SPINAL CORD Flashcards
The spinal cord is continuous with the
-Medulla
There are 31 single spinal nerves
-False
The spinal cord is the communication highway between the brain and the body and it is also involved in reflexes
-True
-ventral roots carries efferent motor information
True
How many segments are in the spinal cord
31
How many cervical
8
How many Thoracic
12
How many Lumbar and Sacral
5
How many coccygeal
1
What is the Subcortex responsible for
Functions usually beneath the level of awarenesses
- Refines motor plans
- Regulates heartbeat, breathing, arousal, sleep/wake cycle
- Coordinates viscera and digestive system
What are the structures of the sub cortex
- Brainstem
- Cerebellum
- Thalamus
- Basal Ganglia
What is the Brainstem responsible for
Connects the spinal cord to the brain
What are the structures of the Brainstem
- pons
- Midbrain
- Medulla
What is the Medulla responsible for
Respiration
regulates breathing, heart and blood vessel functions, digestion, sneezing, and swallowing
Nerve fibers cross over to the opposite side of the body where
Medulla
What is the structure of the Cerebellum
- Divided into two hemispheres
- Hemispheres connected by the Vermis
- Attached tot he pons
- superior, middle, and inferior pons
What is the Cerebellum responsible for
- Each hemisphere is receives information from contralateral hemispheres for processing
- Works as an error control device to detect and correct errors in motor plans
- Make sure body movements are coordinated and free of errors
- Monitors the intent of motor plans and compares them to what the body is actually doing
- If there is an error cerebellum alters the force, timing, and sequencing of muscle contractions
What is the Vermis responsible for
-Receives information about the body from projections through the pons
Facts about Cerebellum
- The more rapid and precise a body movement us the greater likelihood that an error will occur
- The greater likelihood of an error, the harder that the cerebellum will work to prevent the error
What is the Thalamus responsible for
- Sensory relay station
- Receives sensory information transmitted from the body (except olfaction) and directs it to the appropriate part of the brain for processing
- Receives motor plans the cerebellum has checked for errors and sends the refined plans motor execution
What is the Basal Ganglia responsible for
Plays a role in initiation of movement , muscle tone, maintenance, and inhibition of extraneous movements
What are the functions of the Basal Ganglia
- Group of subcortical structures located within the cerebral hemisphere on either side of the thalamus
- Includes substructures such as: Caudate nucleus, Putamen, globes pallidus
Error control device for body movement and coordination
Cerebellum
Sensory relay station exception for olfaction
hypothalamus
Helps with hunger thirst body temperature emotions and involved in sleep
thalamus
Plays a role in movement and muscle tone
Basal ganglia
What is the function of the spinal cord
Transmits sensory (afferent) information from the body to the brain and motor (efferent) information from the brain to the body
Afferent
Arrives
Information has been brought to the structure
Efferent
Exits
Information has been taken away from the structure
What does SAVE DAVE mean
Sensory. Afferent Motor Efferent
Dorsal. Afferent Ventral Efferent
What is the structure of the spinal cord
Bundle of white and grey matter in the spinal column
Where does the Spinal cord begin
Medulla
Where does the Spinal cord narrows and end at
Conus Medullaris
Spinal cord breaks up into loose strands of nerves called the
cauda equina
When does a stretch reflex occur
When a muscle is stretch passively (doctor taps your knee)
What is a Spinal Reflex
- originating at the spinal cord below the level of our awareness.
- When a doctor taps your knee the tap stretches the muscle in your knee which generates an afferent signal from the muscle spindle fibers
- Afferent signal is sent to the spinal cord
- Spinal cord recognizes that this sensory signal contradicts efferent signals being sent from the brain
How does the spinal cord correct the inconsistency of a stretch reflex
- The spinal cord an efferent signal to bring the body part back to where efferent signals from the brain want to be
- The spinal cord does this with no input from the brain and below the level of awareness
What if the stretch reflex goes bad
A common clinical manifestation is spastic cerebral palsy
-The stretch reflex may affect one limb or entire body, impairing ability to produce speech
Contributions to creation of spasticity
(Hypertonia + Resistance to movement)
What do spinal nerves control
Trunk, airs, and legs of body
What do the spinal cord connect to
muscle, organ, or gland
The spinal cord a direct role in speech
False
In what role is the spinal cord connected to speech
- phrenic nerve
- Innervates the diaphragm which is the primary muscle for inspiration of air into the lungs needed for phonation
Dorsal door carries Afferent sensory information
True
