Overview of Spinal Cord Segments & Nerve Roots Flashcards
what are afferent nerves
neurons + pathways they form that convey sensory info to spinal cord and ultimately the brain
what are efferent nerves
the neurons and pathways they form that convey the motor stimulus to the muscles
what are fasciculi
nerve bundles forming functional tracts that have common origins and destinations
what is funiculus
each of the three regions which the spinal cord white matter is divided by the points of penetration of the dorsal and ventral nerve roots axons on each side of a segment (dorsal, lateral and ventral)
what is a tract
collection of nerve fibres (nerve bundle) within the funiculi with the same function that originate together and terminate together and don’t synapse en route
what are the spinal cord divisions
from C1-5
C6-T2
T3-L3
L4-S3
where are the two thickenings of the spinal cord
C6-T2 and L4-S3
what is the conus medullaris
caudal elongation of the spinal cord
what is the filum terminale
thin cord of ependymal and glial cells
tethers end of spinal cord to coccygeal (caudal) vertebrae
suspends the cord in the vertebral canal
what is the spinal cord formed by
- neurons + their axons
- neuroglia: supporting cells of the CNS (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglial cells)
what is the area where there is CSF in the spinal cord
central canal
lined by ependymal cells
what is the spinal cord wrapped in
meninges
3 layers of CT
what are the 3 layers of CT on the spinal cord
- dura matter
- arachnoid matter
- pia matter
what are the structures shown
how many segements are there in the dog and cat spinal cord
36 segments
8 cervical, 13 thoracic, 7 lumbar, 3 sacral, 5 caudal
what does each spinal cord segment contain (3)
1 dorsal root & 1 ventral root
- away from cord –> dorsal and ventral root unite spinal nerve
- closer to cord –> each root divides into rootlets
what structures are shown here
what do dorsal roots do
afferent axons enter cord with sensory info
what do ventral root nerves do
efferent axons exit spinal cord with motor info
where are the cell bodies of spinal ganglion
spinal ganglion aka dorsal root ganglion –> cell bodies outside spinal cord
what returns sensory info the the dorsal root
somatic or visceral structures
what does the efferent axons send info to
muscle, gland or organ
how are cell bodies grouped in the ventral root
cell bodies grouped forming ventral horn of spinal cord
what are lower motor neurons
efferent neurons
how is the grey matter organized in the cord
general somatic afferent =
general proprioception =
= spinal ganglion
general visceral afferent =
general visceral efferent =
= ventral horn
general somatic efferent =