Quizlet - Final Flashcards
In the spinal cord, the white matter is broadly categorized into what three bundles (per side)?
- Dorsal funiculus
- Lateral funiculus
- Ventral funiculus
In the spinal cord, the gray matter areas dorsal and ventral to the central canal are called what?
- Dorsal Gray commisure
- Ventral Gray commisure
The gray matter of the spinal cord is divided into how many laminae? In which zone are each lamina in the gray matter?
Ten in total.
Dorsal horn –> laminae I - VI
Ventral horn –> laminae VII - IX
Central gray –> lamina X
Prior to C7, each spinal nerve runs (cranial/caudal) to its corresponding vertebra. After the C7 , the corresponding nerves run (cranial/caudal) to their vertebrae.
Cranial before C7
Caudal after C7
The spinal cord ends with which vertebral segment?
L6
What leads to the formation of the cauda equina?
The vertebrae grow faster than the spinal cord, but still maintain their connection, resulting in a stretching of nerve fibers.
Which nervous plexus display the greatest extent of cauda equina?
Lumbosacral plexus
T/F: The amount of white matter in a spinal cord segment increases as one progresses caudally.
FALSE
It decreases as one progresses caudally.
What are the names of the two ventral gray matter enlargements (intumescence), where are they located, and what is their purpose?
Cervical (or brachial) enlargement
From C7 –> T2
Provide motor neurons for the forelimbs
Lumbosacral enlargement
From L4 –> S1
Provide motor neurons for the hindlimbs
The intermediate zone of the spinal gray matter is responsible for what kind of control?
Autonomic
What is a dermatome? What is a cutaneous area? How are these two different?
A dermatome is the skin area innervated by one spinal nerve and all of its peripheral branches. There is much overlap between dermatomes.
A cutaneous area is a zone of skin supplied by nerves of similar function.
A dermatome is one nerve which may have multiple functions. A cutaneous area is multiple nerves with one function.
T/F: In the Withdrawal Reflex test the foot being stimulated retracts, and the contralateral foot extends.
TRUE
When performing the Withdrawal Reflex test, what are the three desired reactions and what does each one indicate?
1.) Foot receiving stimulus withdraws.
This indicates the reflex response is working and shows the ipsilateral interneurons are functioning properly.
2.) Contralateral foot extends.
This indicates the reflex response is working and shows the contralateral interneurons are functioning properly.
3.) Head turns to observe stimulus.
This indicates the dog’s conscious reception of the signal and shows that the ascending pathways are functioning properly.
T/F: On presynaptic neuron may synapse with a few to many thousand postsynaptic neurons.
TRUE
T/F: One presynaptic neuron may not have multiple synapses with a single postsynaptic neuron.
FALSE
Much of the sensory information sent to the brain is never perceived. For what two reasons is this true?
- Inhibition in the cortical pathway prevents perception at that moment
- Pathway to the cortex doesn’t exist, therefor there is no way for signal to be perceived
What is the term to describe the grouping of motor neurons which spans multiple contiguous spinal segments?
Motor neuron pool
T/F: Collateral distribution of one primary afferent sensory neuron includes many segments both rostral and caudal to the segment of entry.
TRUE
Motor neuron pools are organized in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. What is the manner of their organization? For instance, where would the nerve cell bodies be located for the brachial zone as compared to the antebrachial zone?
More proximal projections are located more medially in the ventral horn, and distal projections are more lateral.
For instance, the cell bodies for nerves of the brachial zone will be closer to the central canal (more medial) than those for the antebrachial zone.
Define: Nociception
A reflex; a reaction that occurs without nerves reaching the brain for processing.
Define: Pain response
A conscious reaction to a painful stimulus.
Describe the differences between nociception and pain perception.
- Often difficult to differentiate
- Important for lesion site determination
- Nociception circuit does not enter brain and is therefore not a conscious response
- Pain perception circuits do enter the brain and are a conscious response
EXAMPLES
Nociception –> withdraw limb; contralateral extension
Pain perception –> turns head; growls; whines
Which portion of the nervous system has the better neuron-regenerative capacities?
PNS
Peripheral Nervous System
In the case of spinal cord injury, where do signs of the injury manifest?
Signs appear level to, or caudal of, the site of the spinal cord injury.
What are some clinical signs of spinal cord injury?
- Hyperreflexia/Areflexia
- Muscle hypertonia/hypotonia
- Loss or reduction of pain response
- Muscle denervation
In the case of severe injury to the brachial enlargement, what would be the state of the Lower Motor Neurons (forelimb)? What of the Upper Motor Neurons (hindlimb)?
FORELIMBS (LMN)
- Paralysis
- Areflexia
- Atonia
- Denervation atrophy
- Sensory disturbance
HINDLIMBS (UMN)
- Paralysis
- Hyperreflexia
- Hypertonia
- Diuse atrophy
- Sensory disturbance
In the case of severe injury to the thoracolumbar region, what would be the state of the Lower Motor Neurons (forelimb)? What of the Upper Motor Neurons (hindlimb)?
FORELIMBS (LMN)
- Mostly normal
- Schiff-Sherrington (don’t worry about it)
HINDLIMBS (UMN)
- Paralysis
- Hyperreflexia
- Hypertonia
- Disuse atrophy
- Sensory disturbance
In the case of severe injury to the lumbosacral enlargement, what would be the state of the Lower Motor Neurons (forelimb)? What of the Upper Motor Neurons (hindlimb)?
FORELIMBS (LMN)
-Normal
HINDLIMBS (UMN)
- Paralysis
- Areflexia
- Atonia
- Denervation atrophy
- Sensory disturbance
Name one specific type of reflex test that can be used to determine lesion location.
Cutaneous trunci reflex test.
Define: Exteroceptors
Receptors that respond to external stimuli impinging on the skin.
Define: Proprioceptors
Receptors that signal changes in position that occur during movement. They are found in muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, and the vestibular system.
Define: Interoceptors
Receptors that detect changes of a chemical or mechanical nature in the viscera of the body wall.
What are some practical uses for rapidly-adapting receptors? What about slowly-adapting receptors?
Rapidly-adapting:
- Transient events such as stimulus contact
- High frequency events like vibration
Slowly-adapting:
-Maintained events such as pressure
Which type of adapting receptor shows a negative spike in receptor potential when a stimulus ceases?
Rapidly-adapting receptors
When conducting impulses, it can be seen that there are two peaks that occur: an A peak, and a C peak. What types of neurons are responsible for the A peak, and what types of neurons are responsible for the C peak?
A peak –> large number of myelinated neurons
C peak –> small, unmyelinated neurons
Using the roman numeral schema, what group(s) of nerves are responsible for proprioception? Which are responsible for pain and temperature?
Proprioception –> Groups I and II
Pain and Temperature –> Groups III and IV
T/F: The majority of touch is represented by A-delta and C fibers.
FALSE
Touch is represented by A-delta and C fibers, but the majority of touch receptors are supplied by A-beta afferents.
Local anesthetics affect which size nerve fibers most rapidly and for the longest duration?
Small diameter fibers
For pacinian corpuscles, what types of fibers are involved? Where are they located? What are they sensitive to?
- Rapidly-adapting A-beta fibers
- Located primarily in SQ
- Sensitive to minimal gingival or skin distortion
For Meissner’s corpuscles, what types of fibers are involved? Where are they located? What are they sensitive to?
- Rapidly-adapting A-beta fibers
- Located superficially in skin of hand
- Sensitive to skin distortion (less so than pacinian corpuscles).
For Merkel cells, what types of fibers are involved? Where are they located? What are they sensitive to?
- Slowly-adapting fibers
- Located in hairy skin of face, skin of hands
- Sensitive to gingival or skin distortion
What is another term for pain receptors?
Nociceptors
Name some of the detail discrimination that is involved in the dorsal column system.
- Direction and frequency of movement of tactile stimuli
- Shape, texture, and location of tactile stimuli
- Positional information from forelimb and hindlimb
What two fasciculi make up the lemniscal tracts, and from where does each transmit signals?
Fasciculus gracilis –> receives input from sacral, lumbar, and lower thoracic roots
Fasciculus cuneatus –> receives input from upper trunk, neck, and arm roots
Axons from the gracile and cuneate nuclei cross the ___________ fibers and collect to form the ________________.
…cross the Internal Arcuate fibers…
…collect to form the Medial Lemniscus.
Where does the medial lemniscus project to?
Ventrocaudal lateral nucleus (VCL)
Thalamocortical axons from the VCL terminate in which two places?
- Primary somatic sensory cortex SI
- Secondary somatic sensory cortex SII
Which axons form the spinocerebellar tracts?
Axons of the dorsal horn neurons
What is the purpose of the spinocerebellar systems?
They convey proprioceptive information to the cerebellum.
Primary afferents synapse where?
In spinal cord gray matter.
What types of information are conveyed in the ventral ascending pathways?
- Crude touch
- Pain
- Temperature
Describe the fibers that synapse in the dorsal horn.
- Small diameter
- Slow conducting
- Peripheral afferent A-delta and C fibers
Where do dorsal horn neurons go to collect as the spinothalamic and spinoreticular tracts?
To the contralateral central funiculus
What, specifically, is the spinothalamic tract involved in?
Location and intensity of painful stimuli
What, specifically, is the spinoreticular tract involved in?
Affective qualities of painful stimuli
In what two areas can nerves be found within teeth?
- Pulp
- Dentin tubules
Dramatic changes in the fluid flow within dentin tubules can be very painful. Name some stimuli that could affect fluid flow.
- Mechanical stimuli
- Evaporation
- Sugar solutions
- Cold
What are the three nuclei of the Trigeminal system, and what is each responsible for?
Chief Sensory nucleus
-Receives touch input from fave and oral cavity
Spinal nucleus
- Oralis: oral cavity reflexes
- Interpolaris: head and oral cavity; tactile reflexes
- Caudalis: pain and temperature
Mesencephalic nucleus
-Proprioception from muscles of mastication
Axons from which of the Trigeminal nuclei cross, join the medial lemniscus, and project to the ventrocaudal medial nucleus (VCM)?
- Chief Sensory nucleus
- Oralis (of the Spinal nucleus)
- Interpolaris (of the Spinal nucleus)
Axons from which of the Trigeminal nuclei cross, join the spinothalamic tract, and project to the intralaminar nucleus (IL)?
Caudalis (of the Spinal nucleus)
Name some of the separate representations the SI is able to process.
- Cutaneous information
- Deep receptors and proprioception
- Muscle afferent information
T/F: Body regions with greater receptor density or greater behavioral relevance have larger cortical representations.
TRUE
The SI contains a complete body map. Describe the organization of the body on the SI.
Face laterally –> Hindlimb medially
Define: Pain
A sensory perception of a nociceptive event.
Describe the difference between acute and chronic pain.
Acute pain –> brief, elicits avoidance
Chronic pain –> long-term, produces depression
Describe the difference between superficial pain and deep pain.
Superficial –> sharp; pricking; “first”
Deep –> aching; burning; “second”
Describe what is entailed in the sensory-discriminative dimension of pain.
- Where is the stimulus?
- What kind of stimulus?
- How fast is the stimulus being applied?
Describe what is entailed in the motivational-affective dimension of pain.
- How can the stimulus be avoided?
- How severe is the injury?
T/F: First (superficial) pain is fast, and signaled by unmyelinated C nociceptors.
FALSE
First (superficial, fast) and second (deep, slow)
pain are signaled by myelinated A delta and
unmyelinated C nociceptor fibers, respectively.
Name some factors that would affect one’s pain threshold.
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Chronic conditions
What is the difference between one’s pain-detection threshold and one’s pain-tolerance threshold? What is the term for the area in between?
Pain-detection threshold –> point at which one consciously notices pain
Pain-tolerance threshold –> the maximum painful stimulus one will willingly tolerate
Range between these two terms is deemed the pain-sensitivity range.
Nociceptors are classified as “free nerve endings”. Why? Are all free nerve endings nociceptors?
Termed “free nerve endings” based on their unmyelinated structure and staining characteristics in light microscopy.
No. In humans and animals, free nerve endings also subserve thermal sensations and non-perceived visceral functions.
Name some of the stimuli nociceptors are capable of responding to.
- Strong mechanical pressure
- Heat
- Excessive cold
- Electrical
- Chemical substances
T/F: Nociceptors do not normally respond to non-noxious levels of stimulation.
TRUE
Compared to non-nociceptors, nociceptors have (high/low) activation thresholds and (increase/decrease) their response magnitude throughout the noxious range.
High
Increase
Nociceptive fibers mostly terminate in what portion of the spinal cord?
In the superficial layers of the dorsal horn
Describe the differences between ipsilateral, contralateral, and bilateral pathways.
Ipsilateral –> fiber stays on the same side (left/right) of the spinal column
Contralateral –> fiber crosses over to the other side (left/right) of the spinal column
Bilateral –> fiber bifrucates and is apart of both sides (left/right) of the spinal column
Describe some properties of spinal nociceptive pathways.
- Deep
- Diffuse
- Redundant through the white matter
- Difficult to eliminate surgically
What is the size of the axons involved in the spinal nociceptive pathways?
Small-diameter axons
Spinal nociceptive pathways can be divided into two groups, one subserving the sensory-discriminative dimension of pain and the other subserving the motivational-affective dimension. Which is which?
Lateral group –> sensory-discriminative
Medial group –> motivational-affective
Describe the pathway for an ipsilateral ascending pathway.
Primary afferent neuron enters dorsal horn of spinal cord --> 1st relay nucleus --> 2nd order neuron --> 2nd relay nucleus --> 3rd order neuron --> Contralateral thalamus (aka 3rd relay nucleus) --> 4th order neuron --> Contralateral cerebral cortex
Between an A-beta fiber and a C fiber in the dorsal horn, which acts as a stimulator and which acts as an inhibitor?
A-beta –> inhibitor
C –> stimulator
Describe the purpose of the tactile placing response (which is NOT a reflex).
- Requires intact cortex and consciousness
- Tests non-nociceptive conscious proprioception pathways
T/F: There is not a correlation between a loss of reflex and a loss of pain perception.
TRUE
Name some conditions that can cause loss of the withdrawal reflex.
- Damage to sensory innervation
- Damage to the spinal cord
- Damage to motor innervation to flexor muscles
- Blockage of neuromuscular transmission
Name some effects chronic pain can have on pathways, sensitivity, hormonal balance, etc.
- Allodynia
- Hyperalgesia
- Stress, anxiety, depression
- Increase in cortisol and catecholamines
- Tachycardia
- Decreased motility
- Delayed healing
What type of tissue does the autonomic nervous system (ANS) supply? Give some examples.
Visceral tissue
- smooth muscle
- cardiac muscle
- glands
From what region of the spinal cord does the sympathetic region of the ANS originate? What of the parasympathetic region?
Sympathetic –> thoracolumbar
Parasympathetic –> craniosacral
What systems is the sympathethic nervous system related to? Parasympathetic?
Sympathetic –> distribution to the entire body
Parasympathetic –> supplies only visceral cavities, head, and genitalia. Does NOT supply the skin or limbs.
Sympathetics travel via what nerve bundle?
Sympathetic trunk
The parasympathetic system originates from which four cranial nerve nuclei?
- Oculomotor (CN III)
- Facial (VII)
- Glossopharyngeal (IX)
- Vagus (X)
What does the sympathetic ANS respond to? How does it respond?
Responds to stress, fight/flight, or strenuous exercise.
- Decreases visceral organ motility
- Decreases sweating
- Increases blood pressure
- Increases cardiac function
- Dilates bronchii
- Dilates pupils
What types of neurotransmitters are released by preganglionic neurons? What are the types of receptors?
Acetylcholine (ACh) is released into Nicotinic receptors
Describe the sympathetic postganglionic release of neurotransmitter.
- They’re releases from many varicosities along the length of the axon.
- They diffuse through adjacent smooth muscle cells via gap junctions.
Describe the three types of Beta receptors.
Beta-1 –> excitatory in the heart
Beta-2 –> inhibitory to smooth muscle
Beta-3 –> lipolysis
Name three neurotransmitters commonly released by sympathetic postganglionic neurons.
- Norepinephrine
- Epinephrine
- Dopamine
What neurotransmitter is most commonly released by parasympathetic postganglionic neurons?
Acetylcholine (ACh)
T/F: Muscarinic receptors are generally inhibitory.
FALSE
What chemical can be used to block the coupling of parasympathetic postganglionic cells to target cells?
Atropine
Describe the enteric nervous system (ENS).
- Intrinsic mucosal neurons that can operate independently from the CNS
- Regulates the inner circular smooth muscle layer with the outer longitudinal layer