Spinal Cord I and II Flashcards
Define myelopathy.
disorder resulting in spinal cord dysfunction
Define nerve root.
combined sensory/motor rami of the spinal cord
Define tracts.
axons that travel in the spinal cord to relay info
Define dermatome.
cutaneous area served by an individual sensory root
Define myotome.
muscles innervated by an individual motor root
Define radiculopathy.
sensory and/or motor dysfunction due to injury to a nerve root
Define intervertebral foramen.
opening formed by 2 adjacent vertebral bodies through which nerve roots travel
Define paresthesia.
an abnormal sensation; burning, prickling, tickling, tingling; “pins and needles”
Define dysesthesia.
impairment of sensation short of anesthesia
Define hyperesthesia.
abnormal acuteness of sensitivity to touch, pain, or other sensory stimuli
This is abnormal acuteness of sensitivity to touch, pain, or other sensory stimuli.
hyperesthesia
This is impairment of sensation short of anesthesia.
dysesthesia
This is an abnormal sensation; burning, prickling, tickling, tingling; “pins and needles”.
paresthesia
This is the opening formed by 2 adjacent vertebral bodies through which nerve roots travel.
intervertebral foramen
This is sensory and/or motor dysfunction due to injury to a nerve root.
radiculopathy
This is a disorder resulting in spinal cord dysfunction.
myelopathy
This is a combined sensory/motor rami of the spinal cord.
nerve root
These are axons that travel in the spinal cord to relay info.
tracts
This is a cutaneous area served by an individual sensory root.
dermatome
This is the muscles innervated by an individual motor root.
myotome
There are ___ pairs of nerve roots.
31
There are 31 ____ of nerve ____.
pairs; roots
The dorsal and ventral rami combine at each segment of the spinal cord to form the _____.
nerve roots
The vertebral body # is _____ than the underling cord segment #.
different
How many numbered cervical roots are there? Cervical vertebral bones?
8 roots; 7 bones
The ____ is located at S3-S5 and is the tip of the spinal cord.
conus medullaris
What does the conus medullaris supply?
bladder
rectum
genitalia
What is formed by the L5 roots within the lumbosacral cistern?
the cauda equina
Lesions that evolve OUTSIDE the spinal cord are called _____.
extramedullary lesions
Lesions that evolve ______ the spinal cord are called extramedullary lesions.
outside
_____ lesions arise within the spinal cord and cause early bladder dysfunction with late development of pain.
Intramedullary
Intramedullary lesions arise within the spinal cord and cause early ______ with late ______.
bladder dysfunction; development of pain
Extramedullary lesions cause early____ and ____.
pain and UMN signs
What does the C5 dermatome cover?
back of shoulder and lateral arm
What does the C6 dermatome cover?
thumb and 2nd digit
What does the C7 dermatome cover?
3rd digit (middle finger)
What does the T4 dermatome cover?
nipple line
What does the T6 dermatome cover?
xyphoid process
What does the T10 dermatome cover?
umbilicus
What does the L4 dermatome cover?
kneecap, medial leg
What does the L5 dermatome cover?
dorsum of foot, great toe
What does the S1 dermatome cover?
lateral foot, small toe, sole of foot
What dermatome covers the lateral foot, small toe, sole of foot?
S1
What dermatome covers the dorsum of foot, great toe?
L5
What dermatome covers the kneecap, medial leg?
L4
What dermatome covers the umbilicus?
T10
What dermatome covers the xyphoid process?
T6
What dermatome covers the nipple line?
T4
What dermatome covers the back of shoulder and lateral arm?
C5
What dermatome covers the thumb and 2nd digit?
C6
What dermatome covers the 3rd digit (middle finger)?
C7
What are the key features of UMN syndrome?
immediate: muscle weakness and hypotonia
hyporeflexia or areflexia
later: spasticity and hyperreflexia (extensor plantar response/Babinksi’s sign)
spastic paresis
Syndrome? immediate: muscle weakness and hypotonia hyporeflexia or areflexia later: spasticity and hyperreflexia (extensor plantar response/Babinksi's sign) spastic paresis
UMN
What are the key features of LMN syndrome?
immediate: muscle weakness, hypotonia, hyporeflxia/areflexia
later: same ^^
flaccid paresis
fasciculations
atrophy
Sydrome? immediate: muscle weakness, hypotonia, hyporeflxia/areflexia later: same ^^ flaccid paresis fasciculations atrophy
LMN
______ is associated with upper motor neuron lesions anywhere along the corticospinal tract.
Babinski’s sign
Babinski’s sign is associated with ______ lesions anywhere along the corticospinal tract.
upper motor neuron
What is the job of the spinothalamic tract?
pain and temperature transmission
What is the job of the posterior columns?
vibration and position sense
What is the job of the corticospinal tract?
motor
Via what tract is motor sense relayed?
the corticospinal tract
Via what tract are vibration and position sense relayed?
the posterior columns
What tract relays info on pain and temperature?
the spinothalamic tract
What is Lhermitte’s sign? What does it indicate?
shooting pain down one’s spine when asked to extend it = compression of spinal cord = cervical myelopathy/stenosis
This is shooting pain down one’s spine when asked to extend it = compression of spinal cord = cervical myelopathy/stenosis
Lhermitte’s sign
What is Spurling’s sign? What does it indicate?
shooting pain along a nerve root tractwhen pt is asked to rotate neck toward affected side = nerve root compression from neural foramen
This is shooting pain along a nerve root tract when pt is asked to rotate neck toward affected side = nerve root compression from neural foramen.
Spurling’s sign
What is Lasegue’s sign? What does it indicate?
shooting pain down territory of a nerve root when supine pt is asked to raise a straight leg and dorsiflex the ankle –> sciatic nerve stretches = foraminal stenosis compression on a nerve root
This is a shooting pain down territory of a nerve root when supine pt is asked to raise a straight leg and dorsiflex the ankle –> sciatic nerve stretches = foraminal stenosis compression on a nerve root.
Lasegue’s sign
What is the difference btw paresthesia and dysesthesia?
same, but dys = more unpleasant
Above T1, the cervical nerve exits _____ its like #’d vertebrae.
above
What cervical nerve exits below C7 and above T1?
C8
Below T1, the nerve exits _____ its like #d vertebrae.
below
What happens to an interruption of the pontine micturition center?
the bladder will contract against a closed sphincter –> reflux, kidney damage
What part of the brain has control over voluntary micturition?
the frontal lobe
What does a sacral spinal cord lesion do to micturition?
causes flaccid bladder
What does a spinal cord lesion above S2-S4 do to micturition?
causes spastic bladder (think UMN)