What is Intumescentia?
What is Intumescentia?
Intumescentia is Latin for an enlargement (intumescence) in the vertebral column, and may refer to: Lumbar enlargement. Cervical enlargement.
What is the cervical enlargement?
Anatomical terminology. The cervical enlargement corresponds with the attachments of the large nerves which supply the upper limbs. Located just above the brachial plexus, it extends from about the fifth cervical to the first thoracic vertebra, its maximum circumference (about 38 mm.)
Why are the cervical and lumbar enlargements significant?
Two regions of the spinal cord are enlarged to accommodate the greater number of nerve cells and connections needed to process information related to the upper and lower limbs (see Figure 1.10B).
What is the reason for the lumbar enlargement?
The lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord corresponds to the mild increase in cross sectional area of the cord from the T11 level to the conus medullaris. It is enlarged due to the presence of the spinal nerve anterior rami which contribute to the lumbar and sacral plexuses.
What causes cervical enlargement of the spinal cord?
As the spinal cord is shorter in length than the vertebral column, it extends from the C3 to T1/T2 vertebral levels, its greatest circumference (approximately 38 mm) at the C6 level. The cervical enlargement is a result of the increased volume of motor cells in the ventral horns of the grey matter.
What are the two spinal enlargements?
Two enlargements of the spinal cord can be visualized: The cervical enlargement, which extends between C3 to T1; and the lumbar enlargements which extends between L1 to S2 (Figure 3.1). The cord is segmentally organized.
What causes the cervical enlargement of spinal cord?
Why is the cervical spinal cord larger?
How long is the lumbar enlargement?
The lumbar enlargement is 8 cm long from T9 to T12 and in continuity with the conus medullaris, which tapers off at the level of the L1–2 disc space into the filum terminale, an atrophic remnant of the caudal segment of the embryonic spinal cord.
What are 2 enlargements of the spinal cord?
Two enlargements of the spinal cord can be visualized: The cervical enlargement, which extends between C3 to T1; and the lumbar enlargements which extends between L1 to S2 (Figure 3.1). The cord is segmentally organized. There are 31 segments, defined by 31 pairs of nerves exiting the cord.
What are the cervical spinal nerves?
Cervical spinal nerves, also called cervical nerves, provide functional control and sensation to different parts of the body based on the spinal level where they branch out from the spinal cord.
Why are there enlargements in the cervical and lumbar regions?
What are the signs and symptoms of cervical spine injury?
Injury or mild trauma to the cervical spine can cause a serious or life-threatening medical emergency (eg, spinal cord injury or a spinal fracture). Pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling are symptoms that may develop when one or more cervical spinal nerves are injured, irritated,…
What do you need to know about Cervical stenosis?
Cervical Spine 1 Cervical Stenosis. Cervical stenosis occurs when the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and is most frequently caused by aging. 2 Symptoms of Cervical Stenosis. 3 When & How to Seek Medical Care. 4 Testing & Diagnosis. 5 Treatment. 6 Risks and Outcome. 7 Follow-up. 8 Author Information.
Why is the intervertebral foramen important to the cervical spine?
The intervertebral foramen allows the spinal nerves at each vertebral level to exit the vertebral canal. Finally, the almost horizontal orientation of the articular facets in the cervical spine is, in part, responsible for giving the cervical spine the greatest variety and range of movement.
What causes pain that starts at the cervical spine and spreads?
Pain of cervical origin very often starts at the cervical spine but frequently spreads or shifts to another region quite quickly, so that the cervical source may pass unnoticed. Interscapular onset of pain is typical of a lower cervical disc lesion that compresses the dura.
