Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

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


See full index

NSB > Structure and Function of the Spinal Cord > Flashcards

Structure and Function of the Spinal Cord Flashcards

1
Q

The spinal cord is the connection between the

A

brainstem and the spinal nerves

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

The spinal cord is protected by

A

the vertebral canal

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

Spinal Cord

A

insert diagrams

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

Meninges

A

insert diagram

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

Lumbar punctures

A

involve sampling of CSF from the subarachnoid space

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

Epidurals

A

involve the injection into the space outside the sac (epidural space)

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

Spinal Cord:

A

insert diagram

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

CNS of spinal cord ends at

A

L1-2
after that is an extension of dura mater that is filled with CSF in the dural sac

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

A motor neurons cell body/soma is located in the

A

CNS

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

A sensory neurons cell body/soma is located in the

A

PNS

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

Spinal Cord: Distribution of Grey and White Matter:

A

centrally located grey matter and peripherally located white matter

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

What are the three parts of the grey matter of the spinal cord?

A
  • posterior horn of grey
  • lateral horn of grey
  • anterior horn of grey
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the three parts of the white matter of the spinal cord?

A
  • posterior funiculus
  • lateral funiculus
  • anterior funiculus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Pathway of sensory information into the PNS:

A
  • sensory neuron will bring info from the
    environment
  • sensory neuron will synapse in the posterior
    horn of the grey matter of the spinal cord
  • information is passes to an interneuron,
    medial to the lateral horn of grey
  • interneuron will pass information to the
    motor neuron in the anterior horn of grey
    which then travels out of the spinal cord
  • cell body of sensory = out of spinal cord
  • cell body of motor = in the spinal cord
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Which horns of grey matter of the spinal cord are generally larger? (Orientation)

A

the ventral/anterior horns

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

Spinal Cord:

A
  • sensory in dorsal root ganglion
  • dorsal root
  • then enters posterior horn
  • sent to brain via a tract up spinal cord
  • comes down from brain
  • information synapses in the ventral horn at
    a motor neuron
  • information travels via motor neuron out of
    ventral horn
  • mixed spinal nerve carries both motor and
    sensory information
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Peripheral Nerves:
- how many?
- divisions?

A
  • 31 pairs
  • 8 cervical
  • 12 thoracic
  • 5 lumbar
  • 5 sacral
  • 4 coccygeal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Divisions of Vertebrae:

A
  • 7 cervical
  • 12 thoracic
  • 5 lumbar
  • 5 sacral
  • 1 coccygeal

(30 vertebrae but 31 pairs of spinal nerves)

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

Thoracic spinal nerves and correlation to vertebrae:

A
  • 12 thoracic spinal nerve pairs
  • 12 vertebrae
  • spinal nerve is named according to the
    vertebrae above it
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Cervical spinal nerves and correlation to vertebrae:

A
  • 8 pairs of cervical nerves
  • 7 vertebrae
  • each spinal nerve is named according to the
    vertebrae below it
  • spinal nerves will exit above the cervical
    vertebrae (extra nerve in space between
    skull and C1 vertebrae)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Lumbar spinal nerves and correlation to vertebrae:

A
  • 5 pairs of lumbar spinal nerves
  • 5 vertebrae
  • each spinal nerve is named according to the
    vertebrae above it
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Sacral spinal nerves and correlation to vertebrae:

A
  • 5 sacral spinal nerve pairs
  • 5 vertebrae
  • each spinal nerve is named according to the
    vertebrae above it
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Cervical Nerve Roots:

A

insert diagram

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

Why are there enlargements of the spinal cord in certain areas?

A
  • cervical and lumbar region
  • more neural tissue needed in the areas for
    upper limb and lower limb innervation
  • plexi present
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is the conus medularis?

A

the end of the spinal cord which tapers

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

Label the conus medularis and the cauda equina and filum terminale.

A

insert diagram

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

What is the Cauda Equina?

A

The peripheral spinal nerves at the top of the spinal cord exit horizontally, however further down begin to angle downwards

Below L1/2 - not CNS - the spinal nerves bunch together forming the cauda equina

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

What is the filum terminale?

A

connective tissue that anchors the spinal cord in place - NOT NERVOUS TISSUE

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

What vertebral level for a lumbar puncture and why?

A
  • L3/4
  • don’t damage the spinal cord
  • peripheral nerves will simply be pushed
    away by the needle
30
Q

Lumbar and Sacral Region:

A
31
Q

Why is the spinal cord shorter than the vertebral column in adults?

A

when developing, this is not the case

bones develop quicker and hence the spinal cord is shorter than the vertebral column

32
Q

Spinal Cord: Blood Supply:

A
  • anterior spinal artery (one) is a branch of the
    vertebral arteries
  • posterior spinal arteries (two) branch off the
    vertebral arteries more laterally (smaller
    than anterior)
  • the anterior and posterior spinal arteries are
    not enough to supply the whole cord, so are
    reinforced by the radiculospinal arteries
    which are derived from arteries of the body
    wall
33
Q

Blood Supply to the Spinal Cord:

A
  • opening in cervical vertebrae is the
    transverse foramen through which the
    vertebral artery comes up to supply the
    brain
34
Q

Venous Drainage of the Spinal Cord:

A
  • 3 anterior spinal veins
  • 2-3 posterior spinal veins
35
Q

Spinal Cord: Distribution of Grey and White Matter at different divisions:

A
  • thoracic = lateral horns = autonomic nervous
    system = T1-L2
36
Q

Spinal Cord: Grey Matter Organisation:

A

lateral horn only visible in T1-L2 possibly sacral region

37
Q

Spinal Cord: White Matter Organisation:

A
  • dorsal column contains ascending tracts
  • lateral column contains both ascending and
    descending tracts
  • ventral column contains descending tracts
38
Q

Spinal Cord: White Matter Organisation: Label the tracts:

A

insert diagram

39
Q

Name the ascending tracts of the spinal cord:

A

spinothalamic tract

40
Q

Name the descending tracts of the spinal cord:

A
  • fasciulus cuneatus (lateral)
  • fasciculus gracilis (medial)
41
Q

Name the lateral spinal tracts:

A

the spinocerebellar tracts

42
Q

Name the spinal cord tracts and direction.

A

insert diagram

43
Q

Ascending Spinal Cord Tracts:
- carry what type of info
- what types of information
- how many steps in the process

A

first order into spinal cord
second order takes info up to thalamus
third order takes info from thalamus to relevant somatosensory cortex

44
Q

Spinothalamic Tract:
- what type of pathway
- where does it cross over
- involved in

  • detailed pathway
A
  • ascending pathway
  • decussation/crossing over in the spinal cord
    before reaching the thalamus
    spino->thalamic
  • transmitting sensations of crude touch, pain
    and temperature from the spinal cord to the
    thalamus
  • enters spinal cord on the same side via first
    order neuron into posterior grey horn
  • crosses over to the spinothalamic tract on
    the opposite side via second order neuron at
    the level just above information entry level
    eg enters spinal cord at T3, crosses over into
    spinothalamic tract at T2
  • 2nd order neuron takes information to the
    thalamus
  • 3rd order neuron takes information to
    cortical functional area
45
Q

Detailed pathway of how information travels via the spinothalamic tract:

A

The first order neuron transmits the sensation along the spinal nerve and travels via the dorsal root into the spinal cord.

In the spinal cord the first order neuronsynapses with the second order neuron in the dorsal horn of grey

The second order neuron then decussates to reach the contralateral spinothalamic tract

The second order neuron travels via the spinothalamic tract up to the thalamus

In the thalamus the secondary order neuron synapses with the third order neuron

The third order neuron travels

46
Q

Clinical Presentation: Lesion high up on neck:

A
  • loss of pain, temperature, crude touch on
    the contralateral (opposite) side to lesion
  • lesion stops transmission after decussation
47
Q

Dorsal Column Medial Leminscus:
- what type of pathway
- located in which tract
- function

A
  • ascending tract
  • fasciculus cuneatus for upper limb, gracilis
    for lower limb
  • transmitting sensations of vibration,
    proprioception and discriminative touch
    from the periphery to the brain via the
    dorsal columns and medial lemniscus
48
Q

Dorsal Column Medial Lemniscus:
detailed pathway:

A
  • first order neuron transmits the sensation
    along the spinal nerve and travels via the
    dorsal root into the posterior grey horn
  • the first order neuron does not synapse but
    runs into the dorsal column (fasciculus
    cuneatus from upper limb, fasciculus gracilis
    from lower)
  • the first order neuron ascends in the spinal
    cord along the ipsilateral (same side) dorsal
    column to enter the medulla
  • in the medulla the first order neuron
    synapses with a second order neuron within
    the cunate or gracile nucleus respectively
    and then decussates to reach the medial
    lemniscus
  • the second order neuron travels via the
    medial lemniscus to reach the thalamus
  • in the thalamus the second order neuron
    synapses with the third order neuron
  • the third order neuron travels via the
    internal capsule to the primary
    somatosensory cortex
49
Q

Clinical Presentation: Lesion high up on neck: DCML:

A
  • disruption in pathway leads to ipsilateral
    loss of proprioception.vs.discriminative
    touch on the same side as lesion
  • bilateral dorsal column loss leads to severe
    ataxia
  • possible causes: MS, B12 deficiency
50
Q

Spinocerebellar Tract: Function:

A

transmitting sensations of subconscious proprioception (position in space) from the spinal cord to the cerebellum

51
Q

Spinocerebellar Tract: Ascending Pathway:

A
  • the first order neuron transmits the
    sensation along the spinal nerve and travels
    via the dorsal root into the spinal cord
  • in the spinal cord the first order neuron
    synapses in the dorsal horn of grey
  • the second order neuron enters the
    ipsilateral spinocerebellar tract and ascends
    to the cerebellum
  • no decussation
52
Q

Where are the corticospinal tracts located?

A

insert diagram

53
Q

Corticospinal Tracts:
- function
- direction
- two parts

A
  • transmits motor signals from the cortex to
    the spinal cord
  • descending pathway
  • upper motor neuron within CNS and lower
    motor neuron within PNS
54
Q

Corticospinal Tract: Descending Pathway:

A
  • the first order neuron has its cell body in the
    primary motor cortex and the axon projects
    along the internal capsule to reach the
    brainstem
  • the first order neurons run anteriorly in the
    brainstem, and enter the medullary
    pyramids
  • in the pyramids the majority of fibres
    decussate to enter the corticospinal tract
  • from the corticospinal tract the first order
    neurons descend to the level of innervation,
    enter the ventral horn of grey and synase
    with the second order neurons
  • the second order neuron travel out of the
    spinal cord via the ventral root and into the
    spinal nerve to reach skeletal muscle

upper and lower motor neuron

55
Q

Motor Neuron Disease:

A
  • affects upper and lower motor neurons
  • degenerative condition
  • progressive
  • causes weakness
  • life expectancy about 3-5 years
56
Q

Upper Motor Neuron Disorders: disruption of corticospinal tract:

lesion above medulla

A

opposite side affected (corticospinal tract decussates at the medulla)

57
Q

Upper Motor Neuron Disease: disruption of the corticospinal tract:

lesion below the medulla

A

same side affected (corticospinal tract decussates at the medulla)

58
Q

Lower Motor Neuron Disorders: Signs:

A
  • degeneration of lower motor neurons in
    ventral horn of grey
  • flaccid paralysis no muscle ton e
  • no tendon reflexes
  • muscle atrophy
59
Q

Extrapyramidal Spinal Tracts are involved in

A

involuntary motor control

maintain posture, regulate involuntary movement

60
Q

Where do extrapyramidal tracts originate from?

A

the brainstem

61
Q

Rubrospinal Tract:
- originates
- travels
- function

A
  • originates from red nucleus in brainstem
  • travels to ventral horn of grey
  • facilitates the action of upper limb flexor and
    extensors
  • extrapyramidal
  • descending
62
Q

What pathway is show below?

A

the rubrospinal tract (extrapyramidal) (descending)

63
Q

Tectospinal Tract:
- originates
- travels
- function

A
  • superior colliculus
  • ventral horn of grey
  • modulates postural movement in response
    to visual stimuli

extrapyramidal, descending

64
Q

Vestibulospinal Tract:

A
  • stabalises when head is tilted

extrapyramidal, descending

65
Q

A complete spinal cord injury will result in

A

complete loss of sensory and motor information below the level of the lesion

66
Q

An anterior spinal cord injury will result in

A

bilateral loss of pain and temperature
bilateral muscle spasticity

usually vascular issue, will affect the anterior spinal artery

affects corticospinal, spinocerebellar, spinothalamic

DCML still working so crude touch, temperature, pain and sensation still there

67
Q

Posterior Spinal Cord Injury will result in

A

only affecting DCML

bilateral loss of proprioception, vibration and fine touch

other tracts intact so crude touch, pain, temperature and sensation still present

68
Q

When do incomplete spinal cord injuries occur?

A

when the spinal cord is compressed or injured but the brains ability to send signals below the site of the injury is not completely removed

69
Q

Patient presents with upper limb weakness, sensory loss below the level of injury

upper extremities more affected than lower

motor function more severely impaired than sensory function

what type of spinal cord injury?

A

central cord injury of corticospinal, part of spinothalamic, part of DCML

70
Q

Brown-Sequard Syndrome:

A
  • half the spinal cord is affected
  • paralysis and loss of proprioception,
    vibration, discriminative touch on the
    ipsilateral side as injury
  • loss of pain, temperature and sensation on
    the contralateral side to injury
71
Q

Extrapyramidal tracts are ascending tracts.

True or False?

A

False

descending tracts like corticospinal tracts

72
Q

DCML, Spinothalamic and spinocerebellar tracts are ascending tracts.

True or False?

A

True

NSB (50 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions