Neuroanatomy revision Flashcards
Draw the cross section of the spinal cord.
look at slide 4
where is the grey matter in the spinal cord and what does it involve?
H-shaped grey matter in the middle of the spinal cord contains neuron cell bodies
Where is the white matter in the spinal cord and what does it contain?
columns containing a number of ascending and descending tracts (axons)
what exists in the dorsal/posterior horn of the spinal cord?
cell bodies of interneurons
what exists in the lateral horn of the SC?
visceral (autonomic) motor cell bodies - but the lateral horn only exists in the thoracic region (T1-L2)
what exists in the central/anterior horns of the SC?
somatic motor cell bodies
what are the divisions of the white matter in the spinal cord?
ventral (ant) column
lateral columns
dorsal (pos) columns
was is carried in the posterior/dorsal root
sensory fibres only
what is carried in the anterior/ventral root
motor fibres only
what is a spinal nerve composed of?
spinal nerve is within the intervertebral foramen and is a mixed nerve composed of a sensory branch, motor and autonomic branch
where does the C1 nerve pass through and what does it carry?
between occipital bone (C0) and C1 and only motor fibres (no sensory)
where does the C8 nerve pass through?
between C7 and T1 (all thoracic spinal nerves follow suit)
at what vertebral level does the spinal cord end and what procedure can u perform below this level?
between L1/2
lumbar puncture
what is the cauda equina?
bundle of spinal nerves below L1/2 vertebrae
where do the cell bodies of the sympathetic system lie in the spinal cord?
lateral horn of T1-L2 segments
what is the sympathetic chain?
post ganglionic cell bodies lie in the paravertebral sympathetic ganglia. all these ganglia are connected making the sympathtic chain (hence if there is a sympathetic response it affects the whole body)
where do the left and right sympathetic chains/trunk meet?
ganglion impar
what spinal nerves make up the following:
- superior cervical ganglia
- middle cervical ganglia
- inferior cervical ganglia
C1-4
C5-6
C7-8
what is the stellate ganglion made up of?
inferior cervial (C7-8) + T1 –> also known as cervicothoracic ganglion
describe the possible courses of a sympathetic nerve fibre
from lateral horn it leaves the SC through ventral horn and then passes through the WRC to enter the sympathetic ganglion.
- it can either synapse here (at its own level) and the postganglionic axons pass through the GRC (because it is now demyelinated) to join T1-L2 spinal nerves - supplying the thoracic region organs
- rather than synapsing at own level it can travel up the sympathetic chain and synapse in a cervical ganglion, postganglionic axons pass through the GRC to join the cervcial spinal nerves - supplying head and neck and also heart
look at diagrams on slides 10 and 11
why does the cervical ganglion not have an area of WRC?
because it is not possible for preganglionic axons to enter at the cervical ganglion but GRC is present as post-ganglionic axons can pass through this to join cervical spinal nerves
where do cell bodies of the parasympathetic system lie?
cell bodies in midbrain and S2-4 segments
what happens to the grey matter as you go from spinal cord up to the brain stem?
central grey matter opens up dorsally and becomes more horizontal. However the nuclei order remains the same.
So for example if there is a somatomotor issue you know there is a problem in the midline somewhere.
Look at image on slide 16
what could cause peripheral nerve impairment?
compression
trauma
disease
