Anatomy Flashcards
What is a group of nerve cell bodies in the CNS called and how is this named differently in the PNS?
CNS - Nucleus
PNS - ganglion
How can you tell the difference between an axon and the dendrites of a multipolar neuron?
Usually axon = longest process
What type of signals are usually transported via MULTIPOLAR neurons?
Motor efferent signals
What type of signals are usually transported via pseudounipolar neurons?
Sensory afferent signals
A nerve is a bundle of what?
Axons
this is called a tract in the CNS
Tracts tend to be of a “single modality”. What does this mean?
all axons contained within it have the same job
i.e. somatic motor/sensory, special sensory etc
What is meant by “mixed modality” nerves?
Axons for somatic motor and sensory and sympathetic all together in one nerve
What cranial nerves connect to the CNS in the forebrain?
CN I and CN II
What cranial nerves connect to the CNS via the midbrain?
CN III and CN IV
Where does CN V connect to the CNS?
Pons
What cranial nerves connect to the CNS at the pons-medullary junction?
VI, VII, VIII
Which of CN IX, X XI and XII does NOT connect to the CNS at the medulla?
CN XI connects at the spinal cord (SPINAL ACCESSORY NERVE)
Spinal nerves are actually very small. TRUE/FALSE?
TRUE - they are only found in the intervertebral foraminae as on one side they are rootlets/roots OR the opposite side = rami
What do the anterior and posterior rami supply?
Body walls (soma)
Are roots and rootlets single or mixed modality?
Single modality
Posterior rootlets/roots = somatosensory
Anterior rootlets/roots = somatomotor
Are spinal nerves and rami single or mixed modality?
Mixed modality
Anterior and Posterior roots come together and mix forming spinal nerve
What is the name given to the swelling on the posterior (or dorsal) root? And what does it contain?
Dorsal root ganglion
- contains a collection of cell bodies)
Rami supply what in their segment of the body?
- sensory supply to area
- somatic motor supply to skeletal muscles
- sympathetic supply to the skin and to the smooth muscle of arterioles
What is a dermatome?
area of skin supplied with sensory innervation from a single spinal nerve
e.g. T4 dermatome (nipple level)
What is a myotome?
skeletal muscles supplied with motor innervation from a single spinal nerve
Myotomes lie under the corresponding spinal nerve dermatome. TRUE/FALSE?
FALSE - this is not always the case
e.g. C3,4,5 dermatome = shoulder and upper arm
BUT myotome = diaphragm
Dermatomes for spinal nerves can overlap. TRUE/FALSE?
TRUE
Why is dermatome overlap a clinical issue?
If patient experiences a symptom (e.g. numbness/tingling) in a specific dermatome then we must contemplate that nerves in adjacent dermatomes may also be damaged
What dermatome levels mark the nipple and the umbilicus?
T4- nipple
T10 - umbilicus
Roughly describe what each segement of spinal nerves innervates (I.e. cervical,thoracic, etc)
Cervical - Upper limbs, posterior neck and head
Thoracic - thorax
Lumbar - anterior of lower limbs
Sacral - posterior of lower limbs
What makes up a nerve plexus?
ANTERIOR RAMI
What anterior rami make up each plexus?
Cervical C1-C4
Brachial C5-T1
Lumbar L1-L4
Sacral L5-S4
Its is possible for more than one named cutaneous nerve to pass through 1 dermatome. TRUE/FALSE?
TRUE
e.g. lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh, femoral nerve and obturator nerve ALL pass through L2 dermatome
Between what spinal levels does sympathetic outflow leave the spinal cord?
T1-L2
What extra horns are found in the spinal cord where sympathetics or sacral parasympathetics leave?
Lateral horns (on edge of grey matter in spinal cord)
What 4 ways are used by sympathetics to leave the spinal cord?
1) Signal ascends sympathetic chain before synapsing
2) Signal synapses on same spinal level it leaves
3) Signal descends sympathetic chain before synapsing
4) Passes through symp. chain without synapsing, passes onto splanchnic nerves and then synapses onto viscera
What term is used to describe parasympathetic outflow and why is this?
Craniosacral Outflow
- cranial nerves III, VII, IX and X
- sacral spinal nerves
What is the difference between the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the back?
Extrinsic attach outwith back
- attach back to pectoral girdle
- move upper limb
Intrinsic attach within the spine
- Maintain posture
- Superficial - Erector Spinae
- Deep muscles - Tranversospinalis
Strain of which muscle may cause lower back pain?
erector spinae strain
What nerves supply the extrinsic vs the intrinsic muscles?
Extrinsic = Anterior rami Intrinsic = Posterior rami
What movement is created if erector spinae contracts unilaterally?
Lateral flexion
Why do vertebrae get larger towards the lumbar region and then progressively smaller again
Larger to bear more weight
UNTIL weight has transferred to hip bones
What curves of the spine are considered SECONDARY? (AKA not present from birth, they have adapted to new functions of the spine)
Cervical and Lumbar Lordosis
Where are spinal nerves found and where is the spinal cord found in relation to the vertebrae?
Spinal nerves = intervertebral foramen
Spinal cord = vertebral foramen
What ligaments are found on the outside of the vertebral body?
posterior longitudinal ligament (between body and spinal cord)
anterior longitudinal ligament (wider and gives more support)
What ligament attaches between adjacent vertebrae?
ligamentum flavum
Where are the supraspinous ligament and interspinous ligament found?
supraspinous ligament = connects tips of spinous processes
(Strong)
interspinous ligament
connects adjacent spinous processes
(weak)
What features are typical of the cervical vertebrae?
- transverse foramen
- bifid spinous process
- triangular shaped vertebral foramen
C1 does not have a body or spinous process. TRUE/FALSE?
TRUE
body is donated to C2 as odontoid process
Why is C7 important?
first palpable spinous process in ~70% of people
How does C1- Atlas connect to the base of the skull
Connection between occipital condyles and the superior articular facets of the atlas
- synovial joints for maximum movement
What movements does the Atlanto-occipital joint allow?
Flexion, extension
Little lateral flexion and rotation
How many articulations are part of the Atlanto-axial joint?
3 articulations – all synovial
What is the main function of the atlanto-axial joint?
Rotation
C1 disappears on a radiograph as it has no spinous process. TRUE/FALSE?
FALSE
the posterior arch appears like a spinous process would
It is easier to fracture cervical vertebrae than dislocate them. TRUE/FALSE?
FALSE
much easier to dislocate them
Sometimes they will reduce by themselves
What nerves pass through the anterior and posterior sacral foraminae?
Rami of spinal nerves
What is the cauda equina made up of?
Nerve roots from L2 -> Co1 descending to their intervertebral foramen at their level
Why is it safer to perform an epidural or lumbar puncture at the level of the cauda equina?
No damage to the spinal cord
Nerve roots more likely to move out of way of needle
What can result from an epidural or lumbar puncture which damages the venous plexus in the epidural fat?
Epidural haematoma which can compress the spinal cord
What layer of meninges needs to be reached during a lumbar puncture?
Subarachnoid space containing CSF for extraction
What is a laminectomy?
Removal of one or more spinous processes and the adjacent lamina
What functions are defined as special sensory?
Sight Smell Taste Hearing Balance
CN I only has a special sensory function. TRUE/FALSE?
TRUE
Only special sensory for smell
What is the extracranial part of CN I?
bipolar neurons in the olfactory mucosa of nasal cavity
What cranial foraminae does CN I pass through?
Cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone
In the Anterior cranial fossa