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anatomy > An Introduction to the Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, and Spinal Reflexes > Flashcards

An Introduction to the Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, and Spinal Reflexes Flashcards

1
Q

What is a spinal reflex?

A

It is a rapid, automatic nerve responses triggered by specific stimuli.

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2
Q

What are spinal reflexes controlled by?

A

They are controlled by the spinal cord alone (not the brain).

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3
Q

A sensory receptor is triggered and the sensory input travels over _____ nerves to the reflex centres in the brain.

A

cranial

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4
Q

The brain sends a _____ _____ over cranial nerves to the _______.

A

motor output

effectors

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5
Q

A sensory receptor is triggered and the sensory input travels over _____ nerves to the reflex centres in the spinal cord.

A

Spinal

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6
Q

The spinal cord sends a _____ _____ over spinal nerves to the _______.

A

motor output

effectors

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7
Q

Muscles, Glands and Adipose tissues are all examples of what?

A

Effectors

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8
Q

The spinal _____ is about 18 inches _____ and 1/2 inch ______.

A

cord, long, wide

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9
Q

The spinal cord itself is not as long as the ______ _______.

A

vertebral column

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10
Q

Where does the spinal cord end?

A

Between vertebrae L1 and L2

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11
Q

The spinal cord has bilateral ________.

A

symmetry

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12
Q

What do the grooves do to the spinal cord?

A

They divide the spinal cord into left and right.

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13
Q

Name the 2 grooves of the spinal cord.

A
  • Posterior median sulcus – on posterior side

* Anterior median fissure – deeper groove on anterior side

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14
Q

What are enlargements of the spinal cord caused by?

A

The amount of gray matter in segment

The involvement with sensory and motor nerves of limbs.

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15
Q

Name the 2 spinal cord enlargements.

A

Cervical enlargement and Lumbar enlargement.

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16
Q

What is the role of the cervical enlargement?

A

Supplies nerves (innervation) to the shoulders and upper limbs

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17
Q

What is the role of the lumbar enlargement?

A

Provides innervation (supplies nerves) to structures of the pelvis and lower limbs.

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18
Q

What do the conus medullaris, filum terminale and cauda equina make up?

A

The distal end of the spinal cord.

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19
Q

What is the name of the thin, conical spinal cord below lumbar enlargement?

A

Conus medullaris

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20
Q

Name the thin thread of fibrous tissue at end of conus medullaris that attaches to the coccygeal ligament.

A

Filum Terminale

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21
Q

What is the Cauda Equina?

A

Nerve roots extending below conus medullaris

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22
Q

Spinal cord segments are based on ______ where spinal nerves originate.

A

vertebrae

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23
Q

Positions of spinal segment and vertebrae change with _______.

A

age.

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24
Q

Cervical nerves are named for ______ vertebra whereas all other nerves are named for _____ vertebra.

A

inferior, superior.

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25
Q

The two branches of spinal nerves are known as ____.

A

roots

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26
Q

Name the 2 roots of the spinal nerves.

A

Ventral root and Dorsal root.

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27
Q

What does the ventral root contain?

A

The ventral root contains axons of motor neurons.

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28
Q

What does the dorsal root contain?

A

The dorsal root contains axons of sensory neurons.

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29
Q

What contain the cell bodies of sensory neurons?

A

Dorsal Root Ganglia.

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30
Q

Distal to _____ root _____, the sensory and the motor ____ are bound together into a single _____ _______.

A

dorsal, ganglion, roots, spinal nerve.

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31
Q

What fibres to mixed nerves carry?

A

They carry both afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) fibres.

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32
Q

What are the spinal meninges?

A

Specialized membranes that isolate the spinal cord from its surroundings.

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33
Q

Name 3 functions of the spinal meninges.

A
  • Protecting spinal cord against bumps and shocks to the skin of the back
  • Carrying blood supply
  • Continuous with cranial meninges, which surround the brain
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34
Q

What is the viral or bacterial infection of meninges known as?

A

Meningitis

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35
Q

Name the 3 meningeal layers.

A

Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater

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36
Q

The dura mater is the _____ layer of the spinal cord.

A

Outer

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37
Q

Name the middle meningeal layer.

A

Arachnoid mater

38
Q

Name the inner meningeal layer.

39
Q

What meningeal layer is tough and fibrous?

A

Dura mater

40
Q

The dura layer contains dense ____ fibres that are orientated along the ______ axis of the cord.

A

collagen

longitudinal

41
Q

The inner surface of the dura mater and the outer surface of the arachnoid mater are covered by simple ______ ________.

A

squamous epithelia

42
Q

What is the epithelium on the outer surface of the arachnoid called?

A

The arachnoid membrane

43
Q

What layer is a mesh of collagen and elastic fibres?

44
Q

Pia mater is bound to underlying _____ ______.

A

Neural tissue

45
Q

The interlayer space between the dura mater and arachnoid mater is known as the _____ ______.

A

Subdural space

46
Q

The interlayer space between the arachnoid mater and pia mater is known as the _____ ______.

A

Subarachnoid space

47
Q

What does the subarachnoid space contain?

A

Arachnoid trabeculae (collagen and elastin fibre network)

48
Q

What is the subarachnoid space filled with?

A

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

49
Q

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) acts as a _____ _______.

A

Shock Absorber.

50
Q

CSF carries dissolved ____, ______ and ______.

A

gases, nutrients and wastes.

51
Q

Name the 2 types of matter.

A

Gray matter and white matter

52
Q

White matter is _______.

A

superficial

53
Q

What does white matter contain?

A

myelinated and unmyelinated axons

54
Q

What does gray matter surround?

A

The central canal of the spinal cord

55
Q

What does gray matter contain?

A

neuron cell bodies, neuroglia and unmyelinated axons

56
Q

What are the projections of gray matter called?

A

Gray Horns

57
Q

Name the 3 types of gray horns.

A

Posterior Gray Horns
Anterior Gray Horns
Lateral Gray Horns
PAL :)

58
Q

_________ gray horns contain somatic and visceral sensory nuclei.

59
Q

What type of gray horns contain somatic motor nuclei?

A

Anterior Gray Horns

60
Q

Where are lateral gray horns in?

A

They are in thoracic and lumbar segments

61
Q

What do later gray horns contain?

A

visceral motor nuclei

62
Q

Axons that cross from one side of cord to the other before reaching gray matter are called _________ ___________.

A

Gray Commissures

63
Q

The cell bodies of neurons form functional groups called _______.

64
Q

What do both motor nuclei and sensory nuclei connect to?

A

Peripheral Effectors

65
Q

Where are sensory nuclei found?

A

Dorsal/posterior

66
Q

Where are motor nuclei found?

A

Ventral/anterior

67
Q

What does sensory or motor nucleus location within gray matter determine?

A

It determines what body part it controls.

68
Q

On each side of the spinal cord, in medial to lateral sequence, name what the somatic motor nuclei control.

A
  1. Muscles that control the pectorial girdle
  2. Muscles that move the arm
  3. Muscles that move the forearm and hand
  4. Muscles that move the hand and fingers
69
Q

Because the spinal cord is so highly organised, what can we predict?

A

We can predict which muscles will be affected by damage to a specific area of gray matter.

70
Q

The white matter on each side of the spinal cord can be divided into 3 regions called _______.

71
Q

Name the 3 white columns.

A

Posterior White Columns
Anterior White Columns
Lateral White Columns
PAL

72
Q

Where do Posterior White Columns lie?

A

between posterior gray horns and posterior median sulcus.

73
Q

_________ white columns lie between anterior gray horns and anterior median fissure.

74
Q

Anterior white commissure is an area where ______ _______ from one side of the _____ _____ to the ______.

A

axons, cross, spinal cord, other

75
Q

Lateral white columns are located on each side of the spinal cord between _____ and ______ columns.

A

anterior, posterior.

76
Q

Each column contains ______ whose axons share functional and structural characteristics.

77
Q

Name this- a bundle of axons in the CNS that is somewhat uniform with respect to diameter, myelination and speed.

78
Q

All axons within a tract relay the same type of _______ (____ or ______) in the same ______.

A

information, sensory, motor, direction

79
Q

Where do ascending tracts carry information to?

80
Q

What do descending tracts do?

A

Carry motor commands to the spinal cord.

81
Q

The spinal cord has a narrow ___ ____.

A

central canal

82
Q

What is the central canal surrounded by?

A

gray matter

83
Q

gray matter is covered by a thick layer of ________ -__________.

A

white matter

84
Q

_______ matter consists of ascending and descending axons.

85
Q

The central nervous system is made up of the _____and ________

A

brain and spinal cord

86
Q

What makes up the PNS?

A

Cranial nerves and spinal nerves.

87
Q

Define spinal reflex.

A

A spinal reflex is a rapid, automatic response triggered by specific stimuli. Spinal reflexes are controlled in the spinal cord.

88
Q

Identify the three spinal meninges.

A

Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater

89
Q

Damage to which root of a spinal nerve would interfere with motor function?

A

The ventral root of the spinal nerve

90
Q

Differentiate between sensory nuclei and motor nuclei

A

Sensory nuclei- Relay and receive SENSORY information FROM peripheral RECEPTORS
but
Motor nuclei ISSUE MOTOR COMANDS TO peripheral EFFECTORS

91
Q

A disease that damages myelin sheaths would affect which portion of the spinal cord?

A

The columns in the white matter of the spinal cord, because the columns are composed of bundles of myelinated axons.

anatomy (31 decks)

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