autonomics Flashcards
autonomic nervous system
the visceral motor component of the PNS. innervates the smooth and cardiac muscles
two divisions of ANS
sympathetic and parasympathetic, chain of two motor neurons
sympathetic division
fight, flight, freight, activated during excitement, exercise, or emergencies (increased heart rate & blood flow)
parasympathetic division
rest and digest, conserves energy, returns body to normal at rest actions
meninges
connective tissue that covers the spinal cord
3 meninges
dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
dura mater
tough outside layer, thickest most protective
arachnoid mater
thin, spider web-like middle layer, contains blood vessels that nourish cord
pia mater
inner layer, directly stuck to cord, least protected, smallest
epidural space
common site for injecting anesthetics to numb the spinal cord and relieve pain inferior to injection site, outside dura mater
subdural space
small area that can potentially fill with fluid or blood due to an injury or infection, between dura mater & arachnoid mater
subarachnoid space
filled with CSF, contains blood vessels, between arachnoid mater & pia mater
cervical and lumbar enlargements
sites where the nerves for the upper and lower limbs form, more fibers and axons coming off in these regions
conus medullaris
inferior tapered end of the spinal cord (ends between L1 & L2)
filum terminale
long filament of connective tissue, anchors spinal cord so it doesn’t pull up
