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You only need to be concerned with identifying cervical,
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thoracic and lumbar from each other.
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This can be done using the following rules:
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1. The greatest amount of grey matter (cells) is largest in the
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spinal segments of the cervical and lumbosacral enlargements;
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such large structures require a massive innervation.
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The thoracic and upper lumbar levels have relatively small amounts
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of grey matter since they innervate the thoracic and abdominal regions.
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2. The absolute number of nerve fibers in the white
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matter increases at each successive higher spinal segment.
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3. The lateral horn is present from T1-L2.
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4. Fasciculi cuneatus and gracilis are BOTH present above T7.
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5. When comparing the cervical and lumbosacral enlargements,
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the dorsal horn at cervical levels is narrower than that in lumbars;
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the ventral horn is broad in both.
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