Thoracic surface landmarks — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: Identify the spinal cord level based on these histological features: oval shape, largest amount of white matter, and presence of both fasciculus gracilis and fasciculus cuneatus: _____

Answer: Cervical

Flashcard 2: The trunks of the brachial plexus and subclavian artery pass through the anterior and middle _____

Answer: scalenes (scalene triangle)

Flashcard 3: What vertebral level does the aorta bifurcate into the left and right common iliac arteries?_____

Answer: L4

Flashcard 4: What vertebral level does the gonadal artery branch off the aorta? _____

Answer: L2

Flashcard 5: Both dorsal columns (fasciculus gracilis and fasciculus cuneatus) are present at and above which spinal level?

Answer: T6

Extra: The fasciculus gracilis is present at all spinal levels (carrying sensation from the lower limbs), while the fasciculus cuneatus begins only at the T6 level (carrying sensation from the upper limbs). Therefore, both dorsal columns are present only at and above the level of T6.

Flashcard 6: Which tract is responsible for conveying unconscious proprioceptive information from the body to the cerebellum?

Answer: Spinocerebellar tract

Extra: The spinocerebellar tracts (including the dorsal and ventral tracts) are responsible for conveying unconscious proprioceptive information from the limbs and trunk to the cerebellum.