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Intro to Neuro > Spinal Cord > Flashcards

Spinal Cord Flashcards

1
Q

The spinal cord is a segmental structure that is involved in _______neural activity

A

lower integrative

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2
Q

The spinal cord lies in

A

the spinal canal of the vertebral column

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3
Q

there are _ cervical segments of the spinal cord

A

8

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4
Q

there are _ thoracic segments of the spinal cord

A

12

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5
Q

there are _ lumbar segments of the spinal cord

A

5

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6
Q

there are _ sacral segments of the spinal cord

A

5

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7
Q

there are _ coccygeal segments of the spinal cord

A

1

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8
Q

Each segment of the spinal cord has

A

~a pair of spinal nerves with motor and sensory axons inn each pair

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9
Q

What extra is in the thoracolumbar spinal nerves?

A

There is still motor and sensory axons, but these spinal nerves also have autonomic axons

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10
Q

the spinal cord has a tapering cylindrical shape with two enlargements:

A

~Cervical enlargement that is associated with spinal nerves of the upper extremity
~Lumbar enlargement that is associated with spinal nerves of the lower extremity

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11
Q

the spinal cord ends at the _____ between ___ and ___ vertebrae

A

Conus Medularis; between L1 and L2

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12
Q

The very end of the spinal cord is the ____, which is

A

Filum terminale

~this is a continuation of pia mater to end of spinal canal

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13
Q

Numbering of C1-8 spinal nerves in relation to the vertebra

A

~C1-7 exits above the same numbered vertebra

~C8 exits below C7

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14
Q

Numbering of spinal nerves (other than cervical)

A

~the rest of the spinal nerves exit below the same numbered vertebrae
~sacral nerves exiting through the sacral foramina
~coccygeal spinal nerve exiting just lateral to the coccyx bone
*the lower lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal spinal nerves descend together in the spinal canal as the cauda equina to each exit where they should

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15
Q

Dorsal superficial features of the spinal cord (3)

A

~dorsal median sulcus
~dorsal intermediate sulcus
~dorsal lateral sulcus

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16
Q

Dorsal lateral sulci of the spinal cord

A

Where dorsal roots enter the spinal cord

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17
Q

Dorsal intermediate sulci of the spinal cord

A

The division between two parts of dorsal columns of each side

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18
Q

Dorsal median sulcus of the spinal cord

A

Divides spinal cord into two halves

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19
Q

Ventral superficial features of the spinal cord (2)

A

~Ventral lateral sulci

~Ventral median fissure

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20
Q

Ventral lateral sulci of the spinal cord

A

where ventral roots exit spinal cord

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21
Q

Ventral median fissure of the spinal cord

A

divides spinal cord into two halves

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22
Q

Spinal cord dimensions

A

*most people overestimate the size of the spinal cord since it carries so many tracts and has so many nuclei, but it is really quite small
~Overall dimension of spinal cord is 7-8 mm dorsal-ventral axis and 12mm medial-lateral axis

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23
Q

Gray matter

A

its cell bodies and dendrites in the center of the spinal cord

24
Q

White matter

A

~surrounds the gray matter

~ascending and descending tracts of myelinated axons

25
Q

Gray matter is organized to regions (3)

A

~dorsal (posterior) horn
~ventral (anterior) horn
~lateral horn

26
Q

Dorsal horn of the gray matter

A

sensory relay nuclei

27
Q

Ventral horn of the gray matter

A

motor nuclei

28
Q

Lateral horn of the gray matter

A

sympathetic efferent pre-ganglionic nuclei in the thoracic and upper lumbar spinal cord

29
Q

Variable size of horns at different levels of spinal cords

A

~Larger size of ventral gray horns in cervical (C5–T1) and lumbar-sacral (L4-S2) enlargements
~Larger size of dorsal gray horns in cervical (C5-T1) and lumbar-sacral (L4-S2) enlargement areas
~Lateral horn really only seen in thoracic and upper lumbar segments
~small dorsal and ventral horns in upper cervical and thoracic spinal cord

30
Q

Why are the ventral gray horns larger in certain areas of the spinal cord?

A

~larger due to the large number of lower motor neurons needed to innervate limb musculature of the upper and lower extremities

31
Q

Why are the dorsal gray horns larger in certain areas of the spinal cord?

A

~larger due to the larger amount of sensory input from limbs and need for sensory tract cell bodies in the dorsal horns

32
Q

Why are lateral horns only seen in the thoracic and upper lumbar segments?

A

~this is the only area where the sympathetic efferents neurons reside

33
Q

Why are there small dorsal and ventral horns in the upper cervical and thoracic spinal cord?

A

~because of the innervation to the neck and trunk only need little sensory and motor input

34
Q

Posteromarginal nucleus of the spinal cord

A

~along the most dorsal end of the dorsal horn
~receives primary and secondary input from posterolateral tract (fasciculus of Lissauer)
~relays this information related to pain and temperature sensation into the spinothalamic (anterolateral) pathways

35
Q

Substantia gelatinosa of the spinal cord

A

~a crescent shaped nucleus near tip of dorsal horn just ventral to the posteromarginal nucleus
~receives a large number of C-fibers primary afferent nociceptive (pain) fibers from the peripheral nerves
~relay pain sensation as tract neurons for antrerolateral system
~these are cell bodies which contribute axons which form parts of the spinothalamic (anterolateral) pathways
~have a large density of mu and kappa opiod receptors
~these receptors are probably related to enkephalinergic descending pain control pathways and may be site of this control of afferent nociceptive signals in the spinal cord

36
Q

Nucleus proprius of spinal cord

A

~in the dorsal horn jus ventral to the substantia gelinosa
~receives and relays non-noxious inputs from the periphery
~has neurons that project to other spinal neurons which are tracts neurons
~are tract neurons that project to other supraspinal relay centers including the midbrain, thalamus, and hypothalamus

37
Q

Base of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord

A

~in thoracic and lumbar spinal cord in this area is the dorsal nucleus of Clarke (Clarke’s cloum) or just nucleus dorsalis
~axons from the dorsal nucleus of Clarke ascend as the dorsal spinocerebellar tract
~adjacent cells give rise to the ventral spinocerebellar tract
~in the cervical spinal cord, these cells give rise to the rostral spinocerebellar tracts

38
Q

Intermediate cell column of spinal cord

A

~most clearly seen in the lateral aspect in T1-L2 levels of spinal cord and forms the interomediolateral cell column
~it is seen grossly as the lateral horn of the gray matter from T1-L2
~contains autonomic efferent neurons forming preganglionic fibers of the sympathetic divisions

39
Q

Ventral Motor nuclei of the spinal cord

A

~Lateral motor nuclei and medial motor nuclei
~Upper cervical lower motor neurons innervate only intrinsic neck muscles
~thoracic lower motor neurons innervate only trunk (proximal) muscles
~there are more distal muscles, there is no need for a lateral motor neuronal nucleus

40
Q

Lateral motor nuclei of the ventral motor nuclei

A

~lower motor neuron that innervate distal muscles of the limbs

41
Q

Medial motor nuclei of the ventral motor nuclei

A

~lower motor neurons that innervate proximal limbs and trunk muscles
*only the medial motor nucleus exits in the upper cervical and thoracic spinal cord

42
Q

White matter is arranged into regions (3)

A

~dorsal columns
~lateral columns
~ventral columns
*each region contains “tracts” which are groups of ascending or descending axons

43
Q

Dorsal Column of the white matter

A

ascending (sensory) tracts

44
Q

Lateral Column of the white matter

A

descending (motor) tracts

45
Q

Ventral Column of the white matter

A

both ascending (sensory) and descending (motor) tracts

46
Q

White matter: variable size

A

~greater amount of white matter in rostral compared with caudal spinal cord levels

47
Q

Why is there a greater amount of white matter in the rostral compared to caudal area?

A

~most axons in the descending tracts have ended before you reach the more caudal spinal cord segments
~most axons in the ascending tracts have not yet begun until you get to the more rostral spinal cord

48
Q

Fasciculus Gracilis & Cuneatus

(dorsal columns) of the spinal cord

A

~these tracts carry discriminate (fine) touch and proprioception from the lower extremity and from the upper extremity (respectively)
~rise ipsilaterally to the end in the caudal medulla
~dorsal intermediate sulcus lies in between them

49
Q

Lateral Column of the spinal cord: Dorsal and ventral spinocerebellar tract

A

~ascend in the lateral funiculus and carry proprioceptive information to cerebellum
~Dorsal spinocerebellar tract rises ipsilaterally
~Ventral spinocerebelalr ascends contralaterally

50
Q

Lateral spinothalamic tract (lateral column) of the spinal cord

A

~contralateral nociceptive (pain) and temperature pathway

51
Q

Anterior spinothalamic tract (lateral column) of the spinal cord

A

~contralateral pathway but carries non-discriminative (crude) touch and pressure information

52
Q

Lateral and anterior corticospinal tracts (lateral and ventral column) of the spinal cord

A

~descending tracts are in the lateral and ventral funiculi

~the crossed and uncrossed fine motor control from pathway the cerebral motor cortex to spinal lower motor neurons

53
Q

Lateral (medullary) and Medial (pontine) reticulospinal tracts (lateral and ventral columns) of the spinal cord

A

~both uncrossed and bilateral descending motor pathways from the reticular formation of medial and pons
~medial- plays an important role in maintaining posture
~lateral- interrupts postural sets to allow for movements

54
Q

Rubrospinal tract (lateral and ventral column) of spinal cord

A

~a very small, crossed motor pathways to primarily cervical spinal cord from red nucleus
~plays a role in fine motor control by the upper extremities

55
Q

Tectospinal tract (lateral and ventral) spinal cord

A

~descends from the midbrain tuctum to lower motor neurons in the cervical spinal cord
~originating in the superior and inferior colliculi of midbrain plays a role for visual and auditory reflexes involving neck movements (orientation to sights and sounds)

56
Q

Dorsolateral funiculus (Lissaur’s fasciculus) of the spinal cord

A

~allows for intersegmental connections within the spinal cord for primary and secondary nociceptive (pain) transmitting axons

57
Q

Anterior white commissure of the spinal cord

A

~composed of decussating axons of secondary spinothalamic tract neurons as part of the anterolateral pathway

Intro to Neuro (9 decks)

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