The spinal cord begin as a continuation of the medulla oblongata.

In adults, 42-45cm in long Extend from the foramen magnum in theoccipital bone to the level of the L1 or L2(in adult)

In newborn infants, it extends to the third or fourth lumbar vertebra

Elongation of the spinal cord stops around age 4 or 5, but growth of the vertebral column continues

Enlarged in two regions : 1. Cervical enlargment (C4-T1 segment of the spinal cord) 2. Lumbosacral enlargment (T11-S1 segment of the spinal cord)

The spinal cord occupies only the superior two thirds of the vertebral canal

The conus medullaris is tapering inferior end, terminate as high as T12 vertebrae or as low as L3 vertebrae Cauda equina is bundle ofspinal nerve roots arising from the lumbosacral enlargment & the medullary cone, caudal to the termination of the spinal cord resembles a horses tail

filum terminale: -arising from the tip of the conus medullaris, descend among the spinal roots in the cauda equina -an anchor for the inferior end of spinal cord and the spinal meninges Two parts of filum terminale : 1. Pial part / internal terminal filum 2. Dural part/external terminal filum

Vertebral column Vertebral ligament Meninges

CSF Denticulate ligament

Cushion of fat & connective tissue located in epidural space

Denticulate ligament : Triangular-shaped membranous extensions of the pia mater suspend the spinal cord in the middle of its dural sheath

 Consist of dura mater, arachnoid mater & pia mater

Spinal dura mater : Composed mainly of tough fibrous with some elastic tissue, is the outermost covering membrane of the spinal cord The spinal dura forms the spinal dural sac, a long tubular sheath within the vertebral canal. The sac is anchored inferiorly to the coccyx by the filum terminale The spinal dura mater is separated from the periosteumcovered bone and the ligaments that form the walls of the vertebral canal by the epidural space.

Content of epidural space : Fat, internal vertebral venous plexuses, root of spinal nerves

 Spinal arachnoid mater :

is a delicate, avascular membrane composed of fibrous and elastic tissue

Their apposition is the dura-arachnoid interface , often erroneously referred to as the subdural space. The spinal arachnoid is separated from the pia mater on the surface of the spinal cord by the subarachnoid space. Content of subarachnoid space :CSF; radicular, segmental, medullary, and spinal arteries; veins; arachnoid trabeculae.

The enlargement of the subarachnoid space in the dural sac, caudal to the conus medullaris and containing CSF and the cauda equina, is the lumbar cistern. It extends from the L2 vertebra to the second segment of the sacrum.

L2-S2

 Spinal pia mater :

the innermost covering membrane of the spinal cord, is thin and transparent, and closely follows all the surface features of the spinal cord
The spinal pia also directly covers the roots of the spinal nerves and the spinal blood vessels. Inferior to the conus medullaris, the spinal pia continues as the filum terminale

 The spinal cord is suspended in the dural sac by the filum terminale and the right and left denticulate ligaments Denticulate ligament (sawtooth) : Triangular-shaped membranous extensions of the pia mater suspend the spinal cord in the middle of its dural sheath The 20-22 sawtooth-like processes attach to the inner surface of the arachnoid-lined dural sac.

The arteries derive from : 1.Vertebral artery 2. Ascending cervical artery 3. Deep cervical artery 4. Intercostal artery 5. Lumbar artery 6. Lateral sacral artery 7. Three longitudinal artery : An anterior spinal artery Two posterior spinal artery

The arteries derive from : 8. Anterior segmental artery 9. Posterior segmental artery 10. The great anterior segmental medullary artery (of Adamkiewicz)
Contribute to the longitudinal artery The great anterior segmental medullary artery (of Adamkiewicz) is the largest segmental medullary artery supply cervical & lumbosacral enlargment

The arteries derive from : 11. Radicular artery

At levels where there are no segmental medullary artery, radicular artery supplies the posterior & anterior roots of the spinal nerves Radicular artery are shown at only the cervical & thoracic level, but they also occur at the lumbar & sacral levels

The arteries derive from : 12. Sulcal artery

Arise from the anterior spinal artery & enter the spinal cord through anterior median fissure Supplies approximately two thirds of the cross sectional area of the spinal cord

1. three anterior spinal veins 2. three posterior spinal veins Drain up to : 1. 12 anterior medullary veins 2. 12 posterior medullary veins 3. radicular veins

 The gray matter on each side of the spinal cord is subdivided into regions called horns. The gray matter consist of : The posterior (dorsal) gray horns The anterior (ventral) gray horns The lateral gray horns

The posterior (dorsal) gray horns

The anterior (ventral) gray horns The lateral gray horns

contain cell bodies and axons of interneurons as well as axons of incoming sensory neurons.

contain somatic motor nuclei, which are clusters of cell bodies of somatic motor neurons that provide nerve impulses for contraction of skeletal muscles

present only in thoracic and upper lumbar segments of the spinal cord. contain autonomic motor nuclei, which are clusters of cell bodies of autonomic motor neurons that regulate the activity of cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and glands.

 The white matter on each side of the spinal cord is subdivided into regions called columns/ funiculus The white matter consist of : The posterior (dorsal) white columns /funiculus The anterior (ventral) white columns/funiculus The lateral white columns/funiculus

 Each column in turn contains distinct bundles of axons having a common origin or destination and carrying similar information. These bundles, which may extend long distances up or down the spinal cord, are called tracts. Recall that tracts are bundles of axons in the CNS, whereas nerves are bundles of axons in the PNS

In transverse sections of the spinal cord, the anterior and posterior gray columns on each side are connected by a transverse gray commissure; the gray matter resembles the letter H

In the center of the gray commissure is situated the central canal.