Spinal Cord Flashcards
Damage to dorsal columns
Damage to dorsal columns would impact sensory function, meaning sensory impairment would most likely occur (touch, vibration awareness) pg.437
Transmission of sensory nerve impulses
Stimulus - sensory neuron - info processing - motor neuron - response (pg.453)
Location of 2nd order sensory neurons
Spinal cord or brain stem (page 522)
Origination of lower motor neurons
brain stem or spinal cord (pg.527)
Fx of pri. motor cortex
Frontal lobe - Voluntary movement (skeletal) pg.490
Lateral inhibition
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)
Fx of epidural opioids
Blocks pain (spinal nerves) in the immediate area
White matter in spinal cord
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)
Dermatomes/Spinal nerve regions
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
Entry and exit afferent axons
Afferent division - somatic and visceral sensory pathways (sensory info is ADDED to the CNS afferent =ASCENDING-SENSORY)
Spinothalamic
Posterior
Spinocerebellar (pg.528 table)
Efferent axons in spinal cord
Efferent division - somatic motor pathways (skeletal muscles) either conscious or subconscious (info EXITS to the muscles) DESCENDING MOTOR
Corticospinal
Medial
Lateral Pathways (pg 531)
Descending tracts-origin-action
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)
Definition of contralateral
Motor response occurs opposite of stimulus pg 459
Definition of ipsilateral
Stimulus and motor response are on the same side (pg.459)
Reflexes (autonomic sensory nerves)
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
Origin (lower motor neurons)
Cell body in the brainstem or spinal cord ONLY lower motor go outside CNS
Spinal cord transection
Spinal shock - temporary loss/depressed reflexes inferior to injury pg.464
Nerves causing spastic paralysis
Upper motor neurons in the CNS (pg.534)
Location of terminus (2nd order sensory neuron)
spinal cord or brain stem to the thalamus (to third order neuron) pg.524
Result of injury ventral root (spinal nerve)
Anterior, ventral root controls somatic (muscle) and visceral (organ) effectors; injury would result in paralysis
Definition of tendon reflex
Monitors external tension from muscle contraction (which prevents tendon tearing) pg.459
Simple spinal reflex arc
Stimulus - sensory neuron - CNS processes - the motor neuron - response occurs (pg, 454)
