Spinal Cord Flashcards
How many spinal nerves are there?
- 31 spinal nerves total
- 8 cervical
- 12 thoracic
- 5 lumbar
- 1 coccygeal
Where do nerves C1-C7 exit?
Above the corresponding vertebra
Where do all other spinal nerves exit?
Below corresponding vertebra
What is Vertebral disc herniation?
Nucleus pulposus herniates through anulus fibrosus
Where does disc herniation usually occur?
Posterolaterally at L4-L5 or L5-S1
Where does the spinal cord extend to?
Lower border of L1-L2 vertebrae
Where does the Subarachnoid space extend to?
Lower border of S2 vertebra
Where is a lumbar puncture usually performed?
B/w L3-L4 or L4-L5
(level of cauda equina)
What is the goal of a lumbar puncture?
Obtain a sample of CSF w/o damaging the SC
What do the Dorsal columns control?
Pressure, vibration, touch & proprioception
What are the 2 dorsal columns?
Fasciculus cuneatus (UE)
Fasciculus gracilis (LE)
What are the 3 spinal arteries?
2 Posterior & 1 Anterior
What do the Lateral spinothalamic tracts control?
Pain & temperature sense
What are the Intermediate horn sympathetics?
T1-L2/L3
What do the Anterior spinothalamic tracts control?
Crude touch & pressure sense
What do the Lateral corticospinal tracts control?
Voluntary motor
What is the tract of the Dorsal column?
Medial leminiscal pathway
What is the 1st order neuron of the Dorsal column?
Sensory nerve ending→ cell body in dorsal root ganglion→ enters SC, ascending ipsilaterally in dorsal column
What is synapse 1 for Dorsal columns?
Ipsilateral nucleus cuneatus or gracilis (medulla)
What is the 2nd order neuron of the Dorsal column?
Decussates in medulla→ ascends contrallaterally in medial lemniscus
What is synapse 2 for Dorsal columns?
VPL (thalamus)
What is the 3rd order neuron for Dorsal columns?
Sensory cortex
What is the 1st order neuron of the Spinothalamic tract?
Snesory nerve ending (A delta & C fibers) (cell body in dorsal root ganlion)→ enters SC
What is the synapse 1 of the Spinothalamic tract?
Ipsilateral gray matter (SC)
What is the 2nd order neuron of the Spinothalamic tract?
Decussates at anterior white commissure→ ascends contralaterally
What is the synapse 2 for the Spinothalamic tract?
VPL (thalamus)
What is the 3rd order neuron for the Spinothalamic tract?
Sensory cortex
What is the 1st order neuron of the Lateral corticospinal tract?
UMN: cell body in 1° motor cortex→ descends ipsilaterally (through internal capsule) until decussating at cuadal medullar (pyrimdal decussation)→ descends contralaterally
What is the synapse 1 for the Lateral corticospinal tract?
Cell body of anterior horn (SC)
What is the 2nd order neuron for the Lateral corticospinal tract?
LMN: leaves SC
What is the synapse 2 for the lateral corticospinal tract?
NMJ
What happens in a Lower motor neuron lesion?
- Everything lowered
- Less muscle mass
- Dec muscle tone
- Dec reflexes
- Downgoing toes
What happens in an Upper motor neuron lesion?
Everything up (tone, DTR, toes)
What is Fasiculation?
Muscle twitching
When is a + Babinski sign considered normal?
In infants
What are the signs in an UMN lesion?
- Weakness
- Inc reflexes
- Inc tone
- Babinski
- Spastic paralysis
- Clasp knife spasticity
What are the signs in an LMN lesion?
- Weakness
- Atrophy
- Fasiculations
- Dec reflexes
- Dec Tone
- Flaccid paralysis
What are the characteristics of Poliomyelitis & Werding-Hoffman dz?
- LMN lesions only
- Due to destruction of anterior horns
- Flaccid paralysis
What are the characteristics of Multiple sclerosis?
- Scanning speech
- Intention tremor
- Nystagmus
What region of the SC does Mutliple sclerosis effect?
- Mostly white matter of cervical region
- Random & asymmetric lesions