Spinal cord section levels .....

[shigella123]

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I keep getting spinal cord section levels wrong on Uworld question 8635 even after drawing them out. Is there easy way to remember which part belongs to each spinal cord section?

I was thinking about identifying them based on how much white matter one has compare to the other others and the shapes. For example, near the cervical/thoracic there is more white matter, but since I have only one section presented to me and nothing to compare to I got it wrong again.... I'm frustrated as I keep getting such easy anatomy questions wrong........

 

[SpecterGT260]

How specific are they? Thoracic have lateral horns, cervical have both of the humps in the dorsal columns. Lumbar gets landed on by exclusion of the two above. Id be surprised if you're asked to identify specific levels within one of the above divisions by cross section alone.

 

[shigella123]

How specific are they? Thoracic have lateral horns, cervical have both of the humps in the dorsal columns. Lumbar gets landed on by exclusion of the two above. Id be surprised if you're asked to identify specific levels within one of the above divisions by cross section alone.

The question says a pt got injured and has severe pain in his neck and back and to identify the spinal cord injury level by the presented spinal cord section. I chose cervical which 35% of other people chose too and 50% chose the right answer, thoracic. Hopefully, similar question won't be asked on the real one...

 

[SpecterGT260]

The question says a pt got injured and has severe pain in his neck and back and to identify the spinal cord injury level by the presented spinal cord section. I chose cervical which 35% of other people chose too and 50% chose the right answer, thoracic. Hopefully, similar question won't be asked on the real one...

What did it look like? And what were your options? If you only had to choose between thoracic and cervical all you need to do is look for lateral horns. Those are only found in thoracic.

 

[shigella123]

What did it look like? And what were your options? If you only had to choose between thoracic and cervical all you need to do is look for lateral horns. Those are only found in thoracic.

I don't know how to show you it, but as you said looking for unique structure parts would be the way to get them right. Thanks for your feedback!

 

[001100010010011]

http://neuroscience.uth.tmc.edu/s2/chapter03.html

Pay attention to the size and shapes of the lateral horns and ventral horns in Figure 3.2. It's a drawn figure but it's labeled well.

Also, make sure you can identify when the white matter seems like it's expanded at the cervical and lumbar enlargements.

 

[001100010010011]

Edit: double post.

 

[VCorp]

PM me to remind me to answer to this post. I'm out eating dinner on a boring date so I'll post some stuff that helped me out..

 

[shigella123]

PM me to remind me to answer to this post. I'm out eating dinner on a boring date so I'll post some stuff that helped me out..

lol...

 

[shigella123]

http://neuroscience.uth.tmc.edu/s2/chapter03.html

Pay attention to the size and shapes of the lateral horns and ventral horns in Figure 3.2. It's a drawn figure but it's labeled well.

Also, make sure you can identify when the white matter seems like it's expanded at the cervical and lumbar enlargements.

Thank you... I will go through that link too.

 

[Praxia]

Looking at the ovalness of the section may also help, in addition to the above.
Cervical section is way more flattened anteroposteriorly.