Spinal Cord Flashcards by Romae Stanley

What is the primary function of the spinal cord?

Transmission of nerve signals between the motor cortex and the body, and sensory neurons to the sensory cortex.

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What are the three main meningeal coverings of the spinal cord?

Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater

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What is the central canal of the spinal cord filled with?

Cerebrospinal fluid.

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What are the two well-defined enlargements of the spinal cord?

Cervical level (upper limbs)
Lumbosacral level (lower limbs)

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How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?

31 pairs.

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What is the function of the anterior horn of the spinal cord gray matter?

Motor function.

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Fill in the blank: The spinal cord is composed of gray matter core surrounded by _______.

White matter.

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What are the three functional regions of the gray matter in the spinal cord?

Anterior horn
Posterior horn
Lateral (intermediate) horn

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What are Rexed laminae?

Ten layers of gray matter in the spinal cord organized by cytoarchitecture.

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What types of tracts are found in the spinal cord white matter?

Ascending tracts
Descending tracts
Intersegmental/propriospinal tracts

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True or False: The posterior funiculus of the spinal cord is further divided into medial gracile and lateral cuneate fasciculus.

True.

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What arteries primarily supply the spinal cord?

Anterior spinal artery
Two posterior spinal arteries

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What is the role of segmental spinal arteries?

They provide additional arterial supply to the spinal cord.

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What are the two types of spinal cord injuries?

Incomplete injury
Complete injury

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What is a monosynaptic reflex?

A reflex involving only one sensory and one motor neuron.

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What distinguishes a polysynaptic reflex from a monosynaptic reflex?

Involves multiple neurons and interneurons.

What is the significance of the lumbar cistern?

It is the site for lumbar puncture due to the absence of spinal cord.

What is the role of spinal interneurons?

They make up the neural circuits known as central pattern generators.

What is a myotome?

A group of muscles innervated by a single spinal nerve root.

What are dermatomes?

Skin areas from which each spinal nerve receives sensory information.

What is the function of the spinal nerves?

Transmit afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor/autonomic) information.

What is the function of the posterior horn of the spinal cord gray matter?

Sensory function.

What are the three paired columns of white matter in the spinal cord?

Anterior funiculus
Lateral funiculus
Posterior funiculus

What is the function of the filum terminale?

Anchors the spinal cord in place.

What does the epidural space contain?

Fat.

Fill in the blank: The spinal cord extends from the foramen magnum to the _______.

L1/L2 vertebra.

What are the four regions of the spinal column?

Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral ## Footnote Cervical (7 vertebrae), Thoracic (12 vertebrae), Lumbar (5 vertebrae), Sacral (5 vertebrae)

What are the most frequent causes of Spinal Cord Injury?

* Motor Vehicle Accidents * Falls * Sport Injuries * Violence * Self-harm * Work-related Accidents ## Footnote These causes are listed in order of frequency.

What characterizes a complete spinal cord injury?

No sensation or voluntary motor function caudal to the level of injury, intact bulbocavernosis reflex ## Footnote Indicates intact S3-4 and resolution of spinal shock.

How is a complete spinal cord injury named?

By the last spinal level of partial neurologic function ## Footnote Prognosis includes the expectation of one to two levels of additional root return.

What defines an incomplete spinal cord injury?

Some neurologic function persists caudal to the level of injury after the return of the bulbocavernosus reflex ## Footnote Greater function distal to the lesion indicates better prognosis.

What is sacral sparing in the context of spinal cord injury?

Perianal sensation, voluntary rectal motor function, and great toe flexor activity ## Footnote Indicates incomplete cord injury and potential for greater return of cord function.

What is Brown-Sequard Syndrome?

A hemicord injury with ipsilateral muscle paralysis and contralateral hypesthesia to pain and temperature ## Footnote Prognosis is good, with >90% regaining bowel and bladder function.

What is Central Cord Syndrome commonly associated with?

Extension injury to an osteoarthritic spine in middle-aged individuals ## Footnote Presents with flaccid paralysis of the upper extremities and sacral sparing.

What are the characteristics of Anterior Cord Syndrome?

Motor and pain/temperature loss with preserved proprioception ## Footnote Good prognosis if recovery is evident within 24 hours.

What is Conus Medullaris Syndrome?

Involves loss of voluntary bowel and bladder control with preserved lumbar root function ## Footnote Seen in T12-L1 injuries, may be complete or incomplete.

What is Cauda Equina Syndrome caused by?

Multilevel lumbosacral root compression within the lumbar spinal canal ## Footnote Clinical manifestations include saddle anesthesia and loss of voluntary bowel or bladder function.

True or False: The absence of sacral sensation to temperature or pinprick after 24 hours in Anterior Cord Syndrome indicates a good prognosis.

False ## Footnote It portends a poor outcome, with functional recovery in only 10% of patients.