Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Anatomy & Physiology > Spinal Cord > Flashcards

Spinal Cord Flashcards

(68 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What are the six characteristics of the spinal cord?

A
  1. vertebrae + 3 meninges + CSF
  2. 5 regions
  3. spinal cord extends to L1 vertebrae
  4. anterior median fissure + posterior median sulcus
  5. rootlets
  6. gray and white matter
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the five regions of the spinal cord?

A

cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and cauda equina

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Each region of the spinal cord gives rise to what?

A

spinal nerves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How many spinal nerves does the cervical region have?

A

eight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How many spinal nerves does the thoracic region have?

A

twelve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How many spinal nerves does the lumbar region have?

A

five

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How many spinal nerves does the sacral region have?

A

five

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How many spinal nerves does the cauda equina region have?

A

one

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

The L1 vertebrae is only present in what?

A

adults

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Where is the L1 vertebrae located?

A

below the cauda equina

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the two kinds of rootlets?

A

dorsal and ventral roots

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What does a combination of a dorsal and ventral root create?

A

a spinal nerve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How many pairs of spinal nerves exist?

A

31

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Spinal nerves are what kind of nerves?

A

mixed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a mixed nerve?

A

nerves that perform both the action of sensory nerves as well as a motor nerve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

The dorsal root contains what kind of nerves?

A

sensory nerves/neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

The dorsal horn contains what kind of nerves?

A

interneurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Spinal cord gray and white matter location

A

gray matter: inside
white matter: outside

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

The ventral horn contains what kind of nerves?

A

motor nerves/neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

The ventral root contains what kind of nerves?

A

motor nerves/neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Spinal cord gray matter function

A

signal integration (processing):
- spinal cord manages some basic REFLEXES

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Spinal cord white matter function

A

signal propagation (conduction)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Define reflex

A

rapid, pre-programmed involuntary response to a certain stimulus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Define reflex arc

A

is a neural pathway

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What are the three types of reflexes?
- spinal vs. cranial - somatic vs. autonomic (visceral) - innate vs. acquired
26
The somatic nervous system controls what?
skeletal muscle
27
The autonomic nervous system controls what?
smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands
28
Innate vs. acquired =
born with it vs. developed over time
29
The gray matter in the spinal cord is responsible for what?
reflexes
30
The white matter in the spinal cord does what?
forms columns organized into sensory/motor tracts that act as parts of bigger sensory/motor pathways
31
Sensory (ascending) pathways function
inform about the changes in the internal/external environment
32
What three nerves are sensory pathways composed of (first to last)?
1. primary nerve 2. secondary nerve 3. tertiary nerve
33
Most sensory pathways pass through what?
thalamus (filter)
34
Motor (descending) pathways function
regulation of activity (excitation/inhibition)
35
What two nerves are motor pathways composed of (first to last)?
1. upper nerves 2. lower nerves
36
The nervous system is split into what two systems to achieve certain goals?
somatic NS and autonomic NS
37
Somatic NS function/goal
conscious perception + voluntary control
38
What are the two components of the somatic NS?
somatic sensory and motor pathways?
39
Autonomic NS function/goal
maintain homeostasis by: - regulating (internal processes) - adjusting (stress vs. rest)
40
What are the two components of the autonomic NS?
autonomic sensory and motor pathways?
41
Somatic motor pathways utilize what neurotransmitter?
acetylcholine (ACh)
42
Somatic motor pathway structure
- no ganglion - lower motor neuron
43
Somatic motor pathways cause what kind of response?
excitation
44
Autonomic motor pathways utilize what neurotransmitter?
acetylcholine (ACh) and norepinephrine
45
Autonomic motor pathway structure
- ganglion - preganglionic lower motor neuron - postganglionic lower motor neuron
46
Autonomic motor pathways cause what kind of response?
excitation or inhibition
47
What are the two autonomic NS divisions?
parasympathetic and sympathetic
48
What is another name for parasympathetic?
craniosacral
49
What is another name for sympathetic?
thoracolumbar
50
Parasympathetic aka...
"rest and digest"
51
Parasympathetic function
conserves energy, replenishes nutrients in rest
52
Craniosacral communicates through what?
spinal and cranial nerves
53
Sympathetic aka...
"fight or flight"
54
Sympathetic function
alters the body's activities in stress (EEE): - emergency - exercise - excitement
55
Thoracolumbar communicates through what?
spinal nerves
56
Parasympathetic nerves have a _____ preganglionic neuron and a _____ postganglionic neuron.
long, short
57
Sympathetic nerves have a _____ and ______ preganglionic neuron and a _____ postganglionic neuron.
short, branched, long
58
What is the function of the branching preganglionic neuron?
mass activation
59
Most organs are constantly under what?
dual innervation
60
Dual innervation
contains both parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions
61
Autonomic nerves work in the form of what?
reflexes
62
How do dual innervated organs work?
when conditions change each division will excite or inhibit organ stimulation for optimal organ performance
63
What organs/structures only contain sympathetic neurons??
- blood vessels - sweat glands - hair muscles
64
What three structures regulate the autonomic NS?
hypothalamus, brain stem, and spinal cord
65
Hypothalamus regulation of autonomic nervous system
Master control for the autonomic functions
66
How does the hypothalamus perform control over the autonomic functions?
receives signal from the cortex, thalamus, or the limbic system then COMMUNICATES with different autonomic centers below and COORDINATES their activity
67
Regulation of autonomic nervous system: brainstem
responsible for reflex centers that control cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive
68
Regulation of autonomic nervous system: spinal cord
responsible for the reflex centers that control defecation and urination

Anatomy & Physiology (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions