Vertebral Canal And Contents Question And Answers
Question 1. Write a short note on the vertebral canal and its contents.
Answer:
Vertebral Canal
- The continuous canal formed by vertebral foramina of vertebrae lying one below the other
- It contains the three meninges and their spaces and the spinal cord
- It also contains the vertebral venous plexus
The Contents Outside To Inwards Are The Following:
- Epidural space
- Dura mater
- Subdural space
- Delicate arachnoid mater
- Subarachnoid space and CSF
- Pia mater
- Spinal cord and cauda equina.
Question 2. Write a short note on the vertebral venous plexus.
Answer:
Vertebral Venous Plexus
- It is a venous system made up of a valveless complicated network of veins in a longitudinal pattern.
- It runs parallel to anastomoses with superior and inferior vena cava.
It Has Three Subdivisions Which Interconnect With Each Other:
- Epidural Plexus:
- It lies outside the dura mater in the vertebral canal
- It drains the structures in vertebral canal and itself is drained by segmental veins (vertebral, lumbar, lateral sacral, etc.)
- Plexus Within Vertebral Bodies: Drains backward to epidural plexus and anterolaterally to external vertebral plexus
- External Vertebral Venous Plexus
- Consists of anterior vessels in front of vertebral bodies and posterior vessels posterior to vertebral arches and on adjacent muscles
- Drained by segmental vein
- It also includes the suboccipital plexus.
Vertebral Venous Plexus Communication: Communicates with:
- Intracranial venous sinuses above
- Pelvic vein, portal vein, and caval system of vein below.
Vertebral Venous Plexus Applied
Responsible for tumors or infection from the pelvic, abdominal, or thoracic area to the spinal cord, skull, or brain.
Vertebral Canal And Contents Multiple Choice Question And Answers
Question 1. The contents of the vertebral canal include all of the following structures except:
- Spinal nerve roots
- Spinal cord
- Spinal ganglia
- Spinal meninges
Answer: 3. Spinal ganglia
Question 2. Select the incorrect statement about the internal vertebral venous plexus:
- It is a network of veins in the subdural space
- It receives basivertebral veins
- It drains into segmental veins
- It is continuous with the intracranial dural venous sinuses
Answer: 1. It is a network of veins in the subdural space