Apex- Spinal Cord Flashcards
The artery of Adamkiwicz (select 2):
- More commonly arises from the left side
- provides collateral circulation to the posterior spinal cord
- usually arises between T4-T8
- occlusion can cause flaccid paralysis
- More commonly arises from the left side
- occlusion can cause flaccid paralysis
(arises between T8-T12 in 75% of population)
(supplies the anterior spinal artery which serves the anterior [not posterior] two-thirds of the spinal cord
Becks syndrome is AKA:
Anterior spinal artery syndrome
The spinal cord circulation consists of what 3 types of arteries and what do they each supply?
- 2 Posterior spinal arteries - supply posterior 1/3 of SC
- 1 Anterior spinal artery
- perfuses anterior 2/3 of SC - Radicular arteries (6-8) - supply the spinal arteries in the thoracolumbar region of the spinal cord
What supply the anterior and posterior spinal arteries in the cervical region of the spinal cord?
-what about below this?
Cervical = vertebral arteries
Below = radicular and lumbar arteries
What does the artery of Adamkiewicz perfuse?
The anterior spinal cord in the thoracolumbar region
The artery of Adamkiewicz usually originates on which side (left/right) and at which level?
Left side
T11-12
What can result in anterior spinal artery syndrome (beck syndrome)?
An aortic cross-clamp placed above the artery of adamkiewicz (can cause ischemia to the lower portion of the anterior spinal cord)
Classic s/s of anterior spinal artery syndrome (4)
- Flaccid paralysis of LE’s
- Bowel and bladder dysfunction
- Loss of temp and pain
- Preserved touch and proprioception
What is preserved in beck’s syndrome? (anterior spinal artery syndrome)
Touch and proprioception
What is the radicularis magna?
The Artery of Adamkiewicz
Generally speaking, the (anterior/posterior) cord contains (motor/sensory) neurons
anterior cord = motor neurons
posterior cord = sensory neurons
The corticospinal tract is perfused by the (anterior/posterior) blood supply.
anterior (corticospinal/motor)
beck syndrome = flaccid paralysis of LE’s
Autonomic motor fibers are perfused by the (anterior/posterior) blood supply
anterior
beck syndrome = bowel and bladder dysfunction
The spinothalamic tract is perfused by the (anterior/posterior) blood fupply
anterior (spinothalamic = pain and temperature)
beck syndrome = loss of pain and temp
The dorsal column is perfused by (anterior/posterior) blood supply
Posterior (dorsal column = touch and proprioception)
Beck syndrome = preserved touch and proprioception bc thats supplied by the posterior circulation and beck syndrome is anterior circulation distruption
What are 3 spinal pathways that are supplied by the anterior spinal artery?
- Corticospinal (motor) - A fibers (A alpha)
- Spinothalmic (pain&temp) (A-Delta and C)
- Autonomic motor fibers (bowel and bladder) (b fibers)
What spinal pathway is supplied by the posterior spinal artery?
The dorsal column (touch and proprioception)
Sensory neurons from the periphery enter the spinal cord via the _____.
Motor and autonomic neurons exit via the _________
dorsal nerve root (sensory)
Ventral nerve root (motor and autonomic)
What is a collection of cell bodies that reside outside the CNS?
what about inside the CNS?
outside = ganglion
inside = nucleus
What laminae are sensory, motor, and central commisure (cross-over) area
1-6 = sensory (dorsal gray matter) 7-9 = motor (ventral gray matter) 10 = central commisures (crossover area)
What part of the spinal cord contains the axons of the ascending and descending tracts?
the white matter
The gray matter is larger in what 2 specific regions of the spinal cord and what do they contain/supply.
- C5-C7 - contain cell bodies for neurons that supply the upper extremities
- L3-S2 - contain cell bodies for the neurons that supply the lower extremities
What contains the axons of the ascending and descending tracts?
White matter
What is the white matter divided into?
Dorsal, lateral, and ventral columns
Match the sensory tracts:
- Dorsal Column
- Tract of Lissaur
- Lateral spinothalmic tract
- ventral spinaothalmic tract
- pain and temp (2)
- fine touch and proprioception
- crude touch and pressure
*bonus if you can list the associated fibers
- Dorsal Column
>fine touch and proprioception
(A-alpha = proprioception)
-Tract of Lissaur
>pain and temp
(A-delta and C fibers)
-Lateral spinothalmic tract
>Pain and temp
(A-delta and C fibers)
-ventral spinothalamic tract
>Crude touch and pressure
(A-beta = touch and pressure)
What are the 2 motor tracts and what do they transmit?
Lateral corticospinal tract (limb motor)
Ventral corticospinal tract (posture motor)
The ascending and descending tracts of the spinal cord contain what part of the neuron?
The axon (makes up the white matter)
T/F - the dorsal column transmits nociceptive input to the thalamus
False!
-The anterolateral system
The dorsal column is a (1-2-3) neuron sensory pathway that transmits what 4 things
3-neuron sensory pathway
transmits:
- Fine touch
- Proprioception (A-Alpha)
- Vibration (A-beta)
- Pressure (A-beta)
Which spinal system is capable of two-point discrimination?
Dorsal Column Medial Lemniscal System
T/F- the dorsal column medial lemniscal system transmits sensory information faster than the anterolateral system
True
Describe transmission through the Dorsal Column-Medial lemniscal system
1st order neuron (A-alpha or A-beta) enters DRG and ascends the ipislateral side
*synapses with 2nd in the medulla > crosses to contralateral side & ascends
> thalmus *synapses with 3rd order neuron & ascends to the somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobe
Match:
Merkel’s discs
Pacinian corpuscles
Ruffini’s endings
Meissner’s corpuscles
- Vibration
- Proprioception
- Continous touch
- Prolonged touch and pressure
- 2 point discrimination touch and vibration
Merkel’s discs
>Continuous touch
Pacinian corpuscles
>Vibration
Ruffini’s endings
>Prolonged touch and pressure (its never going to END)
>proprioception
Meissner’s corpuscles
>2 point discrimination touch and vibration
Which pathway transmit afferent nociceptive input to the brain?
A. Medial lemniscal system
B. Anterolateral system
C. Corticospinal tract
D. Tract of Lissauer
B. Anterolateral system
(DMLS)- transmits fine touch, proprioception, vibration and pressure
(Lissauer) - relays sensory info
(corticospinal) - transmits motor impulses
Anterolateral system AKA
spinothalamic tract
Anterolateral system transmits what 6 sensations
- Pain
- Temp
- Crude touch
- Tickle
- Sexual sensations
- Itch
*the kinky tract = anterolateral
Describe transmission through the anterolateral system (ventrolateral)
1st order neuron (A-delta or C) enters DRG and may ascend/descend 1-3 levels on ipislateral side in the tract of lissaur before synapsing with 2nd
*synapses with 2nd in the substantial gelatinosa (rex lamina 2) > crosses to contralateral side of spinal cord & ascends via the lateral or antero/ventral spinothalmic tracts
> *synapses with 3rd order neuron in RAS and thalmus & ascends to the somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobe
Neopinothalmic tract =
Lateral spinothalmic tract (transmits pain and temp)
Paleopsinothalmic tract =
Anterior (ventral) spinothalmic tract (transmits crude touch and pressure)
Injury to the corticospinal tract above the level of decussation in the medulla will result in (select 2)
- flaccid paralysis
- contralateral paralysis
- ipsilateral paralysis
- spastic paralysis
- spastic paralysis
- contralateral paralysis
(injury above decussation = spastic paralysis on the contralateral side)
Pyramidal tract =
Corticospinal tract
All motor pathways outside of the corticospinal tract are collectively known as what
the extrapyramidal tract
Upper motor neurons begin in the _______ and synapse with the lower motor neurons where?
Whereas lower motor neurons begin in the ______ and end where?
begin in the cerebral cortex
- synapse with lower motor neurons in the ventral horn of the spinal cord
- lower motor neurons begin in the ventral horn & end at the NMJ
UPPER motor neuron injury ABOVE/below the level of decussation results in what?
2 examples of upper motor neuron disease
UPPER ABOVE: Spastic, contralateral paralysis
UPPER BELOW: spastic ipsilateral paralysis
-CP & ALS