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Chapter 13 Flashcards

1
Q

can the spinal cord process info

A

yes

has some gray matter - a little

  • for somatic reflexes (instant responses- something too hot, primate)
  • common activities (walking/locomotion)
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2
Q

what does the spinal cord consist of

A

mostly white matter for transferring info (electrical signals) out of PNS to CNS and vice versa

some gray mater for minimal processing

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3
Q

the spinal cord it the _________ _________ that connects the brain with the _________ ________

A

the spinal cord is the information highway that connects the brain with the lower body

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4
Q

what are the functions of the spinal cord

A

Conduction
- nerve fibers conduct sensory/motor info in spinal cord

neural integration
- the neurons receive input multiple sources, integrate it, execute appropriate output

locomotion
- central pattern generators

Refelexes
-involuntary responses to stimuli that are vital to posture, coordination, protection (something hot/cut self = somativ reflexes )

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5
Q

central pattern generators

A

within spinal cord, give locomotion

groups of neurons that coordinate repetitive sequences of contractions for walking

they are little sections of gray matter in the spinal cord that put together muscle contraction processes from brain to tell when to contract when walking

begin to develop at 7months of age

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6
Q

describe the spinal cord/location

A

cylinder of nervous tissue arises from brainstem at the foramen magnum of skull

occupies upper 2/3 of vertebral canal

inferior margins end at L1 (varies)

gives rise to 31 pairs of spinal nerves (aka branches 31 times)

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7
Q

why does the spinal cord branch 31 times if there are only 25 vertebrae

A
  1. branch spinal nerve between occipital bone and C1 and is called spinal never 1
  2. past medullary cone, spinal cord begins to taper- spinal nerve branches begin to stick out of sacrum
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8
Q

what is the anterior median fissure and posterior median sulcus

A

longitudinal grooves on anterior and posterior sidees

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9
Q

what is the spinal cord divided into

A

cervical
thoracic
lumbar
sacral regions

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10
Q

what are the two areas of the spinal cord that are thicker than elsewhere (diameter wise)
buldge of white mater

A

cervical enlargement: nerves to and from upper appendages

lumbar enlargement: nerves to and from lower appendages

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11
Q

what is the medullary cone (conus medullaris)

A

where the cord tapers to a point inferior to lumbar enlargement

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12
Q

what is the cauda equina

A

bundle of nerve roots that occupy the vertebral canal from L2 to S5

spinal cord branches sticks out of inferior portion of apex

inervates lower appendages

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13
Q

what are meniges

A

three fibrous membranes that enclose the brain and spinal cord

separate soft tissue of central nervous system from bones of cranium and vertebral canal

contains dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater

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14
Q

what is the dural sheath

A

it is a part of the dura mater that surrounds the spinal cord and instead of binding to periosteum of cranium bones, it is separated from vertebrae by epidural space

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15
Q

what is epidural space for

A

has some blood vessels

its an air space

some protection

maybe flexibility

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16
Q

what is the arachnoid membrane

A

adheres to dura mater and is separated from pia by fibers spanning the subarachnoid space that is filled with cerebrospinal fluid

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17
Q

what is special about the subarachnoid space in spinal cord

A

varies in thickness due to varying volumes of CSF

small in cervical

large in lumbar

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18
Q

what is special about the subdural space in spinal cord

A

lots of blood vessels to allow stuff to go to CSF of subarachnoid space, filtered by arachnoid membrane

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19
Q

what is different about pia matter in spinal cord

A

connects to anterior/posterior fissures of spinal cord (adheres to spinal cords surface)

it also has parallel collagen fibers called ligaments

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20
Q

describe the ligaments in pia mater

A

ligaments- parallel collagen fibers

form three different ones

  1. denticulate ligament
    - the collagen extends from spinal cord, through all meniges to attach to the vertebral arches
    - prevents LATERAL movement of spinal cord
  2. coccygeal ligament
    - extension of the pia collagen fibers that attach to sacrum and coccyx
    - prevent SUP/INF movement of spinal cord
  3. occupital ligament
    - extension of pia collagen fibers that attach to occcipital bone
    - prevent SUP/INF movement of spinal cord
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21
Q

explain an epidural injection

A

given in the epidural space (usually lumbar region)

anesthetic

stops nerve impulses in that compartment and anything below

decreasing pain

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22
Q

what is spina bifida

A

congenital defect where one or more vertebrae fail to form a complete vertebral arch for enclosure of the spinal cord

spinal cord grows outside of vertebrae and even outside of skin

common in lumbosacral region

spinabifida cystica = most serious form

1- 1000 babies get

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23
Q

what causes spina bifida

A

b vitamin deficiency (folic acid )

now put in flour to prevent because important in reproductive women

defect occurs within first 4 weeks of development - must take folic acid 3 months before conception to help prevent

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24
Q

describe the cross section of the spinal cord

A

central area of gray mater (deep) - butterfly

surrounded by white mater in three columns

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25
describe the gray matter of spinal cord generally
neuron cell bodies with little myelin (lots of nisel bodies, meant for info processing and synaptic integration)
26
white matter of the spinal cord generally
abundantly myelinated axons thicker than gray carry signals from one part of CNS to another (afferent and efferent)
27
describe the buttefly of gray matter
has posterior (dorsal) horns has anterior (ventral) horns (thicker) posterior (dorsal) root and anterior (ventral) root gray commisure: lateral horns
28
what are the posterior (dorsal) root and anterior (ventral) root
posterior root: spinal nerves carries only sensory fibers anterior root: spinal nerves carry only motor fibers
29
what is the gray commissure
connects left and right side of buttefly of gray matter has central canal lined with ependymal cells and filled with CSF transfers info back and forth
30
what are the lateral horns
on the gray mater of spinal cord visible from T2 to L1 only contains neruons of sympathetic nervous system
31
describe the white matter of the spinal cord and the columns
white matter surrounds gray mater consist of bundles of axons that course up and down the cord providing communication between different levels of the CNS ``` contains columns (funiculi) - 3 pairs of thee white matter bundles -posterior, lateral (2), and anterior on each side ```
32
what are the tracts of fasciuli
each column of white matter is divided into four different tracts they are more specific bundles of axons (either all afferent or all efferent)
33
fibers in a given tract have similar....
origin, destination, and function
34
what are the different tracts
ascending tract: carry sensory info up descending tract: carry motor info down
35
what is decussation
crossing the midline that occurs in many tracts so that brain senses and controls contralateral side of body occurs in 2 places 1. superior to T6 = descussate at brainstem 2. anything below T6= decussate at T6
36
what is the difference between contralateral and ipsilateral
contralateral: - when the origin and destination of a tract are on opposite sides of the body - decussates ipsilateral - when the origin and destination of a tract are on the same side of the body does not decussate
37
where do ascending tracts carry sensory signls
up the spinal cord
38
sensory signals must do what when traveling in an ascending tract
sensory signals must travel across three neurons from origin (receptors) to destination in the sensory areas of the brain first order neurons second order neurons third order neurons decussation occurs at the level of either T6 or brainstem
39
what is the difference between the different neurons that a sensory signal must travel across to reach destination in an ascending tract
First-order neurons: -detect stimulus and transmit signal to spinal cord or brainstem -gather sensory info Second-order neurons: - continues to the thalamus at the upper end of the brainstem - carries info from 1st order to brainstem - synapses with 3rd order neuron Third-order neurons: -carries the signal the rest of the way to the sensory region of the cerebral cortex most sensory info are 3rd order pathway
40
what is a descending tract
carries motor signals down brainstem and spinal cord involve two motor neurons ALL decussation occurs in brainstem
41
what are the two motor neurons involved in descending tracts
Upper motor neuron: -originates in cerebral cortex or brainstem and terminates on a lower motor neuron Lower motor neuron: - neurosoma is in brainstem or spinal cord - Axon of lower motor neuron leads to muscle or other target organ
42
what is poliomyelitis
Disease causes destruction of motor neurons leading to skeletal muscles, causing muscle atrophy from lack of innervation caused by poliovirus destroys motor neurons in brainstem/anterior horn of spinal cord signs: muscle pain, weakness, loss of some reflexes, paralysis, muscular atrophy, respiratory arrest virus spreads by fecal contamination of water
43
Lou Gehrig Disease/ALS
destruction of motor neurons and muscular atrophy Also sclerosis (scarring) of lateral regions of the spinal cord Astrocytes fail to reabsorb the neurotransmitter glutamate from the tissue fluid -Accumulates to toxic levels Early signs: muscular weakness; difficulty speaking, swallowing, and using hands -Sensory and intellectual functions remain unaffected
44
how does spinal cord communicate with the rest of the body
by way of spinal nerves
45
what is a nerve
a cord-like organ composed of numerous nerve fibers (axons) bound together by connective tissue
46
nerve fibers of the peripheral nervous system
surrounded by Schwann cells forming neurilemma and myelin sheath around the axon
47
what are the difference between sensory, motor, and mixed nerves
sensory (afferent) nerves -Carry signals from sensory receptors to the CNS Motor (efferent) nerves -Carry signals from CNS to muscles and glands Mixed nerves -Consists of both afferent and efferent fibers
48
what can both sensory and motor fibers be described as
somatic or visceral | General or special
49
what is a ganglion
cluster of neurosomas outside the CNS Enveloped in an endoneurium continuous with that of the nerve and held together by Satellite cells also bundles f nerve fibers leading into and out of the ganglion posterior root ganglion associated with spinal nerves
50
how many pairs of spinal nerves are there (mixed nerves)
31 pairs 8 cervical (C1–C8) - First cervical nerve exits between skull and atlas - Others exit at intervertebral foramina 12 thoracic (T1–T12) 5 lumbar (L1–L5) 5 sacral (S1–S5) 1 coccygeal (Co1)
51
each spinal nerve is formed from two roots (proximal branches). what are the two roots (Repeat question, more info added)
posterior (dorsal) root - sensory input to spinal cord - has a posterior root ganglion: contains neurosomas of sensory neurons carrying signals to the spinal cord anterior (ventral) root - is motor output out of spinal cord
52
what forms the cauda equina
formed from roots arising from L2 to Co1
53
what is the cervical plexus
in the neck C1-C5 supplies neck and phrenic nerve to the diaphram
54
what is the brachial plexus
near the shoulder C5-T1 supplies upper limbs and some of shoulder and neck median nerve: associated with carpal tunnel syndrome
55
what is the lumbar plexus
in the lower back L1-L4 supplies abdominal wall, anterior thigh, and genetalia
56
what is the sacral plexus
in the plevis L4, L5, and S1 to S4 supplies remainder of lower trunk and lower limb
57
coccygeal plexus
S4, S5, Co1
58
describe chicken pox
common disease of early childhoodf caused by varicella-zoster virus produces itchy rash that clears up without any complications
59
where is the chicken pox virus stored in the body
after chicken pox, the virus remains in body for life in the posterior root ganglia it is kept in check by the immune system
60
shingles
also called the herpes zoster localized disease caused by the virus traveling down the sensory nerves when immune system is compromised common after age 50 painful trail of skin discoloration and fluid filled vesciles along path of nerve usually in chest and waist on one side of the body pain and itching childhood chickenpox vaccinations reduce the risk of shingles later in life no sex link
61
what is a dermatome
a specific area of the skin that conveys sensory input to a spinal nerve detects fine touch and pressure
62
dermatome map
diagram of the cutaneous regions innervated by each spinal nerve
63
dermatomes do what with their edges
they ovelap edges as much as 50% necessary t anestheize three successive spinal nerves to produce total loss of sensation in one dermatome

Anatomy (20 decks)

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