Small Animal Spinal Cord Disorders Part I Flashcards
why do animals with cervical pain hold in flexion?
to open spinal canal: low head carriage
where is regional thickening of the spinal cord?
cervical intumessence: C6-T2
lumbar intumessence: L4-S3
where are upper motor neurons?
begin within brain
entirely confined to CNS
what are the lower motor neuron signs in the urinary bladder?
large, flaccid bladder
easily expressible
constant dribbling
what types of lesions can be chronic?
compression
inflammation
degeneration
malformation
neoplasia
what is wallerian degeneration?
degeneration from the point of destruction to the structure innervated
what are some extradural types of spinal cord damage?
disc herniation, protrusion
neoplasia
granuloma
discospondylitis
what is the order of functional loss with severity?
proprioceptive function lost first
voluntary motor function
nociception lost last
what is schiff sherrington posture caused by?
lack of inhibition by interneurons called border cells to the lower motor neurons innervation thoracic limb extensor muscles
what does a two engine gait look like?
lower motor neuron signs in front: short choppy gait
upper motor neuron signs in back: long exaggerated gait
what does Horner’s syndrome most commonly occur with?
C6-T2 localization
what is required to lose nociception?
transverse lesion to the spinal cord: full thickness
why is there extra space in the cervical spine?
change in diameter spinal cord and spinal canal
sliding back and forth of spinal cord
what is ventral and dorsal in the gray matter of the spinal cord?
motor ventral
sensory dorsal
what are the four segments of the spinal cord for localization?
C1-C5
C6-T2
T3-L3
L4-S3
does wallerian degeneration affect ascending or descending tracts?
both
what are lower motor neuron lesions characterized by?
ability to initiate gait but not support weight
what are upper motor neuron lesions characterized by?
ability to support weight but not initiate gait
why do proprioceptive ataxia and paresis occur together?
involvement of proprioceptive tracts and motor tracts
what does a two-engine gait indicate for localization?
C6-T2
where do interneurons synapse to form thee lateral thoracic nerve which innervates the cutaneous trunci muscle?
C8-T1
what happens in a fibrocartilaginous embolism?
obliteration of spinal cord terminal end arteries with nucleus pulposus material
are signs usually asymmetric or symmetric with fibrocartilaginous embolism?
asymmetrical due to blood supply
are fibrocartilaginous embolisms usually painful?
no, only painful initially
what is fibrocartilaginous embolism related to?
exercise and physical activity
what is the most common site of diskospondylitis?
L7-S1
40% have multiple lesions
what is a common agent of diskospondylitis?
Brucella spp
what is diskospondylitis an infection of?
vertebral endplates and intervertebral disc
what breeds are predisposed to steroid responsive meningitis arteritis?
beagles
bernese mountain dogs
boxers
how does steroid responsive meningitis arteritis present?
neck pain
fever
young dogs
