spinal cord Flashcards
SC circulation consists of
2 posterior spinal arteries
1 anterior spinal artery
6-8 radicular arteries
what supplies the anterior and posterior spinal arteries in the cervical region of the SC
vertebral arteries supply anterior and posterior spinal arteries in cervical region
what supplies the spinal arteries below the cervical region of the SC
spinal arteries are perfused by radicular and lumbar arteries
pathway of the two posterior spinal arteries
where they run on SC
what they perfuse
(cervical region) aorta->subclavian artery->vertebral a-> posterior spinal a
(below cervical region) aorta->segmental a->posterior radicular a->posterior spinal a
runs length of SC longitudinally on both sides of midline of posterolateral sulcus
perfuses posterior 1/3 of SC (green)
pathways of anterior spinal artery
where it runs on SC
what it perfuses
(cervical region) aorta–>subclavian a–>vertebral a–> anterior spinal a
(below cervical region) aorta->segmental a->anterior radicular a->anterior spinal a
runs length of SC longitudinally across anterior median fissure
perfuses anterior 2/3 of SC (blue)
ASA flow through thoracolumbar region of cord can be inconsistent, often making this region highly dependent on radicular flow
largest and most important artery
artery of adamkiewicz (great radicular artery)
artery of adamkiewicz (great radicular artery)
what it perfuses
where it originates
perfuses anterior SC in thoracolumbar region
most commonly originates from left side between T11-12
in 75% of the population, it originates between T8-12 and in another 10% it arises at L1-2
anterior spinal artery syndrome aka Becks syndrome
cause
classic s/sx
aortic x clamp placed above artery of adamkiewicz
s/sx: flaccid paralysis of LE’s, bowel and bladder dysfunction, loss of temperature and pain sensation, preserved touch and proprioception
perfusion of corticospinal tract
anterior blood supply
-this explains why patient presents with flaccid paralysis of LE’s in anterior spinal artery syndrome
perfusion of autonomic motor fibers
anterior blood supply
-this explains why the patient experiences bowel and bladder dysfunction in anterior spinal artery syndrome
perfusion of spinothalamic tract
anterior blood supply
-this explains why patient loses pain and temperature sensation in anterior spinal artery syndrome
perfusion of dorsal column
posterior blood supply
-this explains why touch and proprioception are preserved in anterior spinal artery syndrome
which anatomic structure is marked in this image
dorsal column
ID the structures in this image
define ganglion
collection of cell bodies that reside outside of CNS
what does the grey matter contain
outline the laminae
grey matter contains neuronal cell bodies. processes afferent signals that arrive from periphery.
subdivided into 10 laminae
1-6 reside in dorsal grey matter- sensory
7-9 reside in ventral grey matter- motor
10 resides around central canal. anterior and posterior commissures comprise lamina 10
the grey matter is larger in these 2 specific regions of the SC
the region of cervical enlargement (C5-7) contain cell bodies from neurons that supply UE’s
region of lumbar enlargement (L3-S2) contain cell bodies from neurons that supply LE’s
what does white matter contain and how is it divided
contains axons of ascending and descending tracts
-divided into dorsal, lateral, ventral columns
outline the 4 sensory tracts in the white matter and what info they transmit
outline the 2 motor tracts in the white matter and what info they transmit
where does the corticospinal tract travel and what kind of pathway is it
from cortex to spine, motor
where does the spinothalamic tract travel and what kind of pathway is it
from spine to thalamus, sensory
dorsal column- medial lemniscal system
sensations it transmits
discrimination
fiber type
how fast it transmits info
transmits mechanoreceptive sensations (fine touch, proprioception, vibration, pressure)
capable of two point discrimination- a high degree of localizing stimulus
consists of large myelinated rapidly conducting fibers
transmits sensory info faster than anterolateral system
dorsolateral column- medial lemniscal system (DC-LMS) pathway
- 1st order neuron enters through dorsal root ganglion, ascends on ipsilateral side, synapses with second order neuron in medulla
- crosses to contralateral side in medulla, then ascends towards thalamus via medial lemniscus. synapses with 3rd order neuron in thalamic relay station, the ventrobasal complex
- fibers pass through internal capsule and advance towards somatosensory cortex in post central gyrus in parietal lobe
dorsolateral column- medial lemniscal system (DC-LMS) first order neuron
nerve fiber type
where it enters
where it relays
where it ascends
where it synapses
usually A beta fiber
enters via DRG
relays from dorsal column to medulla
where it ascends (on ipsilateral side)
synapses with second order neuron in medulla (cuneate and gracile nuclei)