Spinal Cord Flashcards
Define Parasthesia
An abnormal sensation; can include burning, pricking, tickling, or tingling. Sometimes characterized as “pins and needles.”
Define Dysesthesia
Impairment of sensation short of anesthesia
Define Paresis
Muscular weakness caused by nerve damage or disease
Define Dermatome
Cutaneous area served by an individual sensory root
Define Myotome
Muscles innervated by an individual motor root
Define Radiculopathy
Sensory and/or motor dysfunction due to injury to a nerve root
Define Myelopathy
Disorder resulting in spinal cord dysfunction
How many pairs of nerve roots do we have - and how many at each level of the spine?
31 pairs. 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal
Root C5 lies between which two vertebral segments?
C4 and C5
Root T2 lies between which two vertebral segments?
T2 and T3
What is Lhermitte’s symptom?
Shooting “lightning bolt” pain down spine with flexion of neck - suggests a cervical myelopathy
Is “spinal shock” an immediate neurologic sign of upper or lower motor neuron syndrome?
UMN
Are fasciculations a neurologic sign of upper or lower motor neuron syndrome?
LMN
Is spastic paresis a neurologic sign of upper or lower motor neuron syndrome?
UMN
Is flacid paresis a neurologic sign of upper or lower motor neuron syndrome?
LMN
Is atrophy a neurologic sign of upper or lower motor neuron syndrome?
LMN
What is the motor territory, sensory territory, and reflex of nerve root C5?
Motor: deltoid, infraspinatus, biceps
Sensory: shoulder, upper lateral arm
Reflex: biceps
What is the motor territory, sensory territory, and reflex of nerve root C6?
Motor: wrist extensors, biceps
Sensory: 1st and 2nd digits of hand
Reflex: biceps, brachioradialis
What is the motor territory, sensory territory, and reflex of nerve root C7?
Motor: triceps
Sensory: 3rd digit
Reflex: triceps
What is the motor territory, sensory territory, and reflex of nerve root L4?
Motor: psoas, quadriceps
Sensory: knee, medial leg
Reflex: patellar
What is the motor territory, sensory territory, and reflex of nerve root L5?
Motor: foot dorsiflexion, big toe extension foot eversion/inversion
Sensory: dorsum of food, great toe
Reflex: none
What is the motor territory, sensory territory, and reflex of nerve root S1?
Motor: foot plantar flexion
Sensory: lateral foot, small toe, sole of foot
Reflex: achilles
Which dermatome typically covers the nipple line?
T4
Which dermatome typically covers the xyphoid process?
T6
Which dermatome typically covers the umbilicus?
T10
Is Babinski’s sign a neurologic sign of upper or lower motor neuron syndrome?
UMN
Is late pain in thighs and buttocks a symptom of conus medullaris or cauda equina syndrome?
Conus medullaris
Is patchy, asymmetric “saddle” a symptom of conus medullaris or cauda equina syndrome?
Cauda equina
Is early bladder dysfunction a symptom of conus medullaris or cauda equina syndrome?
Conus medullaris
Is late bladder dysfunction a symptom of conus medullaris or cauda equina syndrome?
Cauda equina
Is late bowel and sexual dysfunction a symptom of conus medullaris or cauda equina syndrome?
Cauda equina
Is symmetric “saddle” anesthesia a symptom of conus medullaris or cauda equina syndrome?
Conus medullaris
Is pelvic floor muscle weakness a symptom of conus medullaris or cauda equina syndrome?
Conus medullaris
Is early root pain radiating to legs a symptom of conus medullaris or cauda equina syndrome?
Cauda equina
Which nerves send sympathetic input to urinary sphincters?
Hypogastric nerves
Which nerves send parasympathetic input to the detrusor muscle?
Pelvic nerves
Which nerves send somatic input to the external urethral sphincter and pelvic floor muscles?
Pudendal nerves
The hypogastric nerves arise from which spinal cord segments?
T10-L2
The pelvic nerves arise from which spinal cord segments?
S2-S4
The pudendal nerves arise from which spinal cord segments?
S2-S4
Frontal lobe lesions cause what urinary problem?
Urinary urgency
Spinal cord lesions above S2-S4 cause what urinary problem?
Spastic bladder (think UMN)
Spinal cord lesions of S2-S4 or injury to peripheral nerves innervating bladder cause what urinary problem?
Flaccid bladder (think LMN)
