Chapter 50 - Anatomy and physiology of neurologic system Flashcards
What is the 2 goals of a neurologic examination in horses?
o determine if the horse is neurologically normal or abnormal.
To determine neuroanatomical localization of the abnormality
List three factors that help in formulating a list of possible causes of neurologic issues in horses.
1) Signalment,
2) onset and duration of signs, 3)
presence or absence of pain and fever.
Name three aspects that must be evaluated in a neurologic examination.
Behaviour
Cranial nerves
gait evaluation
What is the central nervous system (CNS) composed of?
The brain and spinal cord.
What must be evaluated in horses suspected of lacking voluntary movement?
Nociception (pain perception)
What does the peripheral nervous system include?
Nerve roots, ganglia, cranial and spinal nerves, and neuromuscular junctions.
What are the embryologic divisions of the forebrain?
Telencephalon and diencephalon.
Which structures form the cauda equina?
Sacral and caudal nerve roots and nerves.
What are the three divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic, parasympathetic, and intrinsic enteric plexuses.
What brain regions are part of the hindbrain (rhombencephalon)?
Metencephalon (pons and cerebellum) and myelencephalon (medulla oblongata).
What structure runs ventral to the neural crest?
The notochord.
What is the primary embryological structure from which the nervous system develops?
The neural plate.
How is the brain functionally divided?
Cerebrothalamus
brain stem
cerebellum
How does the midbrain (mesencephalon) affect the neural canal?
The development of the midbrain reduces the neural canal to a narrow tube called the mesencephalic aqueduct.
What structures are formed from the rostral part of the neural tube?
The rostral neural tube forms the cerebrum (telencephalon), thalamus, and hypothalamus (diencephalon).
How does the neural tube form from the neural crest?
The neural crest folds upward and medially, meeting in the midline to form the neural tube.
What does the neural canal eventually form?
The neural canal forms the ventricular system, including the third and lateral ventricles.
In which directions does the neural tube close, starting from the brain–spinal cord junction?
The neural tube closes progressively in both rostral and caudal directions.
What parts of the hindbrain are developed from the rostral and caudal regions?
The rostral hindbrain forms the pons and cerebellum, while the caudal part forms the medulla oblongata.
How are primitive neurons within the spinal cord organized?
They are organized into mantle and marginal layers, which become gray and white matter, respectively.
What are the three regions of white matter in the spinal cord, and how are they divided?
The regions are called funiculi and are divided into dorsal, lateral, and ventral sections.
What bones make up the cranium?
parietal,
ethmoid,
interparietal,
frontal
occipital,
sphenoid,
temporal bones PEIFOST
What structure attaches to the internal occipital protuberance?
The tentorium cerebelli, a tent-shaped dura mater extension.
What is the approximate volume of the cranial cavity in an adult horse?
Approximately 650 mL.
What structure separates the cranial cavity’s rostral and caudal concavities?
The internal occipital protuberance.
Which bones encase the cerebellum dorsally and laterally?
The occipital and petrous temporal bones.
What can happen to the cerebral lobes due to forebrain swelling?
They may herniate under the falx (subfalcine herniation) or the tentorium (transtentorial herniation).
What structure in the cranial cavity supports the frontal and olfactory parts of the cerebrum?
The rostral fossa.
What bone forms the majority of the rostral fossa?
The sphenoid bone.
What structure is attached to the internal parietal crest?
The falx cerebri.
What structure passes through the foramina in the cribriform plate?
Olfactory nerve bundles.
What is the role of the cribriform plate of the ethmoid?
It forms the rostral wall of the cranial cavity and separates it from the nasal cavity.
What cranial nerves pass through the medial groove in the middle cranial fossa?
Cranial nerves III, IV, V (ophthalmic branch), and VI.
Figure 50-2. Simplified diagram of the functional (left) and anatomic (right) organization of the spinal cord at the level of the seventh cervical segment. a, Dorsal funiculus of the white matter; b, dorsal root; c, dorsal column of the gray matter; d, intermediate column of the gray matter; e, lateral funiculus of the white matter; f, ventral column of the gray matter; g, ventral root; h, ventral funiculus of the white matter; i, upper motor neuron (descending) tracts; j, sensory/pain (ascending) tracts; k, proprioceptive (ascending) tracts.
Figure 50-3. Sagittal section of cranium. a, Frontal bone; b, parietal bone; c, occipital bone (squamous part); d, paramastoid process; e, basioccipital bone; f, basisphenoid bone; g, hypoglossal foramen; h, foramen lacerum; i, internal acoustic meatus; k, spinous notch; l, oval notch; m, carotid notch; n, groove for maxillary nerve; o, optic foramen; p, sphenoidal sinus; q, central compartment sphenoidal sinus; r, perpendicular plate of ethmoid bone; s, septum between frontal sinuses; t, orbital wing of sphenoid bone; u, temporal wing of sphenoid bone; v, internal occipital protuberance.
What is the function of the foramen lacerum?
It provides passage for cranial nerves V (mandibular branch), IX, X, and XI.
Where is the hypophyseal fossa located?
In the middle cranial fossa.
What cranial nerve passes through the hypoglossal foramen?
Cranial nerve XII.
What muscles attach to the ventral tubercles on the basilar bones?
The rectus capitis ventralis and longus capitis muscles.
What condition can result from remodeling and fusion of the temporohyoid joint?
Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy.
What are the two main parts of the temporal bone?
The squamous and petrous bones.
Which cranial nerves pass through the internal acoustic meatus?
Cranial nerves VII and VIII.
What is housed within the petrous part of the temporal bone?
The cavities and specialized bones of the auditory and vestibular systems.
What happens in a transforamen magnum herniation?
The caudal part of the cerebellum is squeezed through the foramen magnum.
When does the sphenooccipital synchondrosis typically fuse in horses?
Around 5 years of age.
What type of joints are between the plates of the cranium?
Immobile synarthroses.
What are the five regions of the vertebral column?
Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal.
What is the typical formula of the vertebral column in horses?
C7, T18, L6, S5, Cy15-21.
What are the components of each vertebra?
A body, an arch, and various processes.
What is the function of the vertebral foramen?
It protects the spinal cord, nerve roots, and cauda equina.
What structures make up the ventral column of the vertebral column?
The ventral longitudinal ligament and the ventral half of the vertebral bodies and discs.
What is the relationship between column injury and prognosis for recovery?
As more columns are impacted, the prognosis for recovery decreases.
Where are fractures most commonly reported in racing Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses?
The axis and third cervical vertebra.
What are the shapes of the cervical vertebrae’s articular processes?
Cranial articular processes are dorsomedially directed, posterior ones are ventrolaterally directed.
What is cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy commonly called in horses?
“Wobblers.”
What are the main components of the atlas?
Dorsal and ventral arches, lateral processes, and wings.
Where does the dens project from and what supports it?
It projects from the body of the axis and rests on the fovea dentis of the atlas.
What type of motion is the cranial cervical area vulnerable to?
Hyperflexion, hyperextension, and axial compressive forces.
What structure provides additional stability to the thoracic vertebrae?
The bracing action of the ribs and sternum.
How is the sacrum formed?
By the fusion of five sacral vertebrae.
What condition can result from injury to the sacral nerves?
Cauda equina syndrome or gait abnormalities in the pelvic limbs.
What are the ossification centers in each vertebra?
One body, two arches, and physeal plates at either end of the body.
What condition is commonly associated with the facet joints in young horses?
Arthropathy, often due to vertebral malformation.
The sphenooccipital synchondrosis fuses at what age?
at 5 years old
The sutures of parietal bones ossify when?
The suture between the parietal bones ossifies at 4 years, the parietooccipital suture at 5 years, and the parietotemporal suture at 12 to 15 years.
What is the vertebral formula of the horse?
C7, T18, L6, S5, Cy15-21.
What structures are formed by the arch of each vertebra?
Two lateral pedicles and a dorsal lamina.
What is the purpose of the intervertebral foramina?
Provides passage for spinal nerves and vessels.
What forms the vertebral canal?
Successive vertebrae joined by dorsal and ventral longitudinal ligaments.
Which column primarily contains the vertebral bodies and discs?
The ventral column.
What are the three columns in the biomechanical model of the spine?
Ventral, middle, and dorsal columns.
How is the prognosis affected by injury to multiple spinal columns?
The prognosis for recovery decreases as more columns are impacted.
Which cervical vertebrae are most commonly fractured in racing horses?
The axis (C2) and the third cervical vertebra.
What are the typical curvatures of the vertebral column in the median plane?
Cervical (concave ventrally), cervicothoracic junction (concave dorsally), thoracolumbar (gentle ventral concavity), and lumbosacral (more marked ventral concavity).
What happens to vertebral canal diameter along the vertebral column?
It varies, with expansions at the cervicothoracic and lumbosacral regions.
What is a characteristic of the cervical vertebrae?
Large and long with a thick, strong arch.
What condition results from cervical vertebral malformation in horses?
Cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy, also known as “wobblers.”
What modification helps the first two cervical vertebrae support head movements?
The atlas has dorsal and ventral arches and lateral processes, while the axis has a dens that rests on the atlas.