lecture 6 - spinal cord: internal topography Flashcards

1
Q

the spinal cord is omposed of two colored tissue areas, what are they?

A

gray matter, white matter

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2
Q

which is the innermost color tissue area?

A

inner gray, outer white

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3
Q

describe the gross anatomy of the gray matter

A
  • anterior (ventral) horn
  • posterior (dorsal) horn
  • lateral horn
  • each side of the gray matter is a mirror image
  • each sides connected by the gray commissure
  • ventral roots
  • dorsal roots
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4
Q

the anterior horn is made up of which type of neurons?

A

somatic motor neurons

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5
Q

the posterior horn is made up of which type of neurons?

A

sensory neurons

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6
Q

the lateral horn is made up of which type of neurons?

A

autonomic

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7
Q

what (specifically) are the ventral roots?

A

motor axons to skeletal muscle (efferents)

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8
Q

what (specifically) are the dorsal roots?

A

sensory impulses (afferents, dorsal root ganglion)

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9
Q

what are the types of somatic motor neurons?

A

alpha and gamma

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10
Q

what do alpha motor neurons innervate?

A

skeletal muscle

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11
Q

what do gamma motor neurons innervate?

A

muscle spindles

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12
Q

alpha motor neurons are aka?

A

lower motor neurons

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13
Q

why are alpha motor neurons organized into groups (or, longitudinal columns)?

A

each column innervates a different muscle

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14
Q

what are the alpha motor neuron columns separated by?

A

interneurons

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15
Q

what are the alpha motor neuron columns?

A

medial, lateral and central

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16
Q

what does the medial column of alpha motor neurons innervate?

A

axial muscles (neck, trunk and intercostal (btwn ribs))

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17
Q

what does the lateral column of alpha motor neurons innervate?

A

limbs

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18
Q

what is unique about the lateral column of alpha motor neurons?

A

anterior horn expands at this column because there are more skeletal muscles to innervate in the limbs

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19
Q

what does the central column of alpha motor neurons innervate?

A

depends on the level of the spinal cord:

  • C4-C5: phrenic nucleus (motor innervation to diaphragm)
  • C6-C7: spinal accessory nucleus (contains axons from cranial nerve XI)
  • L2-S1: lumbosacral nucleus (dont know what this one does)
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20
Q

how many nerve cell groups does the posterior horn contain?

A

4 - substantia gelatinosa, nucleus proprius, dorsal nucleus, visceral afferent nucleus

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21
Q

does the substantia gelatinosa span the entire length of the cord?

A

yes

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22
Q

what type of neurons is the substantia gelantinosa composed of?

A

golgi type II neurons

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23
Q

what are the functions of the substantia gelatinosa?

A

pain, temperature, touch

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24
Q

does the nucleus proprius span the entire length of the cord?

A

yes

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25
Q

what are the functions of the nucleus proprius?

A

proprioception, two-point discrimination, vibration

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26
Q

which nucleus makes up the bulk of the posterior horn?

A

nucleus proprius

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27
Q

does the nucleus dorsalis span the entire length of the cord?

A

no: C8/T1 - L2/L3

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28
Q

what are the functions of the nucleus dorsalis?

A

proprioception (neuromuscular and tendon spindles)

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29
Q

what is the nucleus dorsalis aka?

A

Clarke’s Column (or, nucleus)

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30
Q

what is unique about the nucleus dorsalis?

A

actually located more in the intermediate gray matter, but does sensory processing so its considered a part of the dorsal horn

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31
Q

does the visceral afferent nucleus span the entire length of the cord?

A

no: T1-L3

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32
Q

what are the functions of the visceral afferent nucleus?

A

visceral afferents, involved in initiation of sympathetic response

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33
Q

where are the 4 nuclei located relative to each other?

A

substantia gelatinosa most dorsal, then nucleus proprius, then dorsal nucleus, then (mostly laterally) the visceral afferent nucleus

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34
Q

describe the intermediate horn from T1-L3

A

preganglionic sympathetic neurons

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35
Q

dscribe the intermediate horn from S2-S4

A

preganglionic parasympathetic neurons

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36
Q

what is lamina I

A

marginal nucleus

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37
Q

what is lamina II

A

substantia gelatinosa

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38
Q

what is lamina III

A

nucleus proprius

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39
Q

what is lamina IV?

A

nucleus proprius

40
Q

what is lamina V?

A

neck of dorsal horn (pain)

41
Q

what is lamina VI?

A

base of dorsal horn (muscle tone)

42
Q

what is lamina VII?

A

intermediate gray matter zone (incl. nucleus dorsalis)

43
Q

what is lamina VIII?

A

interneuron zone

44
Q

what is lamina IX?

A

motor cells of anterior horn

45
Q

what is lamina X?

A

gray matter surrounding the central canal

46
Q

what are the dorsal laminae?

A

I-VI

47
Q

what are the lateral laminae?

A

VII, X

48
Q

what are the anterior laminae?

A

VIII, IX

49
Q

describe the white matter of the spinal cord

A

divided into anterior, lateral and posterior faniculi

50
Q

are there ascending tracts in all 3 faniculi?

A

yes

51
Q

are there descending tracts in all 3 faniculi?

A

no - only anterior and lateral

52
Q

what surrounds the gray matter in all 3 faniculi?

A

intersegmental fiber tracts

53
Q

describe the ascending tracts of the posterior faniculi

A
  • funiculis gracilis (caudal - T6) (medial)

- funiculis cuneatus (rostral - T6) (lateral)

54
Q

what does the funiculis gracilis innervate?

A

legs

55
Q

what does the funiculis cuneatus innervate?

A

arms

56
Q

how are the ascending tract of the posterior funiculis organized?

A

somatotopically

57
Q

what lemniscus system is the ascending tract of the posterior funiculis a part of? thus, what is its function?

A
  • medial lemniscus system

- fine touch, vibration, pressure, 2 point discrimination, proprioception

58
Q

describe the ascending tracts of the lateral funiculi

A
  • posterior lateral tract (Lissauer’s tract)
  • posterior spinocerebellar tract
  • anteroir spinocerebellar tract
  • lateral spinothalamic tract
  • spinotectal tract
  • spino-olivary tract
59
Q

where is the posteriolateral tract (Lissauer’s tract)?

A

between substantia gelatinosa and the surface of the cord

60
Q

what is the function of the posteriolateral tract?

A

pain and temperature

61
Q

where is the posterior spinocerebellar tract?

A
  • originates from clarke’s nucleus
  • curved band at periphery of lateral white funiculi begining at posteriolateral tract
  • projects ipsilateral to the cerebellum
62
Q

what is the function of the posterior spinocerebellar tract?

A

tactile, pressure, proprioceptive information from the leg

63
Q

where is the anterior spinocerebellar tract?

A

curved band at the periphery of lateral white funiculi extending from the posterior cerebellar tract to the anterior white funiculi

64
Q

what is the function of the anterior spinocerebellar tract?

A

converys information from the leg to the cerebellum

65
Q

how do the anterior and posterior spinocerebellar tracts differ?

A

anterior fibers cross the midline in the cord only to cross back in the pons (ipsilateral to their origin)

66
Q

where is the lateral spinothalamic tract?

A
  • axons cross the midline of the cord to form this tract

- lies medial to the anterioe spinocerebellar tract

67
Q

what is the function of the lateral spinothalamic tract?

A

pain and temperature

68
Q

what is unique about the lateral spinothalamic tract?

A

its somatotopically organized

69
Q

where is the spinotectal tract?

A

-medial to the anterior spinocerebellar tract, anterior to the lateral spinothalamic tract

70
Q

what is the function of the spinotectal tract?

A

visual reflex information (movments of eyes/head towards the source of stimulation)

71
Q

where is the spino-olivary tract?

A

at the junction of the anterior and lateral white funiculi

72
Q

what is the function of the spino-olivary tract?

A

carries info from cutaneous and proprioceptive organs to the cerebellum

73
Q

describe the ascending tracts of the anterior funiculi

A

anterior spinothalamic tract

74
Q

where is the anterior spinothalamic tract?

A

axons cross the midline to form this tract medial to the ventral nerve roots

75
Q

what is the function of the anterior spinothalamic tract?

A

carries information about light touch and pressure

76
Q

what is unique about the anterior spinothalamic tract?

A

its somatotopically organized

77
Q

describe the descending tracts of the lateral white funiculi

A
  • lateral corticospinal tract
  • rubrospinal tract
  • olivospinal tract
78
Q

where is the lateral corticospinal tract?

A

posterior half of the lateral funiculus, medial to the posterior spinocerebellar tract

79
Q

what is the function of the lateral corticospinal tract?

A

motor pathway for voluntary movement

80
Q

where does the lateral corticospinal tract originate?

A

from neurons in the cerebral cortex

81
Q

where is the rubrispinal tract?

A

anterior to the lateral coritcospinal tract

82
Q

what is the function of the rubrospinal tract?

A

influences alpha and gamma motor neurons

83
Q

where does the rubrospinal tract originate?

A

from the red nucleus in the midbrain

84
Q

where is the olivospinal tract?

A

lateral to the vental roots, only in the upper cervical segments

85
Q

describe the descending tracts of the anterior funiculi

A
  • anterior corticospinal tract
  • vestibulospinal tract
  • tectospinal tract
86
Q

where is the anterior corticospinal tract?

A

along the anterior median fissure, only in the cervical and thoracic segments

87
Q

what is the function of the anterior corticospinal tract?

A

control the neck and shoulder muscles

88
Q

where is the vestibulospinal tract?

A

periphery of the anterior white funiculi

89
Q

where does the vestibulospinal tract originate?

A

pons and medulla

90
Q

what is the function of the corticospinal tract?

A

carries information from the inner ear and cerebellum to muecles for maintenance of balance

91
Q

where is the tectospinal tract?

A
  • lateral to the margin of the anterior median fissue
  • originates from the superior colliculus of the midbrain, then crosses the midline and ends up in the upper cervical segments
92
Q

where does the tectospinal tract (descending) originate?

A

from the superior colliculus

93
Q

what is the function of the tectospinal tract (descending)?

A

refelex postural movements

94
Q

do axons enter laterally or medially to pre-existing neurons?

A

lateral

95
Q

where do ascending tracts go?

A

thalamus, brainstem, and cerebellum

96
Q

where are descending tracts coming from?

A

cerebral cortex, brainstem and spinal cord

97
Q

describe the blood supply of the spinal cord

A
  • (2) vertebral arteries
  • ( 1) anterior spinal artery
  • (2) posterior spinal arteries
  • may also come from PICA
  • radicular ateries (branches of the thoracic and abdominal aorta)