Ch. 13: Spinal Region

Question 1

Overall Function of Anterior Columns

Answer 1

Motor

Question 2

Overall Function of Anterolateral Columns

Answer 2

Pain

Question 3

Overall Function of Lateral Column

Answer 3

Autonomic

Question 4

Overall Function of Dorsal Columns

Answer 4

Sensory

Question 5

Spinal cord regional differences

Answer 5

Sacral: decreased white matter
Lumbar: increased grey matter
Thoracic: decreased grey matter
Cervical: increased grey and white matter

Question 6

Dorsal Root

Answer 6

• Sensory
• dorsal root ganglion
• 2 divisions: medial and lateral

Question 7

Medial division fibers of dorsal root

Answer 7

• sensory fibers into dorsal column

- discriminative touch, proprioception

Question 8

Lateral division fibers of dorsal root

Answer 8

-sensory fibers that cross midline to go up anterolateral column

Question 9

White Matter

Answer 9

• propriospinal axons
• Tract axons (vertical columns of white matter)
• columns (bundles of white matter)

Question 10

Bladder Void Reflex

Answer 10

• autonomic/visceral reflex (reflex loop of aff/eff autonomic)
• stim: stretch of full bladder
• Response: parasymp control bladder
• descending sympathetics inhibit void

Question 11

Cauda Equina damage on bladder

Answer 11

-flaccid bladder

Question 12

Spinal cord damage above lumbar affect on bladder

Answer 12

-spastic bladder

Question 13

Segmental dysfunction 
(horizontal)

Answer 13

• S/Sx level of lesion only
• decreased dermtomal sensation
• decreased myotomal motor function

Question 14

Tract Pattern

Answer 14

-sensory, motor, and autonomic loss at all segments below lesion

Question 15

Neurologic Level

Answer 15

-lowest level of spinal cord that still has normal sensory function and motor function is 3/5 with the next level up 5/5

Question 16

Propriospinal Axons

Answer 16

• interneurons that travel between spinal segments to help coordinate multi-segmental reflexes
• create wiring for multisegment reflexes (w/d) and stepping pattern generator

Question 17

Grey Matter

Answer 17

• Horns
• dorsal: sensory somas
• lateral: efferent autonomic somas
• ventral: LMN somas

Question 18

Spinal Shock

Answer 18

• initial loss of spinal level reflexes and autonomic reflexes
• then hyperreflexia below lesion

Question 19

Vertical Tract Dysfunction

Answer 19

• Tract pattern
• dorsal column signs contralateral
• anterolateral column signs contralateral
• corticospinal signs ipsilateral

Question 20

Spinal Region Syndromes

Answer 20

• Anterior cord syndrome
• central cord syndrome
• brown-sequard syndrome
• cauda equina syndrome

Question 21

Tetraplegia

Answer 21

paralysis of all 4 limbs and trunk

Question 22

paraplegia

Answer 22

paralysis of 2 LE and some trunk

Question 23

Atrophy of Denervation

Answer 23

-LMN injury

Question 24

Atrophy of Disuse

Answer 24

-UMN injury

Question 25

Abnormal reflex activity in chronic cord injury

Answer 25

• below level of injury: hyperreflexia, enhanced w/d reflex

- the more the reflex loop is cut off from the UMN, the worse the hyperreflexia will be

Question 26

Autonomic Dysfunction in chronic Spinal cord injury

Answer 26

• Autonomic hyperreflexia
• impaired temp regulation (decreased sweating and shunting of blood)
• orthostatic hypotension
• (above T1)

Question 27

Autonomic Hyperreflexia

Answer 27

• cause: damage of autonomic (above T1)
• stimulus: noxious irritant (full bladder)
• response: systemic increase in sympathetic functions (HR, BP)

Question 28

Mechanical changes in Mm below lesion

Answer 28

• Atrophy
• Fibrosis
• Contracture