Neuro 3: spinal cord and brain Flashcards
The spinal cord is the center of what
spinal reflexes
what does spinal cord transmit
nerve impulses btw PNS & CNS
What does the reflex arc consist of
- stimulus (input)
- integration/ modulation (interneuron)
- Response (effector motor output neuron)
Where is foramen magnum
cranium
Where is conus medullaris
end of spinal cord between L1and L2
What length does spinal cord travel
from foramen magnum (cranium) to the conus medullaris
-~0.5 - 1 m in length
What anchors spinal cord in place
Denticulate ligament
What is the Filum Terminale of spinal cord
-a fibrous extension that originates frm the PIA mater of the conus medullaris & attaches to the posterior facet of the coccyx
What is the Cauda Equina (Horses tail)
End of the spinal cord
Where is a spinal tap done in spine
btw L4-L5
-low risk of damaging spinal cord
Why is spinal tap done
assess for certain diseases like meningitis
Where is the Epidural space
btw vertebrae & spinal Dural sheath
-filled with fat that absorbs shock & isolates the spinal cord
How many nerves emerge from the spinal cord and from where
31 pairs of spinal nerves
- Cervical (8)
- Thoracic (12)
- Lumbar (5)
- Sacral (5)
- Coccygeal (1)
What are the 2 enlargements in the spinal cord where the upper and lower appendages are represented
- cervical enlargement
- Lumbar enlargement
What separates the spinal cord into left & right
- Posterior (dorsal) median sulcus
- Anterior (ventral) median fissure
- anterior sulcus is wider
What is White Matter
-called a funiculus (columns)
-named after its position:
2 posterior (dorsal)
2 lateral
2 anterior (ventral) columns
What is Gray Matter
- called horns
- shaped like butterfly or H
- gray commissure (location where 2 objects join) ensures communication btw the 2 sides: 2 dorsal, 2 lateral horns, 2 ventral
What type of neurons are in Dorsal Horn
all interneurons
what type of neurons are in Lateral horn
motor neurons of sympathetic nervous system, serving viscera
-ventral horn: mainly somatic motor neurons, some interneurons
Where are the Ascending pathways
external / on the periphery of spinal cord
-sensory, afferent
where is the Descending pathways
internal in spinal cord
-motor, efferent
What is the medulla
it is a waystation for ascending and descending tract systems and is highly myelinated
What do some groups scattered throughout the medulla do
play roles in sensory system
What does the autonomic reflex center of the medulla do
- maintains homeostasis
- houses the cardiovascular center, respiratory center
What happens when you get a lesion on the medulla
= “locked in syndrome”
- all muscles are paralyzed except eye muscles
- consciousness is intact
What are 6 features of the medulla
- solitary nucleus
- pyramids
- medial leminiscus
- internal arcuate fibers
- nucleus gracillis and cuneatus
- inferior olive
What is the other name of the medulla
myelencephalon
What is the solitary nucleus of medulla
- the nucleus is embedded in the solitary tract
- involved in gustation
What are pyramids of medulla
-voluntary motor movement
what are internal arcuate fibers of medulla
-fibers of decussation
what is nucleus gracillis and cuneatus
-nuclei of proprioception (kinesthesia; body ability to sense movement, action, location) of lower and upper appendages
What is inferior olive of medulla
-motor coordination
What is the medial leminiscus of medulla
tract carrying proprioceptive ( sense of self-movement and body position) information
Why is it that damage to tract (or brain) above the medulla will affect the opposite side of the body
because medulla is point of decussation (crossing over of information) for the pyramids and the medial leminiscus
What is the Pons
- structure that bridges inputs and outputs with the cerebrum and cerebellum
- translates as “bridge”
What is another name for the Pons
metencephalon
what are 3 features of the Pons
- superior Olive
- Cranial nerve nuclei
- Pontine Reticular formation
What is the superior Olive of the Pons
auditory processing pathway
What is cranial nerve nuclei of the pons
abducens auditory facial trigeminal vestibular
what is pontine reticular formation
sleep and wakefulness / arousal
What is structure of cerebellum
- translates as “the little brain”
- has 3 lobes
- right and left hemispheres separated by structure called vermis
What are the 3 lobes of the cerebellum
- anterior lobe
- posterior lobe
- flocculonodular lobe
what does the anterior lobe of the cerebellum do
coordinates movement
what does the posterior lobe of the cerebellum do
coordinates movement
what does the flocculonodular lobe do
- communicates w/ the internal ear
- equilibrium organs
what are the 4 functions of the cerebellum
- fine motor movement
- procedural memory
- balance
- aspects of speech and language
What are the 3 layers of cerebellar cortex in order from outside to inside
- Molecular
- Purkinje layer
- Granule layer
what does molecular layer of the cerebellum contain
parrallel fibers and stellate
What does the purkinje layer of cerebellum contain
-large purkinje cells
What does the granule layer of the cerebellum contain
-small granule cells and fibers
How many tract systems bring input and output to the cerebellum
3 tract systems
what are the 3 tract systems into/out of the cerebellum
- inferior cerebellar peduncle
- middle cerebellar peduncle
- superior cerebellar peduncle
what info does the inferior cerebellar peduncle handle
input from medullar and spinal cord
what info does the middle cerebellar peduncle handle
input from the pons
what info does the superior cerebellar peduncle handle
- output of cerebellum to the thalamus
What is the midbrain
a multi-modal hub of interaction
- vision, hearing, and movement converge here
what is another name for the midbrain
mesencephalon
How many sections can the midbrain be separated into at its greatest size
3 sections
- Tectum
- Tegmentum
- Crus
What is Tectum section of midbrain
- upper portion
- visual and hearing reflex sensations
what is tegmentum section of midbrain
- middle portion
- reward system
what is Crus section of midbrain
- lower portion
- white matter conduction
What are 6 features of midbrain
- Corpora Quadigemina “the 4 bodies” on the superior surface
- Red nucleus
- Nuclei involved on the light reflexes
- substantia nigra “ black substance”
- ventral tegmental area
- Raphe nuclei
What is the corpora quadrigemina “the 4 bodies” on the superior surface of the midbrain
2 superior colliculi -visual light reflex -saccadic eye movements 2 inferior colliculi -auditory relay
what is red nucleus of midbrain
- motor coordination
- lesion produces Holmes tremor
what is nuclei involved on the light reflexes of midbrain
- oculomotor nucleus
- nucleus of the posterior commissure (consensual light reflex = both pupils constricting at the same time)
- edinger-westphal nucleus (pupil constriction)
What is substantia nigra “black substance”
broken down into multiple parts:
- Compacta: DOPAMINE and is involved in reward
- Reticulata: Inhibition of dopamine & suppression of motor movements
- depletion of the compacta is seen in Parkinson’s disease
What is ventral tegmental area of midbrain
- dopamine secretions
- involved in addiction
What is Raphe nuclei of midbrain
-serotonin creating nucleus
What are the 3 structures that make up thalamus / diencephalon
- Thalamus (master integrator)
- Hypothalamus (hormone regulation, emotion)
- Epithalamus (Pineal) (circadian rhythm = biological clock)
The thalamus is the largest portion of what
the diencephalon ~ 80%
What are the functions (7) of the 12 nuclear groups of the thalamus
- sense of timing
- learning
- motor skills
- sensory integration
- memory
- cortical arousal
- personality
Hypothalamus is made up of many nuclei what are 4 of them
- VMH (ventromedial hypothalamus)
- Mammillary bodies
- Infundibulum
- center for regulation of physical functions playing a role in homeostasis
What is function of VMH
eating
what is function of mammillary bodies
relay for the emotional circuit