Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Neurology > Class 6 > Flashcards

Class 6 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the spinal cord?

A

long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, which extends from brainstem at occipital bone (foramen magnum) to lumbar region.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the function of the spinal cord?

A

functions primarily in transmission of afferent & efferent signals from and to body. Is also center for coordinating many reflexes & contains reflex arcs that can independently control reflexes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Spinal cord is also location of groups of spinal interneurons that make up neural circuits known as _________________________. These circuits are responsible for controlling _________________________________________________.

A

• central pattern generators (CPGs)
• motor instructions for rhythmic movements such as walking

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are Central pattern generators (CPGs)?

A

self-organizing biological neural circuits that produce rhythmic outputs in absence of rhythmic input.

Eg. basic pattern of stepping can be produced by SC
without the need of descending signals from brain.
Swallowing depends on CPG located in medulla oblongata, involving coordinated contraction of more than 25 pairs of muscles followed by primary esophageal peristalsis.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Part of the CNS. Begins at the bottom of the ______________, & ends in lower back, as it tapers to form a cone called ___________________.

A

• brain stem
• conus medullaris

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

At the bottom of the spinal cord is the ___________________. A collection of nerves that drives its name meaning horses tail. CSF surrounds the spinal cord where it is protected by the ________________.

A

• cauda equina
• meninges

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

There are _____ bones of the spinal column called vertebrae.

A

33

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the different vertebrae of the spinal column & what are they called?

A
  • Cervical vertebrae (C1-C7)
  • Thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12)
  • Lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5)
  • Sacral (S1-S5) which are
    fused together
  • 1 coccygeal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

There are ______ pairs of spinal nerves and roots. _____ pairs of cervical nerves, _____ pairs of thoracic nerves, and _____ lumbar nerves.

A

• 31
• 8
•12
• 5

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

From C1-C7, the spinal nerves exit above ______________________________, C8 comes out between _______ & _______, & the remaining nerve roots exit below ______________________________.

A

• the corresponding number
• C7 and T1
•their corresponding vertebrae

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap)?

A

Anesthesia (without sensation) is a state of controlled, temporary loss of sensation that is induced for medical purposes.

May include some or all of analgesia (relief from or
prevention of pain), paralysis, amnesia (loss of memory), & unconsciousness.

Needle is inserted between two lumbar vertebrae below conus medullaris.

sample of CSF is removed from subarachnoid space, the
area between arachnoid membrane & pia mater.

Can help diagnose disorders such as meningitis, multiple sclerosis or cancers of brain or spinal cord. Sometimes is used to inject anesthetics & medications (chemotherapy) into CSF.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is Anesthesia (without sensation)?

A

State of controlled, temporary loss of sensation that is induced for medical purposes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is analgesia?

A

Relief from or prevention of pain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is Paralysis, Amnesia?

A

Loss of memory.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a spinal cord segment?

A

Area of the spinal cord from which a pair of dorsal & ventral roots attach.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

A spinal cord segment is area of spinal cord from which a pair of dorsal & ventral roots attach. As the nerve passes into the vertebral notch, it ___________________________.

A

splits into two roots

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

The anterior & posterior nerve roots combine on each side to form the _____________ as they exit the vertebral canal through the __________________________.

A

• spinal nerves
• intervertebral foramina

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How many roots make up a spinal cord segment?

A

4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Ascending tracts are _____________. Descending tracts (those which travel away from the brain) are ___________.

A

• sensory
• motor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

The dorsal (posterior) root carries ____________________
information

A

• afferent (to the CNS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

ventral (anterior) root carries ________________________ information

A

efferent (to muscles & viscera)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

The butterfly-shaped, or “H” shaped core of the spinal cord is _______________, consisting of __________________________.

A

gray matter, consisting of unmyelinated neuronal cell bodies.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Gray matter is divided into ________________________________ horns.

A

Dorsal, lateral and ventral horns.

24
Q

The white matter that surrounds the gray matter has three columns; the ____________________________________________.

A

dorsal columns, the lateral columns & the ventral columns.

25
Q

The amount of grey and white matter varies at different spinal cord levels. The white matter consists of mostly _________________________ and some ________________________ of sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons. It contains many tracts.

A

myelinated and some unmyelinated axons

26
Q

What is the ascending process?

A

Somatic sensory axons, which innervate & collect information from skin, muscles & joints, enter spinal cord via dorsal roots. Unipolar axons entering dorsal horn usually synapse with hundreds of interneurons. These interneurons connect with other neurons within spinal cord & form ascending sensory tracts that will synapse in higher brain centers. Cell bodies of these neurons lie outside spinal cord in clusters called dorsal root ganglions. There is a dorsal root ganglion for heach spinal nerve.

27
Q

What is a dorsal root ganglion?

A

A swelling in posterior root containing cell bodies of sensory (unipolar primary afferent) neurons in PNS. Dorsal root carries ascending sensory axons whose cell bodies lie in the dorsal root ganglia.

28
Q

What is the Descending Process?

A

Descending tracts from brain synapse with lower motor neurons cell bodies in ventral horn. Ventral root carries descending motor axons arising from gray matter of ventral spinal cord. Down the nerve to motor neurons/lower motor neurons to effector (muscle). Ventral root axons join with peripheral processes of dorsal root ganglion cells to form mixed (afferent & efferent) spinal nerves, which merge to form peripheral nerves.

29
Q

What are the key takeaways of Ascending and Descending process?

A
  • Unipolar/sensory neurons carries afferent/ascending information via dorsal (posterior) root
  • To dorsal (posterior) horn of grey matter of spinal cord.
  • Ascending tract of axons
  • Descending tracts carry efferent information from brain & synapse with lower motor neurons cell bodies in ventral (anterior) horn of grey matter of spinal cord.
  • To ventral root, down the nerve to lower motor neurons/multipolar neurons
30
Q

lateral horn is present at ______ levels of the spinal cord,
specifically through levels ______. All sympathetic nervous
system outflow is via the T1-L2 cell bodies in the ________________.

A

• 1
• T1-L2
• lateral horn

31
Q

The Sympathetic NS is therefore referred to as the __________________ division of the ANS.

A

• Thoracolumbar

32
Q

The Parasympathetic NS is also known as the ___________________ division of the ANS.

A

• Cranial Sacral

33
Q

What are Dermatomes?

A

Dermatomes exist for each of these spinal nerves, (except the first cervical spinal nerve). A dermatome is an area of skin supplied by peripheral nerve fibers (axons) originating from a single spinal nerve.

34
Q

What happens to dermatame if a nerve is cut?

A

one loses sensation from that dermatome. Because each segment of cord innervates different region of body, dermatomes can be mapped on body surface. Loss of sensation in dermatome may indicate exact level of spinal cord damage in clinical assessment of injury. But there is some overlap between neighbouring dermatomes. Dermatome maps vary.

35
Q

Adjacent dermatomes have distinct borders. However, there is considerable overlap. This means that loss of a single nerve root rarely produces significant loss of skin sensitivity. ___________________ are the exception to this rule & are found in small patches in distal extremities. These are distinct & non-overlapping areas of skin. Eg. Sensation in part of dorsum of the foot & part of great toe are only affected by an _____________.

A

• Autonomous zones
• L5 lesion

36
Q

Limb dermatomes have a confusing arrangement stemming from limb rotation during development at about _____ weeks as an adaptation to the erect position.

A

5 weeks

37
Q

Dermatomes are useful in localizing site of damage in spinal cord & brainstem particularly in __________________.

A

radiculopathy

38
Q

Radiculopathy is caused by ________________________________.

A

compression, inflammation and/or injury to spinal nerve.

39
Q

A ________________ with nerve compression is by far the most common cause. There may be various symptoms in the dermatomic area covered by the compressed nerve.

A

herniated disc

40
Q

What is referred pain?

A

Pain perceived at location other than site of painful stimulus. Your brain misperceives location of pain. Eg: Gallbladder can refer pain to ipsilateral shoulder.

41
Q

What is the gallbladder?

A

A four-inch, pear-shaped organ when full of bile. It is positioned under your liver in upper-right section of your abdomen. It stores bile which allows some nutrients to be more easily absorbed into bloodstream.

The gallbladder lies next to the right diaphragm. Gallbladder inflammation can spread to the diaphragm. The right phrenic nerve from the diaphragm enters CNS via right spinal nerves at C3, 4 & 5.

42
Q

Afferent signals from right shoulder, dermatome 4, also converge on spinal nerve roots ________. Brain projects the sensation to the usual point of stimulation, the right shoulder & misperceives where pain is actually coming from.

A

C3-5

43
Q

Pain pattern is ipsilateral to the area of irritation. This pain may be aggravated by _______________________ such as _________________________________________________________.
.

A

respiratory movement such as sighing, deep breathing, coughing, sneezing, laughing, or hiccups

44
Q

T/F Referred shoulder pain is a frequent post-operative complaint?

A

While in surgery, carbon dioxide is injected into the abdomen, lifting the viscera so that the surgeon can see better and move the scopes around more easily.

45
Q

When surgery is finished its difficult to remove all the carbon dioxide. Diaphragm is stretched, & phrenic nerve irritated. This can cause referred pain in shoulder again. Body slowly absorbs remaining carbon dioxide, usually within _______ days.

A

three

46
Q

A typical chart showing various Referred Pain Patterns (there are many variations). Note that:

A

Stomach refers to the interscapular area
Heart to an area that includes the T1 dermatome.
Spleen to left shoulder

47
Q

What is a phantom limb?

A

Referred sensation of pain from limb that has been lost or from which person no longer receives physical signals. Its an experience almost universally reported by amputees and quadriplegics.

48
Q

Dermatomes List

A

C2: 3 cm behind the ear or 1 cm lateral to the occipital protuberance
C3: supraclavicular fossa, at the midclavicular line or lateral aspect of neck
C4:acromioclavicular joint
C5- over deltoid
C6- tip of thumb
C7- tip of middle finger
C8- tip of little finger
T1- medial side of elbow, just proximal to medial epicondyle of humerus
T2- medial upper arm, or apex of the axilla
T3–T6, upper thorax
T5–T7, costal margin
T8–T12, abdomen and lumbar region (T10 at the level of umbilicus, T12 is
at the midpoint of inguinal ligament)
L1- groin, midway between key sensory points for T12 & L2
L2- upper 1/3rd of anterior thigh
L3- medial epicondyle of femur
L4- lateral knee to medial malleolus
L5- lateral lower leg to dorsum of big toe or dorsum of 3rd MTP
S1- lateral aspect of the calcaneus or heel
S2- medial aspect of posterior thigh or midpoint of popliteal fossa
S3- over the ischial tuberosity
S4-S5- perineal area

49
Q

Myotomes List

A

C1/C2: Neck flexion/extension
C3: Neck lateral flexion
C4: Shoulder elevation
C5: Shoulder abduction
C6: Elbow flexion/wrist extension
C7: Elbow extension/wrist flexion
C8: Finger flexion
T1: Finger abduction
L2: Hip flexion
L3: Knee extension
L4: Ankle dorsiflexion
L5: Big toe extension
S1: Ankle eversion
S2: Knee flexion

50
Q

What is a myotome?

A

Group of muscles innervated by single spinal nerve root. Myotome testing is an essential part of neurological examination when suspecting radiculopathy.

51
Q

The white matter consists of mostly?

A

myelinated & some unmyelinated axons of sensory
neurons, interneurons, & motor neurons.

contains many tracts (bundled axons in the CNS).

52
Q

Ascending tracts are ______________.

A

sensory

53
Q

Descending tracts (those which travel away from the brain)
are ___________ except for.

A

motor except for the descending pain inhibitory tracts coming from the brainstem.

54
Q

Most sensory tract names begin with _____________.

A

“spino-, indicating they begin in spinal cord. Their name will end with part of brain where tract leads. Eg. spinothalamic tract travels from spinal cord to thalamus.

55
Q
  • Tracts whose names end in “spinal” are _____________.
A

• motor
Eg, corticospinal tract begins with nerve fibers leaving cerebral cortex of brain & travelling down toward motor neuron cell bodies in spinal cord & brainstem innervating skeletal muscles.

Neurology (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions