Lecture 20 Flashcards
Non neural structures associated with spinal cord
- Extends within meningeal sac, filled with cerebrospinal fluid
- end is tapered cone Called the conus medularis, this is a non neural tissue and the attachment point for filum terminale
- the filum terminale extends from the conus medularis to the end of the spinal cavity and anchors the spinal cord and is a non neural fibrous tissue
Spinal nevrves
The spinal cord has 31 segments, one pair of spinal nerve associated with each segment
Cervical spinal nerve
8
Thoracic spinal nerve
12
Lumber spinal nevrve
5
Sacral spinal nerve
5
Coccygeal spinal nerve
1
Spinal nerve and exit points
Spinal nerve exit the vertebral column at the level appropriate the origin
For example the lumbar spinal cord exit between the lumbar vertebrae
What is the cauda equina
Cauda Equina: At the lower end of the spinal cord, below the level of the first lumbar vertebra, the spinal cord tapers into a bundle of nerve roots resembling a horse’s tail, called the cauda equina.
Distal nerve root
Axon,
Dorsal root ganglion
Cell body
Sensory (affrent ) pathway
Once sensory information reaches the spinal cord, it travels up the spinal cord through the dorsal columns to the brain for further processing and interpretation.
Motor pathway
Effrecent
Motor commands from the brain travel down the spinal cord through the ventral columns. These commands are relayed through the ventral nerve root to the peripheral nerves, which then carry the commands to muscles and glands in the body.
Ventral nerve root
Axon
This is how the motor information leaves the spinal cord
What happens if there is a damage to the ventral horn
This should result in loss of motor commands to skeletal muscles, this could lead to loss of muscle movment
