Spinal Cord and Periphery Flashcards
What is the grey matter of the spinal cord composed of?
Non-myelinated neuronal cell bodies
The axons of sensory fibres enter the spinal cord through
the dorsal root into the dorsal horn of grey matter
Motor neurone cell bodies are in
the ventral horn
Ascending spinal tracts carry
sensory information to the brain
How many neurons are there between the peripheral receptor and the cortex in an ascending spinal tract?
3 - first, second and third order neurons
What sensations are transmitted by the dorsal column?
Fine touch
Tactile localisation
Vibration sense
Proprioception
The lateral spinothalamic tract of the right side of the body is responsible for detecting
pain and temperature from the left side of the body
The dorsal column of the right side is responsible for detecting
touch, pressure and proprioception from the right side of the body
Are ascending or descending pathways sensory?
Ascending
Are ascending or descending pathways motor?
Descending
How is the white matter arranged?
As three columns - posterior, lateral and anterior
White matter is made up of
tracts
What is a dermatome?
The area of skin supplied by a particular spinal nerve
What is a myotome?
The group of skeletal muscles innervated by a particular spinal nerve
Components of the central nervous system
Brain
Spinal Cord
The majority of nerve cell bodies and synaptic connections lie in what part of the nervous system?
The CNS
The peripheral nervous system constitutes the link between
the CNS and structures in the peripheral of the body
Functions of peripheral nervous system
Receives sensory information from the peripheral, and sends controlling impulses to the periphery
The peripheral nervous system consists of
nerves joined to the brain and spinal cord and their ramifications within the body
Spinal nerves serving upper or lower limbs coalesce to form
brachial or lumbar plexus
Simplest components of a reflex arc
Sensory nerve and a motor nerve with a synapse in between
The autonomic nervous system refers to cells within the CNS and PNS involved in
innervation and control of visceral organs, smooth muscles and secretory glands
What is the outflow of the sympathetic ANS?
Thoraco-lumbar
In the sympathetic ANS, preganglionic fibres have ganglia near
the spinal cord
What section of the ANS is involved in the fight or flight impulses?
Sympathetic
What is the outflow of the parasympathetic ANS?
Cranio-sacral
In the parasympathetic ANS, preganglionic fibres have ganglia near
the target organ
Postganglionic fibres of the parasympathetic ANS target
exocrine glands, the heart, other selected organs
