2: Spinal Chord Function and Dysfunction Flashcards

1
Q

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?

How are they classified?

A

31 Pairs

  • 8 Cervical
  • 12 Thoracic
  • 5 Sacral
  • 5 Lumbar
  • 1 Coccyngeal
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2
Q

How do nerves leave the vertebra colum?

A

•Nerves leave the vertebral column through intervertebral foramina

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3
Q

Where are normal enlargements of the spinal chord found?

Why?

A

Enlargements for innervation of the limbs:

  • Cervical (C3-T1)
  • Lumbar (L1-S3)
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4
Q

How do spinal levels and vertebra levels relate to one another?

A

Discrepancy between spinal levels and vertebral levels

  • Vertebra level: Level of the vertebra the spinal nerve emerges from the vertebra colum
  • Spinal level: Level where the spinal segment has its origin
    • –> Vertebra level can be much further down than spinal levels, especially at lumber + sacral region
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5
Q

How is the organisation of the meningeines in the spinal chord different from the one in the Brain?

A

In spinal chord

  • ther is space between the Dura Mater and the Bone

–> has a physiological epidural space (relevant for e.g. anestesia)

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6
Q

What is the difference between a root and a ramus?

A

Root:

  • e.g. dorsal root + ventral root: carry either sensory or motor information to/from spinal chord

Ramus:

  • Splitting of mixed spinal nerve that either supplies the back (posterior ramus) or the front (anterior ramus)
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7
Q

What are the neurological termes used for

  • Anterior
  • Posterior
  • Superior
  • Inferior
A

Anterior= Ventral

Posterior = Dorsal

Superior = Rostal

Inferior = Caudal

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8
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9
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10
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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16
Q

Name + Function

A

Posterior Colum:

  • Sensory (touch, pain etc.) from ipsilateral limbs
17
Q

Name + Function

A
  • Pain and Temperature from contralateral side to body
  • Motor to ipsilateral anterior spinal horn
  • Proprioception (Gefühl von Selbstbewegung und Körperhaltung) from limbs to cerebellum
18
Q

Name + Function

A

Motor to ipsi and contralateral anterior horn

19
Q

What does the Faciculus gracilis spinal tract controll? Where is it Situatied?

A

It is located in posterior colum:

  • Sensory (touch, vibration , proprioception) from ipsilateral lower limb)
20
Q
A
21
Q

What is the Faciculus Cuneatus?

Where is it situated?

A

Posterior Colum

  • Sentory (touch, vibration etc.) from ipsilateral upper limb
22
Q

Where is the spinocerebellar tract located?

What is its function?

A

Located in the lateral column:

  • conveys proprioception (Gefühl von Selbstbewegung und Körperhaltung) from limbs to cerebellum
23
Q
A
24
Q
A
25
Q
A
26
Q

What is the function of the Lateral Corticospinal tract?

Where is it situated?

A
  • Located at latereal colum
  • Conveys motor infromation to ipsilateral anterior horn (mostly for limb musculature)
27
Q

What it hte function of the Spinothalamic tract?

Where is is located?

A

Conveys Pain and Temperarture from contralateral side of body (crosses when entering)

  • Located in lateral colum (around anterior horn)
28
Q
A
29
Q
A
30
Q

What is the function of the anterior coticospinal tract? Where is it located?

A
  • It is located in the anterior colum
  • Motor to ipsi and contralateral anterior horn (mostly axial musculature)
  • Axial Musculature= muscles that move head, neck, spine and ribcage
31
Q

What is the anterior white commisure?

A

Part of spinal chord where

  • pain and temperature fibres
  • Anteriorcorticospinal tract fibres

cross

32
Q

What does decussation mean?

A

The crossing over of nerve fibres

33
Q

Explain the route and function of the dorsam colum pathways

A
  • Fasciculus gracilic and Fasciculus Cuneatus
  • Discriminative touch, vibration, proprioception
  • 2nd. neurone crosses over at Medulla
34
Q

Compare the two main sensory pathways (Dorsal colum pathway and spinothalamic tract) in regard to their route to the brain.

A

Spinothalamic tract (pain, temperature)

  • synapses earlier, 2nd. neuron crosses sides when entering (or 2 vertebra up or down the neuron takes via the Lissauer tract)

Dorsal Colum pathways

  • cross over in Medulla (synapse in dorsal column nuclei)
35
Q

Explain the function and route of the corticospinal tract

A

Corticospinal tract

  • Main tract for voluntary movment of limbs and trunk
  • Two motor neuron
  • Devides in the Lateral corticospinal tract
    • major root (about 85%)
    • Decussion in the medulla oblangata
    • target: anterior horn of spinal chord
    • fine movement of ipsilateral limbs (though contralateral to motor cortex)
  • And Anterior corticospinal tract
    • 15 % of corticospinal tract
    • cross over in the spinal level they innervate
    • Then synapse at the anterior horn with the lower motor neuron
    • controls ipsi- and contralateral axial muscles
36
Q

Where is autonomic outflow from the spine?

Which structural components relate to that?

A

Outflow fron grey matter lateral horn

  • PNS= Cranial Nerves III, VII, IX, X + S2-S4
  • SNS= T1-L2
37
Q

Explain the two stages of injury to the lateral corticospinal tract

A

Stage 1. Spinal shock: loss of reflex activity below the lesion, lasting for days or weeks = flaccid paralysis

Stage 2. Return of reflexes: hyperreflexia and/or spasticity = rigid paralysis

38
Q

How does a refley happen?

A

Sensoring fibres directly go to anterior horn (via the dorsal root) and synapse on motor fibres

–> convey a motor response without going to motor corte

39
Q

What it the Brown Séquad Syndrome?

A

It is a combination of symptoms resulting from a one-sided damage to the spinal chord resulting in

  • Paralysis and loss of proprioception on the ipsilateral side
  • Loss of pain and temperature sensation on contralateral side of lesion