Central Nervous System Structures (Brain & Spinal Cord) Flashcards
The diameter of the spinal cord _________ as you move inferiorly.
decreases.
What are the 7 important anatomical landmarks of the spinal cord?
- Cervical enlargement.
- Lumbosacral enlargement.
- Conus medullaris.
- Filum terminale.
- Cauda equina.
- Posterior median sulcus.
- Anterior median fissure.
What are the 3 structures on the inferior end of the spinal cord?
- Conus medullaris.
- Filum terminale.
- Cauda equina.
The _____ _________ is the cone-shaped end of the spinal cord.
conus medullaris.
Describe the filum terminale:
Thread-like extension of the pia mater.
What is the caudae equinae?
The dorsal & ventral roots of the lowest spinal nerves.
Between which vertebrae would you perform a spinal tap?
L3 to L5.
Where do we insert the needle when performing a spinal tap?
The subarachnoid space
What are 3 purposes of a spinal tap?
- Sampling CSF for diagnosis.
- Injection of antibiotics, anesthetic, chemotherapy, etc.
- Measuring CSF pressure.
What is the function of the meninges?
Protection & covering of the brain & spinal cord.
What are the 3 layers of the spinal meninges, from most to least superficial.
- Dura mater (outermost).
- Arachnoid mater.
- Pia mater (innermost).
Where is the epidural space?
Between the dura mater & vertebral bones.
Where is the subdural space?
Between the dura mater & arachnoid mater.
Where is the subarachnoid space?
Between the arachnoid mater & pia mater.
Gray matter contains ______ ____ ______ while white matter contains _____.
neuron cell bodies (somas); axons.
The anterior gray horn has _____ functions while the posterior gray horn has _______ functions.
motor; sensory.
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31 pairs.
What 2 branches do spinal nerves form?
The dorsal ramus & the ventral ramus.
The dorsal ramus deals with _______ functions while the ventral ramus deals with _____ functions.
sensory; motor.
Which spinal nerves have 2 additional branches?
All nerves from T1 to L2.
What are the 2 additional branches that only some nerves have?
White ramus & gray ramus.
The white ramus & gray ramus are collectively called the:
rami communicantes.
Spinal nerves supply specific regions of the skin known as __________.
dermatomes.
What is a nerve plexus?
A network of intersecting nerves serving the same part of the body.
What are the 4 nerve plexuses & where are they located?
- Cervical plexus: neck.
- Brachial plexus: armpit.
- Lumbar plexus: back.
- Sacral plexus: tailbone.
Sometimes, the lumbar & sacral plexuses are combined to form the ___________ plexus.
lumbosacral plexus.
What are the 5 steps of a reflex arc?
- Activation of sensory receptor.
- Information relayed to CNS.
- Info is processed.
- Activation of motor neuron.
- Response by effector.
What are the 4 ways we can classify reflexes?
- Development (innate of learned).
- Response (somatic or visceral/autonomic).
- Complexity (mono or polysynaptic).
- Processing site (spinal or cranial).
The _______ reflex is normal in adults, while the ________ reflex is only normal in infants (abnormal in adults).
plantar; Babinski reflex.
Folds in the brain are called ____ while grooves are called either _____ or ________.
gyri; sulci or fissures.
What separates the left & right cerebral hemispheres?
Longitudinal fissure.
What are the names of the 4 cerebral lobes?
- Frontal lobe.
- Parietal lobe.
- Occipital lobe.
- Temporal lobe.
What separates the frontal & parietal lobes?
The central sulcus.
What are the names of the 2 gyri surrounding the central sulcus?
The precentral gyrus & postcentral gyrus.