins filum terminale in coccygeal ligament
The Epidural Space
Between spinal dura mater and walls of
vertebral canal
Contains loose connective and adipose tissue
Anesthetic injection site