Lab Spinal Nerves And Spinal Reflexes Flashcards
Where do spinal nerves originate?
- from the spinal cord
- pass through an intervertebral foramen, as they exit the vertebrae
- exception: Between skull and C1 and sacrum group (sacral foramina)
31 pairs if spinal nerves, form 5 groups:
- cervical nerves 1-8
- thoracic nerves 1-12
- lumbar nerves 1-5
- sacral nerves 1-5
- coccygeal nerves 1 pair
Divisions of spinal nerves as they branch towards the periphery of the body:
- roots
- rami
- plexuses
Roots
- attached directly to the spinal chord
* join to form spinal nerves
Two roots:
- dorsal root: carries sensory (afferent) info to dorsal horn of the spinal cord
- ventral root: carries motor (efferent) responses to the effector organ
Rami (branching)
•after leaving the spinal cord spinal nerve forms 2 sometimes 3 branches called rami
2 ramus
- dorsal ramus
* ventral ramus
Dorsal ramus
- sensory and motor nerve fibers
* motor: innervate most if the deep muscles of the dorsal trunk, responsible for movement of the vertebral column
Ventral ramus: distributed two ways-
- Thoracic region- form intercostal nerves, extend along inferior margin of each rib
- innervate the intercostals muscles and skin over the thorax - Plexus: remaining from the 5 major plexuses
- Communicating rami: form thoracic and upper lumbar spinal cord regions, carry axons associated with the synaptic division if ANS
- connect to synaptic chain ganglia
Plexus
Intricate networks of spinal nerves in a braid like structure
5 plexuses of the spinal nerves
•cervical •brachial •lumbar •sacral •coccygeal *then branch off plexuses to reach all parts of trunks and limbs
3 types of nerve calls that carry information between the spinal cord and peripheral nerves:
Somatic motor neurons
Autonomic motor neurons
Sensory neurons
Somatic motor neurons
Control contraction of skeletal muscles in the neck, trunk and limbs
Sensory neurons
Detect skin sensations and muscle position or stretch (proprioception)
Autonomic motor neurons
These motor neurons form pathways leading to internal organs of the head, chest and abdomen
Name the two upper plexuses of the spinal cord
Cervical plexus
Brachial plexus
Name the three lower plexuses of the spinal cord
Lumbar plexus
Sacral plexus
Coccygeal plexus
Cervical plexus
- composed of ventral rami of cervical nerves C1-4
- controls actions of head neck shoulders
- receives sensory info from the skin in these areas