Spinal Cord and PNS Flashcards
4 Functions of the Spinal Cord
- Sensory from PNS to brain
- Motor from brain to PNS
- Reflexes
- Modifying ascend/descending information
Term: Connective tissue that connects end of cord to coccyx, places tension on the spinal cord in flexion
Filum terminale
Term: L2-S5 nerve roots
Cauda equina
Term: L1-L2 intervertebral space
End of Spinal Cord
Spinal Nerves (all in pairs)
- Total
- Cervical
- Thoracic
- Lumbar
- Sacral
- Coccygeal
- 31
- 8
- 12
- 5
- 5
- 1
Describe the location of spinal nerve in relation to vertebral bodies
C1-C7 exit ABOVE their corresponding vertebra
C8 exits BELOW C7 vertebra
All others exit BELOW their corresponding vertebra
Describe why the cord is thicker or enlarged at the C&L-spine
Due to nerve plexuses - need to fit in all the MU for innervation of the extremities
Defn: Dorsal root ganglia
Sensory neuron cell bodies
Term: Nerve roots extening from end of spinal cord
Cauda Equina
Location: Spinal nerves exit
Intervertebral space
Location: Dorsal rootlets enter
Posterolateral sulcus (form dorsal root)
Location: Ventral rootlets exit
Anterolateral sulcus (form ventral root)
Structure: Formed by dorsal and ventral root
Spinal Nerve
Type of Matter: in the spinal cord is arranged in horns
Gray matter
Type of Matter: In the spinal cord is arranged in columns
White matter
Term: Pathways to the brain
Tract cells
2 Types of LMN
- Alpha (primary) - innervate mm
- Gamma - innervate spindle fibers, detect quick stretch and maintain appropriate length
Type of Matter:
- Sensory
- Contains endings of sensory neurons
- Interneurons
- Cell bodies of tract cells
Gray matter - Dorsal horn
Type of Matter:
- From T1-L2
- Cell bodies of preganglionic sympathetic neurons
Gray matter - Lateral horn
Type of Matter:
- Motor
- Cell bodies of LMN
Gray matter - Ventral horn
Type of Matter:
- Sensory tracts
- Discrimative touch
- Conscious proprioception
White matter - Dorsal column
Type of Matter:
- Sensory tracts
- Motor tracts
White matter - Lateral column
Type of Matter:
- Motor tracts
- Postural regulation
White matter - Anterior column
2 Regions within the Dorsal Column
- Fasciculus Gracilis (LE)
- Fasciculus Cuneatus (UE)
Structure:
- Indicates that you are in the C-spine
- Separates Fasciculus Gracilis and Cuneatus
Posterior Intermediate Sulcus
5 Changes in the Spinal Cord as you DESCEND
- Decrease in white matter
- MORE sensory info as you move UP, motor info descends LESS pathways needed lower down - Overall size decreases
- No posterior intermediate sulcus below T2
- Lateral horn from T1-L2
- Anterior horn larger at C&L plexuses