Spinal Cord/Nerves Flashcards
basics
processes are anchoring points, spinal chord is a part of the central nervous system
conus medularis
cone shaped (L2) tapered at the lower end of the spinal cord
cauda equina
individual nerves packaged together, hair increases nerve structure
filum terminale
hold spinal chord down by anchoring in the coccyx
CLINICAL: Lumbar puncture
draw material out of spinal cord, without hitting nerves bc they can’t fix themselves. puncture at lower points where they move out of the way (tests for meningitis)
CLINICAL: spondylosis
impacts long back dogs from jumping. hurts the interforamin bc of inflammation and pressure
spinal nerves
a nerve is a bundle of axons
somatic sensory axons
carry information back to the brain
somatic motor axons
carry information from brain to muscles
peristalsis
a radially symmetric contraction and relaxation of muscles that propagates a wave down a tube
posterior rootlets
contain sensory fibers; bunch together to make posterior roots, branches (sensory)
posterior root
made up of posterior rootlets (sensory)
dorsal root ganglion
swelling on posterior root (sensory)
anterior rootlets/root
same as posterior, no ganglion (motor)
spinal nerve
goes to the rest of the body (sensory and motor)
