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human form and function > spinal cord > Flashcards

spinal cord Flashcards

1
Q

length of spinal cord

A

runs through the vertebral canal: foramen magnum to L1-2

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2
Q

how many spinal nerves are there

A

31 pairs of spinal nerves - all mixed nerves

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3
Q

are they uniform in diameter?

A

no:

  • cervical enlargement
  • lumbar enlargement
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4
Q

what is the conus medullaris

A

tapered inferior end

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5
Q

what is the caudal equina

A

lumbar and sacral nerve roots

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6
Q

functions of the vertebral column

A
  • solid but flexible protective casing around cord
  • intervertebral discs absorb shock
  • transmits weight of trunk to lower limbs
  • attachment point for ribs and muscles
  • allows extension and flexion
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7
Q

what do the inverter discs also allow

A

allow movement of backwards and forwards

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8
Q

functions of the ligaments

A
  • limits potentially damaging movement of spine
  • keeps vertebral column in place
  • adds flexibility to vertebral column
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9
Q

functions of meninges

A
  • coat the spinal cord
  • contains blood supply and cerebrospinal fluid
  • barrier for neurotoxic substances,
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10
Q

cerebrospinal fluid functions

A
  • suspends the brain and spinal cord,
  • dense fluid that protects and absorbs shock
  • nourishing fluid
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11
Q

segmental organisation of the vertebral column

A 
7 cervical segments
12 thoracic segments
5 lumbar segments
5 sacral segments
1 coccygeal segment
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12
Q

how does the number of back bones change during growth

A

we are born with 33 bones - as you grow, the sacral and coccygeal bones fuse to form the sacrum and the coccyx
we have 26 bones

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13
Q

what is the function of the back bone curves

A

facilitate shock absorber

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14
Q

types of curves in the vertebral column

A

primary curves - thoracic and sacral areas

secondary curves - cervical and lumbar areas

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15
Q

what is the function of the epidural space

A

a yellowish fatty tissue that cushions the spinal cord and contains the venous plexus

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16
Q

where is the subdural space

A

below the dura mater

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17
Q

arachnoid mater

A

the spongiest layer of the spinal meninges

cobweb appearance

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18
Q

where is the subarachnoid space

A

space below the arachnoid mater which contains CSF

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19
Q

what is the pia mater

A

the finest layer of the spinal meninges

continuation of brain

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20
Q

what is the spinal nerve formed from

A

dorsal ventral roots

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21
Q

what does the dorsal cell ganglion contain

A

cell bodies of primary sensory neurons

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22
Q

layers of spinal meninges

A 
dura mater (S2 level)
arachnoid mater (S2 level)
pia mater (L2 level)
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23
Q

why can the dura mater move in the vertebral canal

A

it is not directly attached to it

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24
Q

what is the lingamentum denticulum

A

a flat membrane formed from pia mater which anchors the pia mater to the arachnoid mater

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25
Q

where does the lingamentum denticulum lie

A
  • along midline between the dorsal and ventral nerve roots

- laterally to adhere to the arachnoid and dura mater

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26
Q

where is the spinal cord suspended

A

in the middle of the dural sheath

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27
Q

arterial supply of spinal cord

A
  1. anterior spinal artery
  2. posterior spinal arteries
  3. radicular arteries
    they can’t supply all the cords
28
Q

venous drainage of spinal cord

A
  1. anterior and posterior median spinal veins in the midline
  2. anterolateral and posterolateral paired veins situated near the lines of attachment of the ventral and dorsal roots
  3. anterior and posterior radicular veins
  4. internal vertebral venous plexus in the epidural space
  5. external vertebral venous plexus
    all drain in vena cava
29
Q

circulation of CSF

A
  1. CSF is produced by the choroid plexus of each ventricle
  2. CSF flows through the ventricles and into the subarachnoid space via the median and lateral apertures. some CSF flows through the central canal of the spinal cord
  3. CSF flows through the subarachnoid space
  4. CSF is absorbed into the dural venous sinuses via the arachnoid villi
30
Q

what does the CSF provide

A

O2 and glucose

31
Q

how do meningeal layers prevent bacteria entering brain

A

they have tight junctions

32
Q

why is the lumbar puncture performed

A

to obtain CSF from subarachnoid space
typically midline between:
- L3 and L4 or L4 and L5
- inferior to spinal cord

33
Q

what is the lumbar cistern

A

expanded subarachnoid space inferior to spinal cord

34
Q

what is the centre of the spinal cord formed of

A

formed of grey matter - neuron bodies

35
Q

where is the white matter located in the spinal cord

A

posterior, lateral and anterior column

36
Q

where does the pia mater enter the spinal cord

A

anterior median fissure

37
Q

dorsal (posterior) horn

A

sensory (afferent) information

I-VI (noxious, proprioceptive- body sense)

38
Q

ventral (anterior) horn

A

motor (efferent) information

VIII-IX

39
Q

lateral horn (T1-L2)

A

VII and X
the small lateral gray column of the spinal cord as appearing in transverse section containing the intermediolateral cell column.

40
Q

what is a tract

A

neuron bundle within CNS

41
Q

what is a nerve

A

neuron bundles outside CNS

42
Q

what do descending tracts deliver

A

they deliver motor instructions from brain to spinal cord to muscles

43
Q

groups of descending motor tracts

A

divided into two groups:

  • pyramidal, or corticospinal, tracts (voluntary movements)
  • extrapyramidal (indirect pathways) - all other motor tracts - unconscious muscle innervation
44
Q

types of neurons involved in motor pathways

A
  • upper motor neuron (UMN)

- lower motor neuron (LMN): anterior horn motor neuron - final common pathway to muscles

45
Q

ascending tracts

A
  • posterior column
  • spinothalamic - pain perception
  • spinolimbic/spinoreticular
  • spinocerebellar
46
Q

which ascending tracts send impulses to the sensory cortex

A

posterior column and spinothalamic pathways

47
Q

which ascending tracts send impulses to the cerebellum

A

the spinocerebellar tracts - they also do not contribute to sensory perception

48
Q

what are the ascending tracts composed of

A

3-neuron chain; 1st order, 2nd order and 3rd order neurons

49
Q

ascending tract - steps of how impulses are sent to sensory cortex

A
  1. pain, temperature and coarse touch cross the midline in the spinal cord
  2. fine touch, vibration, and proprioception pathways cross the midline in the medulla
  3. sensory pathways synapse in the thalamus
  4. sensations are perceived in the primary somatic sensory cortex
50
Q

spinal cord function

A
  1. carry sensory information from the body to the brain
    - somesthesis (touch)
    - thermosensation (temperature)
    - nociception (pain)
    - proprioception and kinesthesia (position and movement sense)
  2. carry motor information from the brain to the body
    - voluntary movement
    - posture
    - breathing
  3. reflexes
51
Q

why are reflexes useful

A

they increase the speed of reaction

impulses don’t go to the brain - go directly to the spinal cord

52
Q

divisions of peripheral nervous system

A

sensory (afferent) division

motor (efferent) division

53
Q

divisions of sensory division

A

somatic and visceral sensory

54
Q

what do somatic sensory division sense

A

touch, pressure, pain, vibration, temperature

55
Q

what do visceral sensory division sense

A

stretch, temperature, chemical change, irritation in viscera, nausea

56
Q

divisions of motor division

A

somatic motor system and autonomic nervous system

57
Q

divisions of autonomic nervous system

A

sympathetic and parasympathetic

58
Q

where does the C1 emerge

A

above atlas - first cervical vertebra

59
Q

where does the C8 emerge

A

below C7 vertebra

60
Q

where do the remaining spinal nerves emerge

A

inferior to corresponding vertebrae

61
Q

what are plexuses

A

branching networks of spinal nerves

62
Q

what is the dermatome

A

area innervated by afferent in single spinal nerve

  • cervical: upper limb and body
  • thoracic: trunk
  • lumbar and sacral: lower limb
63
Q

functions of cervical spinal segment

A
  • breathing
  • head and neck movements
  • heart rate
  • upper limb movements
64
Q

functions of thoracic spinal segment

A
  • sympathetic tone

- trunk stability

65
Q

functions of lumbar spinal segment

A

lower limb movements

66
Q

functions of sacral spinal segment

A

bowel and bladder

67
Q

spinal injuries

A

paralysis - loss of motor function

paraesthesia - loss on sensation

human form and function (11 decks)

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