6.1 Neuro Anatomy & Physiology - The Spinal Cord and Motor Control Flashcards
Fundamentally, what is the spinal cord?
A column of nervous tissue (2-way highway)
What is the diameter of the spinal cord?
1mm
What is the function of the spinal cord?
Connects brain to PNS
Where does the spinal cord run to/from?
Brainstem to lumbar region
What are the two main tracts of the spinal cord? What type of input do these two tracts carry?
Ascending tract: sensory/afferent
Descending tract: motor/efferent
What type of input does the dorsal root carry?
Sensory input (afferent)
What type of input does the ventral root carry?
Motor (efferent)
What makes up grey matter?
- Cell bodies
- Neuroglia
- Unmyelinated axons
How does CSF flow through the spinal cord?
Through the central canal
What is the spinal nerve?
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.
What is a dorsal root ganglion?
Collection of sensory neuron cell bodies
What is the grey commissure? What type of axons does it contain, and why does this make sense?
- Connects two sides of the spinal cord
- Unmyelinated axons; makes sense: grey
What is the difference between somatic and visceral neurons?
Somatic: Conscious control
Visceral: Internal organs (viscera)
What is the function of the neurons in the lateral horn of the spinal cord?
Autonomic functions
What are the three white matter tracts/funiculi of the spinal cord?
- Dorsal
- Lateral
- Ventral
What is the dorsal column responsible for?
Sensory function