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Brain Bee National Final > Spinal Cord > Flashcards

Spinal Cord Flashcards

1
Q

What does the CNS consist of?

A

the forebrain
the brainstem
the spinal cord

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2
Q

What is the forebrain comprised of?

A

the cerebral hemispheres
the olfactory bulb
the hypothalamus
the diencephalon

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3
Q

What does the brainstem consist of?

A

the midbrain (mesencephalon)
the hindbrain (rhombencephalon)

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4
Q

What parts of the CNS does the spinal cord contain?

A

sensory neurons that receive sensation from the sensory receptors
motor neurons that control muscles
long tracts connecting the spinal cord with the brain
the preganglionic nuclei of the autonomic nervous system
pattern generators for complex movements such as running at different speeds

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5
Q

What is the spinal cord?

A

a long cylindrical structure extending from the base of the skull to the first lumbar vertebra in the human

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6
Q

Where is the spinal cord noticeably thicker?

A

in the regions that are connected to the upper and lower limb

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7
Q

What is in a transverse section of the spinal cord?

A

A central butterfly-shaped area of grey matter is surrounded by white matter

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8
Q

The gray matter is divided into:

A

ventral horn
dorsal horn

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9
Q

The white matter is divided into:

A

3 funiculi (columns):
the dorsal funiculus
the lateral funiculus
the ventral funiculus

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10
Q

The gray matter can be further subdivided into a series of layers called:

A

the laminae of Rexed

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11
Q

What layers form the dorsal horn?

A

Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 3
Layer 4

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12
Q

What is the dorsal horn related to?

A

sensory input

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13
Q

What layers form the ventral horn?

A

Layer 7
Layer 8
Layer 9

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14
Q

What does the ventral horn have functions to?

A

the motor system

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15
Q

What is located at lamina 9?

A

the limb and trunk motor neurons

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16
Q

What lamina is found between the ventral and dorsal horns?

A

lamina 5

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17
Q

What is lamina 5 the site of?

A

pattern generators for limb movements

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18
Q

What lamina is small and not present at all levels?

A

lamina 6

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19
Q

What does the spinal cord receive sensory information from?

A

the skin, joints, and internal organs

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20
Q

The motor neurons in the spinal cord connect with and initiate activity in:

A

the muscles, blood vessels, and internal organs

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21
Q

The brain sends what to control motor neurons in the SC

A

nerve fiber bundles (tracts)

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22
Q

The mammalian spinal cord is made up of how many distinct anatomical and functional regions

A

6

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23
Q

what is the prebrachial anatomical/functional SC region for?

A

the neck

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24
Q

what is the brachial anatomical/functional SC region for?

A

the forelimb

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25
Q

what is the postbrachial anatomical/functional SC region for?

A

sympathetic outflow

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26
Q

what is the crural anatomical/functional SC region for?

A

lower limb

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27
Q

what is the postcrural anatomical/functional SC region for?

A

pelvic parasympathetic outflow

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28
Q

what is the caudal anatomical/functional SC region for?

A

the tail

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29
Q

What is the descending order of the anatomical/functional regions of the SC?

A

the neck
the forelimb
sympathetic outflow
lower limb
pelvic parasympathetic outflow
the tail

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30
Q

What spinal cord segments does the prebrachial region of the SC extend from?

A

C1 - C4

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31
Q

What spinal cord segments does the brachial region of the SC extend from?

A

C5 - T1

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32
Q

What spinal cord segments does the postbrachial region of the SC extend from?

A

T2 - L2

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33
Q

What spinal cord segments does the crural region of the SC extend from?

A

L3 - S1

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34
Q

What spinal cord segments does the
postcrural region of the SC extend from?

A

S2 - S4

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35
Q

What spinal cord segments does the caudal region of the SC extend from?

A

S5 - coccygeal segments

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36
Q

The spinal cord contains sophisticated pattern generators that can:

A

initiate different kinds of coordinated movements

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37
Q

Movement patterns generated in the spinal cord include

A

locomotion, posture, and balancing

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38
Q

Motor neurons in the SC initiate:

A

muscle fibre contraction and secretion of glands

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39
Q

What do motor neurons in the SC act as a final common pathway for?

A

motor function’s central and peripheral neural pathways

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40
Q

What are the 2 major functional groups of the motor neurons in the SC?

A

somatic
autonomic

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41
Q

What do somatic motor neurons innervate?

A

skeletal (voluntary) muscle

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42
Q

What do autonomic motor neurons innervate?

A

smooth muscles and glands

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43
Q

Where are somatic motor neurons located in the SC?

A

the ventral horn of the gray of the SC in lamina 9

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44
Q

What type of neurons are somatic motor neurons in the spinal cord?

A

large multipolar neurons

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45
Q

What do somatic motor neurons in the spinal cord stain well with?

A

acetylcholinesterase markers
NeuN markers

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46
Q

Why are lamina 9 motor neurons large?

A

because they each support a very long axon that runs to supply the striated muscles of the axial skeleton (muscles of the neck, trunk, and tail) and the muscles of the upper and lower limbs

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47
Q

What does the axon of lamina 9 motor neurons supply?

A

the striated muscles of the axial skeleton (muscles of the neck, trunk, and tail)
the muscles of the upper and lower limbs

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48
Q

The motor neurons innervating axial muscles are present at:

A

all spinal cord levels

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49
Q

the large motor neurons innervating limb muscles are only present at:

A

the level of origin of the upper limb nerves (C5 to T1 spinal cord segments in the human)
the level of origin of the lower limb nerves (L3 to S1 spinal cord segments in the human)

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50
Q

The autonomic motor neurons of the spinal cord can be divided into what two separate groups?

A

the preganglionic motor neurons of the sympathetic nervous system
the preganglionic motor neurons of the pelvic parasympathetic system

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51
Q

the sympathetic preganglionic motor neurons are found where in the SC?

A

T2 - L2 spinal cord segments

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52
Q

What are the 2 parts of the parasympathetic system in the CNS?

A

Cranial parasympathetic system
Sacral parasympathetic system

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53
Q

Where in the SC are parasympathetic preganglionic motor neurons located?

A

S2 - S4 spinal cord segments

54
Q

What connects each spinal nerve to the spinal cord?

A

A dorsal root
A ventral root

55
Q

What does the ventral root contain?

A

the axons of motor neurons

56
Q

What does the dorsal root contain?

A

sensory axons

57
Q

The cell bodies of sensory axons in the SC are located where?

A

the dorsal root ganglion

58
Q

What does the dorsal root ganglion form?

A

a swelling attached to the dorsal root

59
Q

In the cervical region, the nerves are named for:

A

the vertebral body below their level of exit

60
Q

C1 spinal nerve exits __ the C1 vertebrae

61
Q

In the thoracic and lower vertebral levels, the emerging nerves are named for:

A

the vertebral body above their level of exit

62
Q

T2 spinal nerve exits ___ the T2 vertebra

63
Q

What nerve does the spinal nerve naming convention create a problem for?

A

The nerve between C7 and T1 vertebrae

64
Q

The nerve between C7 and T1 vertebrae was called:

A

the C8 nerve

65
Q

What level has a nerve but no vertebra

66
Q

How many cervical spinal nerves and vertebrae are there?

A

8 spinal nerves
7 vertebrae

67
Q

How many thoracic spinal nerves and vertebrae are there?

A

12 spinal nerves
12 vertebrae

68
Q

How many lumbar spinal nerves and vertebrae are there?

A

5 spinal nerves
5 vertebrae

69
Q

How many sacral spinal nerves and vertebrae are there?

A

5 spinal nerves
5 vertebrae

70
Q

How many coccygeal vertebrae is/are there?

71
Q

The forelimb muscles are supplied by nerves from:

A

the brachial plexus

72
Q

What spinal nerves form the brachial plexus?

A

C5
C6
C7
C8
T1

73
Q

The hindlimb muscles are supplied by nerves from:

A

the lumbrosacral plexus

74
Q

What spinal nerves form the lumbrosacral plexus?

A

L2
L3
L4
L5
S1

75
Q

Each spinal nerve supplies a specific strip of skin from the ___ to the ___

A
  1. middle of the back
  2. ventral midline.
76
Q

The skin area provided by a single spinal nerve is called:

A

a dermatome

77
Q

Where do descending tracts arise?

A

the cerebral cortex
the brainstem

78
Q

Most descending tracts cross where?

A

the brainstem

79
Q

Most descending tracts descend in ___ of the SC?

A

the lateral funiculus
the ventral funiculus

80
Q

Where do descending tracts terminate?

A

interneurons in laminae 5, 6, and 7
motor neurons in lamina 9
or both

81
Q

Which descending tracts descend in the lateral funiculus?

A

corticospinal
rubrospinal
lateral reticulospinal

82
Q

What are descending tracts of the lateral funiculus more concerned with?

A

the control of flexor movements
particularly distal parts of limbs

83
Q

Which descending tracts descend in the ventral funiculus?

A

vestibulospinal
tectospinal
medial reticulospinal

84
Q

What are descending tracts of the ventral funiculus more concerned with?

A

the control of extensor (postural) muscles of the trunk and proximal parts of limbs

85
Q

The corticospinal tract travels from the ___ through the ___ to reach the ___, crossing to the opposite side.

A
  1. motor cortex
  2. internal capsule, pons, and pyramid
  3. pyramidal decussation
85
Q

The corticospinal tract travels from the ___ through the ___ to reach the ___, crossing to the opposite side.

A
  1. motor cortex
  2. internal capsule, pons, and pyramid
  3. pyramidal decussation
86
Q

Where does the corticospinal tract cross over to the opposite side?

A

the pyramidal decussation

87
Q

Where is a common site of damage to the corticospinal tract in humans?

A

The internal capsule strip of white matter in the cerebral hemisphere

88
Q

When the internal capsule is damaged, what can cause a stroke?

A

a haemorrhage or blood clot

89
Q

What does an internal capsule stroke result in?

A

paralysis and stiffness in the muscles of the opposite side of the body

90
Q

In primates, some corticospinal fibres make ___ with ___ in lamina 9

A
  1. direct contact
  2. motor neurons
91
Q

Direct connections from the cerebral cortex to motor neurons are ___ in non– primate mammals.

A

rare or absent

92
Q

The cortical control of limb movements in non–primate mammals is mainly based on what?

A

a major projection to lamina 5 in the spinal cord

93
Q

What does lamina 5 contain?

A

a highly organized system of limb movement pattern generators

94
Q

What brain stem centres send tracts to the spinal cord?

A

red nucleus (rubrospinal tract)
superior colliculus (tectospinal tract)
vestibular nuclei (vestibulospinal tracts) reticular nuclei (reticulospinal tracts)

95
Q

What are the dorsal columns?

A

gracile fasciculus
cuneate fasciculus

96
Q

Both the spinothalamic tracts and the dorsal columns (gracile and cuneate fasciculi) do what?

A

convey somatosensory information from one side of the body to the cerebral cortex of the opposite side via the thalamus.

97
Q

What two ascending tracts in the spinal cord are basically chains of three neurons

A

the dorsal column
the spinothalamic tracts

98
Q

In ascending SC tracts, the first neuron is:

A

a dorsal root ganglion cell

99
Q

In ascending SC tracts, where does the central process of the first neuron enter?

A

the spinal cord

100
Q

In ascending SC tracts, the axon of the second neuron ___ immediately

A

crosses the midline

101
Q

In ascending SC tracts, the second neuron climbs to where?

A

the thalamus

102
Q

In ascending SC tracts, the third neuron sends its axon from where to where?

A

from the thalamus
to the cerebral cortex

103
Q

the central process of the first neuron in the spinothalamic system is:

A

short (its axon ascends for only a few spinal cord segments)

104
Q

the central process of the first neuron of the dorsal column system ascends to:

A

the medulla oblongata

105
Q

The first neuron of the spinothalamic system ascends in:

A

the dorsolateral fasciculus (just external to lamina 1)

106
Q

In the spinothalamic system, the cell body of the second neuron may lie in:

A

lamina 1, 2, 3 or 4

107
Q

The axon of the second spinothalamic neuron crosses the midline where?

A

in the anterior white commissure of the spinal cord

108
Q

After crossing the midline, where does the second spinothalamic neuron ascend to?

A

the lateral spinothalamic pathway (pain and temperature sensation) or
the anterior spinothalamic tract (touch sensation)

109
Q

what is the lateral spinothalamic pathway for?

A

pain and temperature sensation

110
Q

what is the anterior spinothalamic tract for?

A

touch sensation

111
Q

Dorsal column (gracile and cuneate fasciculi) carry what information?

A

touch,
deep pressure,
proprioceptive
vibration sense

112
Q

the gracile fasciculus mainly conveys information from where?

A

the hindlimb

113
Q

the cuneate fasciculus mainly conveys information from where?

A

the forelimb

114
Q

Where do the cuneate and gracile fasciculi cross the midline?

A

in the brainstem

115
Q

The dorsal spinocerebellar and ventral spinocerebellar tracts convey what information

A

position sense (proprioception)
tactile

116
Q

The dorsal spinocerebellar and ventral spinocerebellar tracts convey information to where?

A

the cerebellum

117
Q

What side do The dorsal spinocerebellar and ventral spinocerebellar tracts end?

A

the same side that they began

118
Q

the first neuron of the dorsal spinocerebellar and ventral spinocerebellar systems is a:

A

dorsal root ganglion cell

119
Q

What is anothe name for the dorsal nucleus?

A

the nucleus of Clarke

120
Q

the first neuron of the dorsal spinocerebellar and ventral spinocerebellar systems ends by synapsing on neurons of the:

A

dorsal nucleus (nucleus of Clarke)

120
Q

what is the dorsal nucleus (nucleus of Clarke)?

A

a prominent cell group found in thoracic and upper lumbar levels
(same levels at which the preganglionic column of the sympathetic nervous system is located)

121
Q

The dorsal nucleus lies in what direction in relation to the central canal?

A

just dorsolateral

122
Q

The axons of dorsal nucleus cells form the:

A

dorsal spinocerebellar tract

123
Q

The axons of dorsal nucleus cells form the dorsal spinocerebellar tract where?

A

in the lateral funiculus

124
Q

What is another name for the dorsal nucleus?

A

the nucleus of Clarke

125
Q

the dorsal spinocerebellar tract ends where?

A

the cerebellar cortex of the same side.

126
Q

The ventral spinocerebellar system ends where?

A

the cerebellar cortex of the same side.

127
Q

Both the dorsal spinocerebellar and ventral spinocerebellar systems serve only:

A

the body’s rear half

128
Q

what tract is the body’s front half served by

A

the external cuneate system

Brain Bee National Final (10 decks)

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