The Pitt Medical Terminology Practice Test

A local anesthetic administered into the spinal canal around the spinal cord is delivered into which space?

Subdural Subarachnoid Epidural Intrathecal

Correct Answer:

Epidural

Explanation:

The space being referred to is the epidural space. This is the area just outside the dura mater within the spinal canal. When a local anesthetic is given there, it creates an epidural block as the drug diffuses across the dura to affect the nerve roots. In contrast, an injection into the subarachnoid space (intrathecal) would produce spinal anesthesia with direct contact with CSF and a different, usually quicker, block. The subdural space is a potential space between dura and arachnoid and isn’t typically used for this purpose.

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