BIOL1202 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Denticulate Ligaments, Lumbar Puncture, Mechanoreceptor
Document Summary
Spinal reflexes: reflexes controlled in the spinal cord- can function without input from brain. Do not learn all the nerves and their functions- only a few that will be talked about later. Shorter than vertebral column- ends between l1 & l2, part after called cauda equina. 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, 1 coccyx (called co1) Cervical enlargement: supplies nerves to shoulder and upper limb. Lumbar enlargement: supplies nerves to the pelvis and lower limb. Conus medullaris: tapered, cone shaped part of the spinal cord inferior to lumbar enlargement. Cauda equina: collection of dorsal and ventral roots of spinal segments l2 to s5 along with filum terminale. Filum terminale: slender strand of fibrous tissue extending from inferior tip of conus medullaris to seconds sacral vertebra, provides longitudinal support to spinal cord. We have 7 cervical vertebrae but 8 cervical nerves- c1 spinal nerve comes out between base of skull and c1 vertebrae.
