Anatomy > Spinal Cord > Flashcards

Spinal Cord Flashcards

Lecture 4 (80 cards)

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1
Q

Spinal cord functions:

A
  • Aggregation of many single-nerve fibres into
    bundles (tracts) of fibres.
  • Provides a pathway for sensory and motor
    nerve impulses between the brain and the rest
    of the body.
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2
Q

What are bundles of fibres called?

A

Tracts of fibres

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3
Q

What is the vertebral canal composed of?

A

Contains the spinal cord
and spinal meninges

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4
Q

What is the spinal cord?

A

*Longitudinal mass of columns:
- Gray matter consist of the neuronal
cell bodies
- White matter consists of myelinated
fibres of tracts that communicate
information to and from the brain.

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5
Q

What does gray matter consist of?

A
  • Gray matter consist of the neuronal
    cell bodies
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6
Q

What does white matter consist of?

A
  • White matter consists of myelinated
    fibres of tracts that communicate
    information to and from the brain.
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7
Q

How many spinal cord segments?

A

31 segments that each give rise to a pair of
spinal nerves.

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8
Q

How many pairs of cervical spinal nerves?

A

8 pairs of cervical spinal
nerves.*

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9
Q

Where does the spine end?

A

Extends from superior margin of C1 to L2 -
-ends at the conus medullaris.

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10
Q

What is the filum terminale?

A

Filum terminale “end filament” – fibrous
projection that anchors spinal cord in place.

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11
Q

List the spine columns from top to bottom

A

-cervical nerves (C1-C7)
-thoracic nerves (T1-T12)
-lumbar nerves (L1-L5)
-sacral nerves (S1-S5)
-single coccygeal nerve (Co1)

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12
Q

How many layers of connective tissue cover the spinal cord & brain?

A

3

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13
Q

What are the layers of connective tissue that cover the spinal cord & brain + what are their functions?

A
  • Dura mater
  • Arachnoid mater (there is also subarachnoid space)
  • Pia mater
  • Protect brain, spinal cord and blood vessels
  • Contain and circulate cerebrospinal fluid
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14
Q

List the labels (top down) in a spinal meninges:

A

Skull
Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Subarachnoid space
Pia mater
Brain
Blood vessel

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15
Q

Describe the layers of the cranial meninges:

A

3 layers:
1. Dura mater
Periosteal layer – Attached to skull bones
* Meningeal layer – Attached to other meninges
* Falx cerebri – extension of the dura mater in the longitudinal fissure
2. Arachnoid mater
* Woven aspect
* Subarachnoid space – contains cerebro-spinal fluid
3. Pia mater – deepest layer, tightly attached to the surface of the brain

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16
Q

What is the Dura mater composed of?

A
  • Periosteal layer – Attached to skull bones
  • Meningeal layer – Attached to other meninges
  • Falx cerebri – extension of the dura mater in the longitudinal fissure
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17
Q

What is within the subarachnoid space?

A

cerebro-spinal fluid

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18
Q

What is the deepest layer of the cranial meninges?

A

Pia mater - tightly attached to brain surface

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19
Q

What is the outermost layer of the meninges?

A

The Dura mater. This is a sleeve of dense fibrous tissue. It extends to S2

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20
Q

What is the middle layer of the meninges?

A

Arachnoid mater. This thin, delicate membrane extends to S2

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21
Q

Where is the Pia mater situated + what does it have?

A

It lies on surface of spinal cord
It has rich network of blood vessels

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22
Q

Which layer of the meninges does NOT extend to S2?

A

Pia mater

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23
Q

Function of the subarachnoid space:

A

Separates arachnoid and pia mater
* Contains cerebrospinal fluid

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24
Q

What is the function of cerebrospinal fluid?

A

– Removes metabolic waste products
– Shock absorber

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25
Where is a lumbar puncture inserted?
Below the epidural space, above the subarachnoid space - spinal needle is inserted between 3rd and 4th lumbar vertebrae because the spinal cord has finished => no more spinal cord, no risk of spinal cord injury/paralysis. Needle is inserted into the cerebrospinal fluid.
26
What is the function of the epidural space?
* Separates dura mater and the surrounding bone
27
What does the epidural space contain?
Contains: * Loose connective tissue * adipose tissue * blood vessels
28
How are the 31 pairs of spinal nerves divided?
8 cervical (C1-C8) 12 Thoracic (T1-T12) 5 Lumbar (L1-L5) 5 Sacral (S1-S5) 1 Coccygeal (Co1)
29
Is gray or white mater on the outside?
White on outside, gray further in
30
What structures/features are contained within the gray matter?
-posterior horn -gray commissure -lateral horn -anterior horn
31
Anterior (ventral) horns:
Contain cell bodies of somatic motor neurons (innervate skeletal muscle)
32
Lateral horns:
Contain cell bodies of autonomic motor neurons (innervate cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, glands)
33
Posterior (dorsal) horns:
Contain interneurons; receive information from sensory neurons whose cell bodies lie outside the spinal cord in posterior (dorsal) root ganglia
34
Where are the cell bodies of the sensory neurons which provide the posterior horns with info?
These neurons' cell bodies lie outside the spinal cord in posterior (dorsal) root ganglia
35
What structures/features are contained within white matter?
-posterior funiculus -lateral funiculus -white commissure -anterior funiculus
36
37
Dorsal horn contains ____
sensory interneuron somas
38
Dorsal root contains ___
sensory axons
39
Ventral root contains ___
motor axons
40
Ventral horn contains ___
motor neuron somas
41
Is white matter inside or outside the spinal cord central canal?
outside
42
Ventral roots =
motor
43
Dorsal roots=
sensory
44
What kinds of neurons are motor neurons?
Efferent
45
What do motor neurons do?
*Motor (efferent) neurons communicate information from the brain to periphery.
46
What kinds of neurons are sensory neurons?
Afferent
47
What do sensory neurons do?
*Sensory (afferent) neurons communicate information from the periphery to the brain.
48
What is within the posterior horn?
interneurons and sensory axons
49
What are the components within a typical spinal nerve?
somatic sensory neuron, visceral sensory neuron, autonomic motor neuron, somatic motor neuron.
50
What is within the anterior horn?
static motor neurons
51
What functioned does the spinal nerve have?
sensory & motor
52
What does the lateral horn contain?
autonomic motor neurons
53
What are the sensory nuclei composed of?
static & visceral
54
What are the motor nuclei composed of?
autonomic & somatic
55
Describe the motor and sensory pathway:
1. Sensory endings in skin (in the palm of hand in this case) move due to neuromuscular action 2. Action potential in sensory axon, lower motor neuron moves to sensory neuron 3. Sensory axon enters spinal cord & synapses with the brain (interneuron) 4. Sensory pathway continues with second neuron projecting to the thalamus 5. Sensory pathway reaches the cerebral cortex for conscious perception. 6. An upper motor neuron from the cortex executes a motor command in the thalamus. 7. the upper motor nueron contacts a lower motor neuron in the spinal cord. 8. The lower motor neuron causes contraction of the target skeletal muscle (the palm of hand in this case).
56
What is the reflex arc?
*The simplest stimulus-response system of the nervous system responding to changes in its environment.
57
How does the reflex arc work?
– The muscle is in a stable state (A). – The muscle is passively stretched, and information is transmitted to spinal cord (via dorsal root ganglion (B). – Synapse with motor (efferent) neurons (C). – Muscle fibres contract, shortening muscle to original length (D
58
How does the patellar reflex work?
Simple way to test the integrity the nerves in the lower limbs Stimulation of the patellar tendon, below the kneecap → monosynaptic reflex arc quadriceps muscle contracts, causing the leg to extend at the knee joint.
59
What is the monosynaptic reflex arc?
Simple way to test the integrity the nerves in the lower limbs Stimulation of the patellar tendon, below the kneecap → monosynaptic reflex arc quadriceps muscle contracts, causing the leg to extend at the knee joint.
60
List the steps in the patellar reflex:
1. Stretch of the patellar tendon causes quadriceps muscles to stretch 2. Sensory nerves send signal to spinal cord 3. Sensory nerves synapse directly on motor neurons in the spinal cord, activating them. 4. Motor neurons fire, causing quadriceps to contract & lower leg to lift
61
What are nerve plexuses?
Networks of interweaving anterior branches (rami) of spinal nerves. *Divide into nerves that innervate various muscles in a region.
62
What are rami?
Branches of spinal nerves
63
What are the diff kinds of nerve plexuses?
*Cervical plexus *Brachial plexus *Lumbar plexus *Sacral plexus
64
What are dermatomes?
Dermatome: specific segment of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve
65
How many dermatomes do we have?
30 total
66
Which pair of spinal nerves does NOT innervate specific dermatomes?
*All pairs of spinal nerves innervate specific dermatomes, except C1.
67
Which dermatomes can be tested/diagnosed?
* Dermatomes can be tested/diagnose: – Spinal anaesthesia – Herniated disc – Shingles
68
How do shingles work?
Often affects single nerve root, causes pain and distant rash that spreads over one dermatome.
69
What are the different types of paralysis?
*Monoplegia: paralysis of one limb *Diplegia: paralysis of both upper limbs or both lower limbs. *Paraplegia: paralysis of both lower limbs *Quadriplegia: paralysis of all four limbs
70
How many spinal cord injuries occur annually?
*Devastating injuries to the spinal cord affecting 250,000 – 500,000 individuals each year globally.
71
What is the cure for spinal cord injuries?
Currently no cure
72
What is the possible impairment + rehab potential for a spinal injury C2-C3?
Usually fatal as a result of inability to breathe. Totally dependent for all care
73
What is the possible impairment + rehab potential for a spinal injury C4?
Quadriplegia and breathing difficulty. Dependent for all cares; usually needs a ventilator
74
What is the possible impairment + rehab potential for a spinal injury C-5?
Quadriplegia with some shoulder and elbow function. May be able to feed self using assistive devices; usually can breathe without a ventilator, but may need other types of respiratory support
75
What is the possible impairment + rehab potential for a spinal injury C6?
Quadriplegia with shoulder, elbow, and some wrist function. May be able to propel a wheelchair inside on smooth surfaces; may be able to help feed, groom, and dress self; dependent on others for transfers
76
What is the possible impairment + rehab potential for a spinal injury C7?
Quadriplegia with shoulder, elbow, wrist, and some hand function. May be able to propel a wheelchair outside, transfer self, and drive a car with special adaptions; may be able to help with bowel and bladder programs
77
What is the possible impairment + rehab potential for a spinal injury C8?
Quadriplegia with normal arm function; hand weakness. May be able to propel a wheelchair outside, transfer self, and drive a car with special adaptions; may be ab
78
What is the possible impairment + rehab potential for a spinal injury T1-T6?
Paraplegia with loss of function below mid- chest; full control of arms. Independent with self-care and in wheelchair; able to be employed full time
79
What is the possible impairment + rehab potential for a spinal injury T6-T12?
Paraplegia with loss of function below the waist; good control of torso. Good sitting balance; greater ability for operation of a wheelchair and athletic activities
80
What is the possible impairment + rehab potential for a spinal injury L1-L5?
Paraplegia with varying degrees of muscle involvement in the legs. May be able to walk short distances with braces and assistive devices
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