1. Spinal Cord I
Dr Ayman Abu-Tabanja

2. 33 Vertebrae (segments):
Vertebral Column
33 Vertebrae (segments):
7 Cervical
12 Thoracic
5 Lumbar
5 Sacral
4 Coccygeal

3. Spinal (vertebral) canal
Intervertebral foramen

4. COVERINGS OF THE SC Dura mater Tube-like Continuous with cranial dura
Extend to S2
Innervation

5. COVERINGS OF THE SC Arachnoid mater Oppose the inner side of dura
Outer boundary of
subarachnoid space
Termination
Lumbar cistern

6. COVERINGS OF THE SC Pia mater Delicate Tightly adherent to spinal cord
Vascular

7. Epidural space:
Filled with fat
Venous plexus
Spinal nerve roots cuadal
to S2

8. Subarachnoid space:
CSF-filled
Denticulate ligament:
Pia-arachnoid tissue
Serrated Appearance
Suspend spinal cord in
middle of spinal canal

9. Spinal cord consist of 31 segments
Vertebral column grows faster than spinal cord

10. SPINAL VERSUS VERTEBRAL SEGMENTS
C1 nerve (suboccipital nerve)
C2-C7 nerve
C8 nerve
ALL T & L nerves
All S nerves
Co nerve

11. Gross morphology Cylindrical Flattened dorsoventrally
Has two enlargements
1. Cervical enlargement:
C4-T1
2. Lumbar enlargement:
L2-S3

12. Anterior median fissure
Posterior median sulcus
Motor rootlets
Sensory rootlets

13. Conus medullaris
Cauda equina
Filum terminale:
Internum & externum
Adhere to dorsum of
coccyx

14. Lumbar Puncture

15. Lateral Recumbent Position

16. Structure of Spinal Cord

17. The Gray mater H- shaped Anterior & posterior gray horns
Gray commissure
Lateral gray horns

18. Anterior Gray Columns Contain: Alpha motor neurons Larger multipolar
2. Gamma motor neurons
Smaller multipolar
Neurons arranged in three groups:
Medial group
Central group
Lateral group

19. Anterior Gray Columns Medial group Present in all segments
Supply neck, trunck, intercostal and abdominal muscles
2. Lateral group
Present in enlargements
Supply upper and lower limbs

20. Anterior Gray Columns 2. Central group: smallest Phrenic nucleus: C3-5
Accessory nucleus: C1-C5/6
C. Onuf’s nucleus: Sacral segments

21. Posterior gray columns
Three main nerve cell groups:
Substantia gelatinosa group:
Most posterior
All segments
Somatic sensations
Glogi II neurons

22. Posterior gray columns
2. Nucleus proprius: Largest group All segments Large neurons proprioception, two point descrimination, and vibration

23. Posterior gray columns
3. Nucleus dorsalis (clarke’s group): Most anterior Large neurons present from C8-L4 Associated with Proprioceptive endings (muscle and tendon spindles)

24. Posterior gray columns
4. Visceral afferent nucleus Lateral to nucleus dorsalis Medium neurons present from T1-L3 Receives visceral sensations

25. Lateral Gray Horn
Present in T1 to L3 Contain intermediolateral cell group Give rise to preganglionic sympatheic fibers ***There is intermediolateral group in S2-S4

26. The gray commissure Connects anterior and posterior horns on each side
The central canal is located in it’s center
Divided into:
Anterior gray commissure
Posterior gray commissure
The central canal present throughout the spinal cord
Lined with ependyma
Filled with CSF
Closed inferiorly ( terminal ventricle)

27. White matter Divided into: Anterior funiculi 2. Lateral funiculi
Posterior funiculi
Gracile fasciculus
Cuneate fasciculus

28. White matter