Spinal Cord

Question 1

Damage to dorsal columns

Answer 1

Damage to dorsal columns would impact sensory function, meaning sensory impairment would most likely occur (touch, vibration awareness) pg.437

Question 2

Transmission of sensory nerve impulses

Answer 2

Stimulus - sensory neuron - info processing - motor neuron - response (pg.453)

Question 3

Location of 2nd order sensory neurons

Answer 3

Spinal cord or brain stem (page 522)

Question 4

Origination of lower motor neurons

Answer 4

brain stem or spinal cord (pg.527)

Question 5

Fx of pri. motor cortex

Answer 5

Frontal lobe - Voluntary movement (skeletal) pg.490

Question 6

Lateral inhibition

Answer 6

In the gray matter, spinal neurons (interneurons inhibit lateral neuron pathway) offset inhibited more than onset neurons; resolves incoming pain information (Slide 21 of PNS)

Question 7

Fx of epidural opioids

Answer 7

Blocks pain (spinal nerves) in the immediate area

Question 8

White matter in spinal cord

Answer 8

Three regions or columns:
Posterior - horns and median sulcus
Anterior - horns and median fissure
Lateral White - btwn posterior and anterior white columns
*Also Anterior white commissure - axons cross from one side of the spine to another (pg.440)

Question 9

Dermatomes/Spinal nerve regions

Answer 9

Dermatome - a specific bilateral region of skin surface monitored by a 1 pair of nerves (Each pair of nerves supply their own dermatome) pg.443

Spinal Nerve Regions:
Cervical - 8
Thoracic - 12
Lumbar - 5
Sacral - 5
Coccygeal -1

Question 10

Entry and exit afferent axons

Answer 10

Afferent division - somatic and visceral sensory pathways (sensory info is ADDED to the CNS afferent =ASCENDING-SENSORY)
Spinothalamic
Posterior
Spinocerebellar (pg.528 table)

Question 11

Efferent axons in spinal cord

Answer 11

Efferent division - somatic motor pathways (skeletal muscles) either conscious or subconscious (info EXITS to the muscles) DESCENDING MOTOR
Corticospinal
Medial
Lateral Pathways (pg 531)

Question 12

Descending tracts-origin-action

Answer 12

Corticobulbar
Lateral Corticospinal
Anterior Corticospinal
all upper motor neurons in primary motor cortex and control skeletal muscles

Vestibular - pons/medulla - balance and muscle tone
Tectospinal- tectum (midbrain) - eye, head and neck (visual/auditory stim)
Reticulospinal-reticular formation-reflexes

Rubrospinal - neuclei midbrain - upper limb muscle tone/movement (pg.531)

Question 13

Definition of contralateral

Answer 13

Motor response occurs opposite of stimulus pg 459

Question 14

Definition of ipsilateral

Answer 14

Stimulus and motor response are on the same side (pg.459)

Question 15

Reflexes (autonomic sensory nerves)

Answer 15

Reflex- quick response to stimuli
Long reflexes - (visceral sensory neurons) send info to CNS
Short reflexes - bypass CNS (cell bodies are in autonomic ganglia) pg.522

Question 16

Origin (lower motor neurons)

Answer 16

Cell body in the brainstem or spinal cord ONLY lower motor go outside CNS

Question 17

Spinal cord transection

Answer 17

Spinal shock - temporary loss/depressed reflexes inferior to injury pg.464

Question 18

Nerves causing spastic paralysis

Answer 18

Upper motor neurons in the CNS (pg.534)

Question 19

Location of terminus (2nd order sensory neuron)

Answer 19

spinal cord or brain stem to the thalamus (to third order neuron) pg.524

Question 20

Result of injury ventral root (spinal nerve)

Answer 20

Anterior, ventral root controls somatic (muscle) and visceral (organ) effectors; injury would result in paralysis

Question 21

Definition of tendon reflex

Answer 21

Monitors external tension from muscle contraction (which prevents tendon tearing) pg.459

Question 22

Simple spinal reflex arc

Answer 22

Stimulus - sensory neuron - CNS processes - the motor neuron - response occurs (pg, 454)