Spinal Cord - Revision Flashcards
What is the filum terminale?
Spinal Cord
The filum terminale is connective tissue and glia that attaches the end of the spinal cord to the coccyx.
What is the cauda equina?
Spinal Cord
The cauda equina consists of nerve roots ending inferior to the spinal cord, particularly below L2 to S5, that travel downward before exiting.
Describe the composition of the central part of the spinal cord.
Spinal Cord
The central part of the spinal cord consists of an H-shaped pattern of gray matter.
What is the function of the ventral horn in the spinal cord?
Spinal Cord
The ventral horn processes motor information with the cell bodies of motor neurons located here.
What does the dorsal horn process in the spinal cord?
Spinal Cord
The dorsal horn processes sensory information; cell bodies are found in the dorsal root ganglion.
What is the role of the lateral horn in the spinal cord?
Spinal Cord
The lateral horn processes autonomic information.
How many spinal cord segments are there and what are they?
Spinal Cord
There are 31 spinal cord segments:
- 8 cervical,
- 12 thoracic,
- 5 lumbar,
- 5 sacral,
- 1 coccygeal.
What is the spinal cord’s relationship with the vertebral column?
Spinal Cord
- The spinal cord is shorter than the vertebral column
- Below C2 the spinal segments do NOT correspond to vertebral levels.
What is the function of the meninges?
Spinal Cord
The meninges are layers of connective tissue that protect the spinal cord, consisting of the dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater.
What is the epidural space?
Spinal Cord
The epidural space is located between the dura mater and the vertebrae.
Spinal Cord
Ventral / Anterior Horn: Motor information (cell bodies of motor neurons lie here).
Spinal Cord
- Axons leave the anterolateral cord in small groups called rootlets .
- Ventral rootlets form a single segment to form a VENTRAL ROOT.
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Spinal Cord
Dorsal Horn: Processes sensory information.
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Spinal Cord
- Cell bodies are in the dorsal root ganglion.
- Dorsal root contains sensory axons that bring information into the spinal cord and enters the posterolateral spinal cord via rootlets.
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Spinal Cord
Lateral Horn: Autonomic information.
Myotomes
- L1-L2 = ?
- L3 = ?
- L4 = ?
- L5 = ?
- L5-S1 = ?
- S1-S2 = ?
Spinal Cord
- Myotomes:
- L1-L2 = Hip Flexion
- L3 = Knee Extension
- L4 = Ankle Dorsiflexion
- L5 = Great Toe Extension
- L5-S1 = Plantar Flexion
- S1-S2 = Plantar Flexion & Eversion
Separates individual axons = ?
Spinal Cord
Endoneurium: Separates individual axons
Surrounds bundles of axons (fascicles) = ?
Spinal Cord
Perineurium: Surrounds bundles of axons (fascicles).
Encloses the entire nerve trunk = ?
Spinal Cord
Epineurium: Encloses the entire nerve trunk.
Proprioceptive and touch information fibers are located = ?
Spinal Cord
Proprioceptive and touch information fibers are located medially.
Small diameter fibers for nociception and temperature are located = ?
Spinal Cord
Small diameter fibers for nociception and temperature are located laterally.
C8 nerve root runs between what vertebrae ?
Spinal Cord
C8 nerve root runs between C7 and T1 Vertebrae.
T1 nerve root runs between what vertebrae ?
Spinal Cord
T1 nerve root runs between T1 and T2 vertebrae.
- BELOW T1
- ABOVE T2
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Spinal Cord
Visceral Sensory Nuclei: Visceral sensory nuclei are specialized structures within the central nervous system that process sensory information from the body’s internal organs.
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Spinal Cord
Somatic Sensory Nuclei: Somatic sensory nuclei are structures in the brainstem that process sensory information from the body before it reaches the brain.
- This information includes touch, pain, temperature, and proprioception (the sense of body position)
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Spinal Cord
Somatic Motor Nuclei: Somatic motor nuclei are clusters of nerve cells in the brainstem and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movements.
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Spinal Cord
Autonomic Efferent Nuclei: Autonomic efferent nuclei are specialized groups of neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord that transmit motor signals to various organs, glands, and smooth muscles, thereby regulating involuntary bodily functions.
What dermatome = ?
Spinal Cord
What dermatome = C5
What dermatomes = ?
Spinal Cord
What dermatomes…
- Red = C6
- Blue = C7
- Yellow = C8
What dermatome = ?
Spinal Cord
What dermatome = T4