Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Anatomy > Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, & Associated Structures > Flashcards

Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, & Associated Structures Flashcards

1
Q

peripheral nervous system

A

all parts external to the CNS
. 12 pairs cranial nerves arise from ganglia in the brain
. 31 pairs of spinal nerves arise from/attached to the spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

motor neuron function

A

relay motor impulses from the CNS to muscle fibers and glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

motor neuron structure

A

They have a unipolar structure with a proximally located cell body and single
axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

sensory neuron function

A

relay impulses from receptors in the body to the CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

sensory neuron structure

A

pseudounipolar structure with a centrally located cell body and an axon that is divided into a central process and a peripheral process.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

PNS subdivisions of body

A

somatic & autonomic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

somatic component on PNS

A

. structures of the body wall and limbs

. voluntary system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

somatic sensory neurons

A

. neurons convey information from receptors in skin, joints, & skeletal muscles to CNS
. detect touch, pain, pressure, temp, and proprioception.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

somatic motor neurons

A

neurons relay impulses from the CNS and innervate voluntary muscle fibers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

autonomic component of PNS

A

. visceral structures: organs, vessels, and glands

. involuntary/visceral system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

visceral sensory neurons

A

. convey info from receptors located in organ wall, vessels & glands to CNS
. detect stretch, pain, temp, chemical irritation, hunger

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

visceral motor neurons

A

relay impulses from the CNS and innervate smooth

muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

where does spinal cord run?

A

through the vertebral canal from the foramen magnum to the L1 or L2 vertebrae
inferiorly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

meninges

A

encased in protective membranes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

spinal cord functions

A

. motor & sensory innervation of the body inf. to head
. Provides conduction pathway for signals between the body and brain
. Major reflex center

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

primary tissues in spinal cord

A

white & gray matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

white matter

A

. interconnected, myelinated axon tracts connecting parts of the spinal cord to each other or brain
. contains glial cells that support &nourish nervous tissue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

gray matter

A

Forms the central core of the spinal cord.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

why is gray matter gray?

A

axons in it are unmyelinated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Gray matter shape

A

transverse cross-section, it is “H”-shaped with two ventral horns and two dorsal horns

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what do ventral horns contain?

A

cell bodies of motor neurons (somatic and visceral)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what do dorsal horns contain?

A

interneurons & prox. axons of sensory neurons (somatic & visceral)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

interneurons

A

in CNS and transmit impulses between other

neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

spinal nerves are composed of ___

A

motor and/or sensory neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Fila

A

(sl. filum; axons, rootlets) emerge from the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the spinal
cord and unite to form ventral and dorsal roots

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

ventral root

A

. consists of motor axons (fibers) exiting the spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

where are cell bodies of ventral root neurons?

A

gray matter of the spinal cord.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

dorsal root

A

consists of central processes of sensory neuron axons (fibers) entering the spinal cord.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

where are cell bodies of dorsal root neurons?

A

dorsal root ganglia (DRG) located on the lateral end

of the dorsal root adjacent to, or within, the intervertebral foramina.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

spinal nerve proper formation

A

(aka mixed spinal nerve): Formed by the union of the dorsal and ventral nerve roots of a single spinal cord segment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Spinal nerve proper characteristics

A

. Contains both motor and sensory axons/fibers

. Only a few mm. long; located w/in or just external to an intervertebral foramen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

spinal nerves split into ___

A

dorsal & ventral primary rami

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

dorsal primary ramus

A

. Supplies motor and sensory innervation to deep back mm.
. Supplies cutaneous sensory innervation to the skin of the back via post. cutaneous n. branches
. smaller than ventral ramus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

ventral primary ramus

A

. Supplies motor and sensory innervation to muscles of lat. & ant. body wall, plus limbs
. Supplies cutaneous sensory innervation to these regions
. Connects to sympathetic chain via rami communicantes

35
Q

branches of ventral rami to body wall

A

. Intercostal nerves that further branch into following:
. lat. cutaneous n., large post. & ant. branches
. ant. cutaneous n.

36
Q

which ventral rami form plexuses?

A

rami that supply motor &; sensory innervation to limbs & neck merging together

37
Q

how many segments is the spinal cord divided into and what are they?

A

31 segments; one segment for each pair of spinal nerves: 8 cervical; 12 thoracic; 5 lumbar; 5 sacral; and,
1 coccygeal

38
Q

each spinal cord segment innervated a ___

39
Q

cervical enlargement

A

related to nerves of upper limb

Origination of brachial plexus

40
Q

lumbosacral enlargement

A

related to nerves to lower limbs

Origination of lumbo-sacral plexus

41
Q

conus medullaris

A

Inferior to the lumbar enlargement is the tapered inferior end of the cord

42
Q

Dermatome

A

Specific segment of skin supplied by single spinal nerve

43
Q

Which spinal nerve DOES NOT inner age a segment of skin?

44
Q

Why are dermatomes clinically important?

A

Can indicate potential damage to spinal nerves

45
Q

T/F cutting a spinal nerve produces complete anesthesia of dermatome it supplies

A

F, dermatomes overlap so it only causes reduction in sensitivity

46
Q

How many spinal nerves must be cut to produce zone of total sensory loss?

47
Q

Does the vertebral column or spinal cord grow faster?

A

Vertebral column

48
Q

How spinal cord corresponds with vertebral column in fetal stage

A

At same level

49
Q

At birth where does spinal cord end

A

Inferiorly at about same level as L3

50
Q

In adults how do the cervical spinal cord and vertebrae correspond?

A

Same level

51
Q

In adults, how do thoracic and lumbar vertebrae correspond with spinal cord?

A

Spinal nerve segments are superior to the corresponding vertebra with disparity increasing inferiorly (conus medullaris at L1/L2)

52
Q

Cauda equina

A

Long dorsal and ventral roots of lumber and sacral spinal cord segments that droop inferiorly to lumbar and sacral intervertebral foramina

53
Q

Where do spinal nerves exit the vertebral column?

A

Intervertebral foramina or sacral foramina

54
Q

How many cervical nerve pairs are there compared to vertebrae?

A

8 pairs but 7 vertebra

55
Q

Where do nerve exit in cervical spine?

A

C1-C7 nerves exit superiority to corresponding numbered vertebra, C8 is between C7 and T1

56
Q

Where do nerves exit thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine?

A

Inferior to corresponding numbered vertebrae

57
Q

Where do C1 set of spinal nerves exit spine?

A

Between skull and C1 post. To Atlanto-occipital synovial joints

58
Q

Where does C2 set of spinal nerves exit?

A

Between C1 and C2 post. To lateral Atlanto-axial synovial joints

59
Q

Where do S1-S4 rami pass through?

A

Ventral rami pass throughVentral sacral foramina, dorsal rami pass through dorsal sacral foramina

60
Q

Where do S5 and coccygeal sets of spinal nerves exit?

A

Sacral hiatus

61
Q

Meninges of brain

A

Dura, arachnoid, and pita mater

62
Q

Dura mater

A

. Outermost rough fibrous CT layer
. Forms Dural sac from brain to S2 and filum terminale externum
. Creates dural sleeve around spinal roots that is replaced by epineurium

63
Q

Filum terminale externum

A

Slender ligament continues inferiorly and anchors dura to coccyx

64
Q

arachnoid mater

A

. Delicate, transparent membrane lining dura

. Arachnoid trabeculae: thing strands connecting to pia mater

65
Q

Pia mater

A

. Thin layer adhered to spin, cord, and spinal nerve roots
. Denticulate ligaments between dorsal and ventral roots pinning arachnoid mater to dura between spinal nerves
. Filum terminale interum

66
Q

Denticulate ligaments

A

Along right and left sides, strong lateral extension of pia that anchor spinal cord laterally to the dura

67
Q

Filum terminale internum

A

Strong strand of pia extends inferiorly beyond conus medullaris to terminal end of dural-arachnoid sac

68
Q

Epidural space

A

. Between dura and vertebral canal wall
. Filled w/ fat and internal vertebral venous plexus (thin walled veins)
. None in skill

69
Q

Why is there no fat filled epidural space in skull?

A

Dura fuses to periosteum of skull

70
Q

Subdural space

A

. Potential space between dura and arachnoid

. Contains only film of watery liquid

71
Q

Subarachnoid space

A

. Between arachnoid and pia

. Full of CSF

72
Q

CSF function in subarachnoid space

A

Pressure of CSF pushes arachnoid membrane against dura so spinal cord and brain are buoyed up by CSF

73
Q

Lumbar cistern

A

. Enlarged are of subarachnoid space between inf. Extentsion of cord and inf. Extentsion of dural-arachnoid sac (L2-S2) with pool of CSF
. Contains cauda equina

74
Q

How are sensory nerves organized within dorsal horn?

A

Somatic sensory neurons posterior (upper part of horn) to visceral sensory neurons

75
Q

How are motor neurons organized in ventral horn?

A

Somatic motor neurons more anterior (upper part of horn) than visceral motor neurons

76
Q

Difference between roots and rami

A

Roots only carry sensory or motor neurons, rami carry ALL types of neurons (sensory and motor)

77
Q

Sympathetic chain

A

Assists in visceral motor system

. Connected to ventral Ramos via rami communicantes

78
Q

Do dorsal rami have plexuses?

79
Q

What is a nerve plexus?

A

Nerve fibers that blend together and create new nerves

80
Q

What are the 2 plexuses formed from ventral rami?

A

Brachial plexus and lumbo-sacral plexus

81
Q

Sciatica

A

Herniated disc that impinges on sciatic nerve (L4-S3 spinal nerves)

82
Q

Which nerve roots are affected from disc herniation?

A

Spinal roots that are inferior to herniation (L5 spinal roots affected from L4 disc herniation)

83
Q

What is lumbar cistern used for medically?

A

Lumber punctures for CSF testing

Anatomy (49 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions