Spinal Cord and Periphery Flashcards
Where do the axons of the sensory files enter the spinal cord?
Dorsal root
Where are the cell bodies of motor neurons located?
Ventral horn
What is white matter comprised of?
Myelinated axons (bundles of tracts)
What is grey matter comprised of?
Cell bodies
What is motor neuron disease?
Group of diseases affecting the motor neuron in the central horn of spinal cord
Neuron dies causing muscle atrophy
What are the 3 columns of white matter?
Posterior
Lateral
Anterior
What type of information do ascending spinal tracts carry?
Sensory
How many neurons are there between peripheral receptor and cortex?
3
Where are the synapses of the ascending spinal tracts
Medulla (crosses over here)
Contralateral thalamus
What is the posterior column responsible for?
Fine touch
Tactile localisation
Vibration sense
Proprioception
What is the lateral spinothalamic tracts responsible for?
Pain
Temperature
Where do the descending tracts of the spinal cord originate?
Cerebral cortex and brainstem
What is the role of the descending tracts?
Control of movement
Muscle tone
Spinal autonomic functions
What is the pyramidal tract responsible for?
Control of voluntary skilled movements
Where do the corticospinal fibres cross over?
Pyramids
What is a reflex?
Involuntary stereotyped pattern of response brought about by a sensory stimulus
Where are reflexes mediated?
Level of the spinal cord
What is the role of the flexor reflex?
Helps protect the body from painful stimuli
What are the consequences of an upper motor neuron lesion?
Hypertonicity
Spastic paralysis with hyperreflexia
What is the role of the autonomic nervous system?
Innervation and control of visceral organs, smooth muscle and secretory glands
What type of control is the autonomic nervous system under?
Involuntary
