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Gross Anatomy > 1.2 Spinal Cord and Autonomic Nervous System > Flashcards

1.2 Spinal Cord and Autonomic Nervous System Flashcards

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1
Q

In the adult the spinal cord ends as a tapered portion termed the … at the L1 vertebral level.

  • In newborns it ends at L3 vertebral level)
A

conus medullaris

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2
Q

Due to the discrepancy between the spinal cord and the vertebral column, the more caudal spinal nerves are longer and more vertical forming the…

A

cauda equina

“horse tail”

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3
Q

What are the 3 layers, meninges, surrounding the spinal cord?

A
  1. Dura mater
  2. Arachnoid mater
  3. Pia mater
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4
Q

What connection of pia mater, connects the conus medullaris to the coccyx?

A

filum terminale

tethering to keep the coccyx in place

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5
Q

In the CNS, what forms the gray matter?

A

neuronal cell bodies

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6
Q

In the CNS, what forms the white matter?

A

interconnecting nerve fiber tracts

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7
Q

In the CNS, what is a discrete group of neuronal cell bodies called?

A

Nucleus

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8
Q

In the PNS, what is a discrete group of neuronal cell bodies called?

A

Ganglion

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9
Q

What are spinal nerves responsible for?

A

Conveying information to/from the gray mater horns of the spinal cord

  • DO NOT supply internal structures (viscera within thoracic or abdominopelvic cavities)
  • DO NOT supply structers of the head
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10
Q

What is the Dorsal (posterior) horn of the CNS gray matter responsible for?

A

Receives Sensory Information

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11
Q

What is the Ventral (anterior) horn of the CNS gray matter responsible for?

A

Transmits Motor Information

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12
Q

What is the Lateral horn of the CNS gray matter responsible for?

A

Transmits Motor Information

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13
Q

Where do the 8 cervical paired spinal nerves recieve their name from?

A
  • C1 - C7 named for vertebra inferior to their exit
  • C8 exits between C7 and T1 vertebrae
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14
Q

Where do the 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal paired spinal nerves recieve their names from?

A

Named by vertebra superior to their point of exit

i.e. T2 exits between vertebrae T2 and T3

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15
Q

Fibers emerge from the spinal cord as what?

A

rootlets

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16
Q

What do rootlets converge to form?

A

2 Nerve Roots

  • Anterior (ventral) - motor fibers from the ventral horn of the spinal cord
  • Posterior (dorsal) - sensory fibers from the dorsal horn of the spinal cord
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17
Q

What do the anterior and posterior roots converge to form?

A

Mixed Spinal Nerve

  • Contains both motor and sensory fibers (mixed fibers)
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18
Q

Where does the formation of the mixed spinal nerve occur?

A

At or near the intervertebral foramen

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19
Q

What does the mixed spinal nerve immediately divide into?

A

Anterior and Posterior Rami

Each ramus carries both sensory and motor fibers

*rami = branch

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20
Q

What does the posterior (dorsal) rami supply and what fibers does it carry?

A
  • Deep (true) muscles of the back
    • Somatic Motor
  • Overlying skin
    • Somatic sensory
  • Vasculature (arteries) structures supplying these structures
    • Postganglionic Sympathetic Fibers
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21
Q

What does the anterior (ventral) rami supply?

A
  • Anterior and lateral trunk
  • Upper and lower limbs
    • Generally partcipating in plexus formation
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22
Q

What fibers does the anterior (ventral) rami carry?

A
  • Somatic motor
  • Somatic sensory
  • Postganglionic sympathetic fibers
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23
Q

Where are the cell bodies located in the sensory (afferent) subdivision of the PNS?

A

Outside, but close to the CNS

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24
Q

Where are the cell bodies located in the motor (efferent) subdivision of the PNS?

Study These Flashcards
A

Gray matter of CNS

25
How do the **sensory (afferent) fibers** enter the CNS?
Via the **posterior (dorsal) root)** of spinal or cranial nerves
26
Where do the **motor (efferent) fibers** exit the CNS?
Anterior (ventral) roots of spinal or cranial nerves
27
What does the **somatic** subdivision of the **PNS** do?
Conveys info to/from CNS, and **body wall** and **extremities** (skeletal muscle)
28
What does the **visceral** subdivision of the **PNS** do?
Conveys info to/from CNS and, **internal organs** and **blood vessels**
29
How many neurons are between the CNS and the end organ (target) in the **Somatic Motor System**?
1 neuron
30
What is the target organ of the **somatic motor system**?
ALWAYS skeletal muscle
31
How many neurons are between the CNS and the end organ (target) in the **visceral motor system (ANS)**?
2 neuron system
32
Where is the cell body of the **preganglionic** neuron of the **visceral motor system (ANS)** located?
grey matter of CNS
33
What are the target organs of the **visceral motor system (ANS)**?
* Smooth muscle (non-striated, involuntary) * Glands * Modified cardiac muscle * SA and AV nodes
34
Where do you find **preganglionic sympathetic** cell bodies?
* Forms the **intermediolateral cell column (IML)** * Composes the **lateral horn** of the spinal cord from **T1 - L2** ## Footnote ***IML is the only place preganglionic sympathetic cell bodies exist***
35
Where do **preganglionic sympathetic fibers** exit the CNS?
Anterior (ventral) roots becoming components of the mixed spinal nerve and entering the anterior ramus
36
Where do the **preganglionic sympathetic fibers** exit the spinal nerve?
White Ramus Communican Communicating branch between spinal nerves T1 - L2 (same as IML) only and the sympathetic trunk
37
What is the **sympathetic trunk** composed of?
paravertebral ganglia
38
What is the course the **preganglionic sympathetic fibers** take if the target structures are located within the **body wall of T1 - L2 OR** **within the thoracic cavity**?
Synapses with a **postganglionic cell body** within a **paravertebral ganglia** of the sympathetic trunk at the SAME level it entered the sympathetic trunk.
39
What is the course the **preganglionic sympathetic fibers** take if the target structures are located **above T1**?
the preganglionic sympathetic fibers will _ascend within the sympathetic trunk_ to synapse with a **postganglionic cell body** located in a **paravertebral ganglia** in the **cervical region**.
40
What is the course the **preganglionic sympathetic fibers** take if the target structures are located **below L2**?
_Descend within the sympathetic trunk_ to synapse with a postganglionic cell body located in a **paravertebral ganglia** in the **lower lumbar or sacral region**.
41
What is the course the **preganglionic sympathetic fibers** take if the target structures are located in the **abdomen or pelvic cavities**? * Only involves fibers involved in the sympathetic innervation of the abdominopelvic viscera (below the diaphragm)
They will **pass through the sympathetic trunk** **WITHOUT synapsing**. * Once the preganglionic sympathetic fibers leave the sympathetic trunk they are called **thoracic or lumbar splanchnics**.
42
What is the **branch of postganglionic fibers** that arises from the paravertebral ganglia of the sympathetic trunk, **traveling laterally**, called that targets: smooth muscle and glands of **body wall and limbs** aka structures supplied by Spinal Nerves?
Gray ramus communicans
43
What is the **branch of postganglionic fibers** that arises from the paravertebral ganglia of the sympathetic trunk called that targets: the **head**, since no spinal nerves go to the head?
Cephalic arterial rami surround arteries going to the head forming a periarterial plexus to reach their targets
44
What is the **branch of postganglionic fibers** that arises from the paravertebral ganglia of the sympathetic trunk, **running medially**, called that targets: innervate the **viscera of the thoracic cavity**?
Cardiopulmonary splanchnics
45
What is the path of the **thoracic splanchnic nerves**?
* Preganglionic sympathetic fibers arise from the **thoracic region** of the sympathetic trunk * They do NOT synapse with the sympathetic trunk * Pass into abdominal cavity **near the aorta** * Synapse within a ****_pre_**vertebral ganglia** on a **postganglionic cell body** * **postganglionic fibers travel on arteries** to their targets
46
What are the main differences between the thoracic splanchnics and the **lumbar splanchnics**?
* Arise from **lumbar portion** of sympathetic trunk (**L1 -L2**) * Innervate **pelvic viscera**
47
What are the 2 locations of **preganglionic parasympathetic cell bodies**?
1. Cranial - gray matter of brainstem 2. Sacral - gray matter of S2 - S4 spinal cord
48
How do the **preganglionic parasympathetic fibers** exit?
1. Cranial - as **CNs III, VII, IX, X** 2. Sacral - via **anterior roots** of spinal nerves **S2 - S4** as **pelvic splanchnic nerves**
49
Where are the postganglionic parasympathetic cell bodies of the sacral division located?
Within the **wall (tissue)** of the target organ located in an **intramural ganglia**
50
Where are the **postganglionic parasympathetic cell bodies** in the **head** located?
Any of the **4 pairs** of parasympathetic ganglia that are located **close to their target**. ## Footnote **C.O.P.S.**
51
Describe the **postganglionic parasympathetic fibers**
They are **very short** and within the **wall of an organ**, since the postganglionic cell bodies are already in the target tissue.
52
What do parasympathetics NOT innervate?
**Structures of the body wall or limbs** ONLY INNERVATES: * specific structures in the head * thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic viscera
53
What is the job of the **somatic sensory system**?
Input to CNS from skin or skm
54
Where is the **cell body** located in the **somatic sensory system**?
Dorsal root (spinal) ganglion
55
How does the **somatic sensory system** work?
* 1 neuron system * The neuron has a distal (peripheral) process to the target, and a central process to the CNS * **NO SYNAPSE occurs in a sensory ganglion**
56
What is the job of the **visceral sensory system**?
Carry information from viscera to CNS (pain, distension)
57
How do the **distal (peripheral) fibers** in the **visceral sensory system** get to the sympathetic trunk?
**Hitching a ride** on **splanchnic nerves** (cardiopulmonary, thoracic, or lumbar)
58
What is the path of the **visceral sensory system** once it arrives at the sympathetic trunk?
Exits the trunk via **white ramus communican** at the appropriate spinal cord level to travel back to their **cell body**, located in the **dorsal (spinal) root ganglion.**
59

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