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Foundations Of Medicine > 6.1 Neuro Anatomy & Physiology - The Spinal Cord and Motor Control > Flashcards

6.1 Neuro Anatomy & Physiology - The Spinal Cord and Motor Control Flashcards

1
Q

Fundamentally, what is the spinal cord?

A

A column of nervous tissue (2-way highway)

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2
Q

What is the diameter of the spinal cord?

A

1mm

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3
Q

What is the function of the spinal cord?

A

Connects brain to PNS

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4
Q

Where does the spinal cord run to/from?

A

Brainstem to lumbar region

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5
Q

What are the two main tracts of the spinal cord? What type of input do these two tracts carry?

A

Ascending tract: sensory/afferent
Descending tract: motor/efferent

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6
Q

What type of input does the dorsal root carry?

A

Sensory input (afferent)

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7
Q

What type of input does the ventral root carry?

A

Motor (efferent)

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8
Q

What makes up grey matter?

A
  • Cell bodies
  • Neuroglia
  • Unmyelinated axons
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9
Q

How does CSF flow through the spinal cord?

A

Through the central canal

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10
Q

What is the spinal nerve?

A

The joining of the ventral and dorsal roots at a distance away from the spinal cord itself. These two only branch apart near the spinal cord.

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11
Q

What is a dorsal root ganglion?

A

Collection of sensory neuron cell bodies

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12
Q

What is the grey commissure? What type of axons does it contain, and why does this make sense?

A
  • Connects two sides of the spinal cord
  • Unmyelinated axons; makes sense: grey
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13
Q

What is the difference between somatic and visceral neurons?

A

Somatic: Conscious control
Visceral: Internal organs (viscera)

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14
Q

What is the function of the neurons in the lateral horn of the spinal cord?

A

Autonomic functions

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15
Q

What are the three white matter tracts/funiculi of the spinal cord?

A
  • Dorsal
  • Lateral
  • Ventral
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16
Q

What is the dorsal column responsible for?

A

Sensory function

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17
Q

What is the lateral column responsible for?

A

Sensory and motor function

18
Q

What is the ventral column responsible for?

A

Sensory and motor function

19
Q

Which type(s) of muscles drive somatic muscle activity?

20
Q

Which type(s) of muscles drive visceral muscle activity?

A

Cardiac and smooth

21
Q

Which brain structures are commonly associated with motor movement?

A

Brain and spinal cord (CNS)

22
Q

Which brain structures add context and meaning to motor movement?

A
  • Basal ganglia
  • Cerebellum
23
Q

What are the two types of motor neurons?

A

Upper and lower

24
Q

Where are upper motor neurons found?

A

Motor cortex (pre-central gyrus)

25
Q

Where do lower motor neurons originate? What tracts do they make up?

A

Brainstem and spinal cord. They make up the descending tracts.

26
Q

In which two enlargements of the spinal cord can lower motor neurons be found? What do these correlate with?

A
  • Cervical enlargement
  • Lumbar enlargement

This correlates with the upper and lower limbs

27
Q

What muscle fibres do alpha motor neurons supply?

A

Extrafusal (main muscle mass)

28
Q

Which three sources do alpha motor neurons recieve input from?

A
  • Muscle spindles
  • Spinal interneurons
  • Upper motor neurons
29
Q

What are the two types of lower motor neurons?

A
  • Alpha
  • Gamma
30
Q

Which muscle fibres do gamma motor neurons supply?

A

Intrafusal muscle fibres/muscle spindles/proprioceptors

31
Q

What do intrafusal muscle fibres do?

A

Detect the amount and rate of change in muscle length. This information is then fed back to the spinal cord for processing

32
Q

What is the name of sensory inputs that are given to the motor unit?

A

Proprioceptive information/input

33
Q

What are the two sources of proprioceptive information in muscles?

A
  • Muscle spindles
  • Golgi tendon organs
34
Q

What do golgi tendon organs detect? What kind of neurons do they sinapse with?

A
  • They detect muscle tension
  • They synapse with inhibitory internurons, thus preventing further contraction and stopping the muscle from snapping.
35
Q

What can interneurons recieve input from?

A
  • Descending upper motor + collaterals of lower motor neurons
  • Sensory axons
  • Other interneurons
36
Q

What is in Brodman’s area 6? What do these structures do?

A
  • Pre-motor areas
  • Supplementary motor areas

Involved in planning and initiation of movement.

37
Q

How does the prefrontal cortex help with motor movement?

A

Important in planning and decision making

38
Q

How does the posterior parietal lobe help with motor movement?

A

Helps integrate sensory input with motor function

39
Q

What is another name for the pyramidal motor system? What is it involved in?

A

Corticospinal tract; motor planning and initiation

40
Q

Where do motor neurons decussate?

A

Lower medulla (pyramids)

Foundations Of Medicine (98 decks)

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