The Spinal Cord Flashcards by Dan McKenna

links the brain and the rest of the body

The spinal cord (SC)

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The spinal cord extends from the foramen magnum to vertebrae ___ - ___

L1-2

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the cone-shaped end of the spinal cord

The conus medullaris

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The lumbar and sacral spinal nerves exit from the conus medullaris to form the ____ ____

cauda equina (“horse’s tail”).

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T/F

the cauda equina is part of the PNS.

True

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The SC has __ pairs of spinal nerves - __ cervical, ___ thoracic, ___ lumbar, ___ sacral, ___ coccygeal.

31 spinal nerves
8 cervical 
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
1 coccygeal

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The names of the spinal nerves correspond to the names of the spinal cord levels from which they ____

emerge

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T/F

Each of the first cervical nerves leaves the vertebral canal below the corresponding vertebrae.

False

above

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T/F
Because there are only seven cervical vertebrae, the eighth cervical nerve leaves between the seventh cervical and first thoracic vertebrae.

true

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T/F

Each of the subsequent nerves exits below the corresponding vertebrae T1-T2 is T1 nerve root etc…

True

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A needle is inserted between two lumbar vertebrae below the conus medullaris

Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap)

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T/F

A sample of CSF is removed from the subarachnoid space, the area between the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater

True

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This procedure can help diagnose disorders such as meningitis, multiple sclerosis or cancers of the brain or spinal cord.

Spinal Tap

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T/F

the epidural space is often used for anesthesia as well

true

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A spinal cord segment is the area of the spinal cord from which a pair of ____ and ____ roots attach. Within the cord itself there are no distinct boundaries between these segments.

dorsal and ventral

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The anterior and posterior nerve roots combine on each side to form the spinal nerves as they exit the vertebral canal through the _____ _____

intervertebral foramina

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How many roots make up a spinal cord segment?

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The dorsal (posterior) root carries ____ information.

afferent

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The ventral (anterior) root carries ____ signals from the SC to muscles and viscera.

efferent

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The SC gray matter is said to resemble a butterfly or the letter “H” and is surrounded by ____ _____

white matter

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T/F

The amount of grey and white matter varies at different SC levels

True

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The gray matter consists of the cell bodies of neurons, neuroglia, “mostly” unmyelinated axons, and the dendrites of _____ and _____ neurons

interneurons and motor

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The gray matter in the spinal cord has regions referred to as

horns

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Upper Motor Neurons have their cell bodies in the cerebral cortex of the ____ lobe

Frontal

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Lower Motor Neurons are ____ that have the cell body in the ____ _____ or _____ region of the brainstem eg CN _____

multipolar efferent neurons anterior horn or ventral CN VII

LMNs that leave the SC innervate ____ of the body eg ____

muscles | Biceps Brachii

LMNs of the motor cranial nerves (those that leave the _____ ) usually innervate the mm. of the_____ (e.g., masseter via ___Cn ____

brainstem head CN V

Descending tracts from the brain synapse with _____

lower motor neurons cell bodies in the ventral horn.

Unipolar axons entering the dorsal _____ synapse with hundreds of interneurons.

horn

These interneurons connect with other neurons within the ___ ___ and form A___ S___ T___ that will synapse in higher brain centers.

spinal cord | ascending sensory tracts

The ventral root axons join with the peripheral processes of the D____ root ganglion cells to form mixed ( ____ and ____) spinal nerves, which merge to form P____ nerves.

dorsal afferent and efferent peripheral

The lateral horn is present at ____ levels of the spinal cord, specifically through levels ____ to ____

14 | T1- L2

All sympathetic nervous system outflow is via the ____

T1-L2 cell bodies in the lateral horn.

The Sympathetic NS is therefore referred to as the

thoracolumbar division of the ANS.

The Parasympathetic NS is also known as the

cranial sacral division of the ANS.

The white matter consists of mostly ( give 5 examples)

myelinated and some unmyelinated axons of sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons.

Spinal Cord contains many ____ (bundled axons in the CNS).

tracts

Ascending tracts are

Sensory

Descending tracts (those which travel away from the brain) are

Motor

Most sensory tract names begin with "spino-, indicating they begin in the ___ ___.Their name will end with the part of the brain where the tract ____.

spinal cord | leads

the spinothalamic tract travels from the spinal cord to the thalamus (and to the cerebellum carrying ____ signals.

nociceptive

Tracts whose names end in "- spinal motor" are ____.

motor

the corticospinal tract begins with nerve fibers leaving the cerebral cortex of the brain and travelling down toward lower motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem innervating ____ muscles.

skeletal

The spinothalamic tracts are ____ pathways from the skin to the thalamus.

sensory

From the thalamus, sensory information is relayed upward to the ____ somatosensory cortex of the postcentral gyrus of the ____ lobe.

contralateral | parietal

The Spinothalamic tract relays _____ ( 3 examples)

nociceptive "pain" temperature and crude (poorly localized) touch.

The Dorsal Columns carry ___ information that includes gentle touch such as caresses,

sensory information

the ability to recognize the shape of an object being held

stereognosis

give two other sensory touch examples related to the dorsal column sensory information

fine touch (two-point discrimination) and conscious proprioception

What are the two | divisions of the dorsal columns.

Fasciculi Gracilis & Cuneatus

The Gracile Fasciculus carries _____ input from the lower trunk and lower limbs via segments below the T6 spinal cord level.

afferent

T/F The Cuneate Fasciculus is located lateral to the Gracile Fasciculus.

True

T/F The Cuneate Fasciculus carries signals from the upper body except the face which is carried by the CN VII fascial nerve.

False trigeminal nerve CN V

The spinocerebellar tract starts in the spinal cord and terminates on the ____ side of the cerebellum.

ipsilateral

T/F The spinocerebellar tract carries unconscious proprioceptive information.

True

The information brought via the spinocerebellar tract is brought to the cerebellum to help coordinate ______

movements

T/F The pyramidal tracts include both the corticobulbar tract and the corticospinal tract.

True

refers to specifically to the medulla oblongata which had a bulbous shape. It can also refer to the brainstem in general.

Bulbar

a term that includes difficulty swallowing, lack of a gag reflex, inability to articulate words and excessive drooling.

Bulbar palsy

Bulbar palsy is most commonly caused by either of these two things

a brainstem stroke or tumor.

Extrapyramidal Tracts originate in the _____ , carrying ____ signals to the spinal cord

brainstem | motor

T/F Extrapyramidal Tracts are NOT responsible for the involuntary and automatic control of all musculature, such as muscle tone, balance, posture, and locomotion

False Extrapyramidal Tracts ARE responsible for the involuntary and automatic control of all musculature, such as muscle tone, balance, posture, and locomotion

Extrapyramidal function includes 'being able to not make movements we don't want to make' aka

Inhibition

Extrapyramidal disfunction results in

disinhibition

T/F The extrapyramidal system centers on the regulation (indirect control) of lower motor neurons arising from the ventral horns of the spinal cord.

True

Involved in involuntary adjustment of head position in response to visual information.

Tectospinal tract

It is responsible for unconsciously adjusting posture to maintain balance.

Vestibulospinal tract

vascular disorders, degenerative disorders, | brain trauma, meningitis, and antipsychotic drugs.

Extrapyramidal Disorders

a feeling of restlessness, making it hard to sit down or hold still. Symptoms include tapping your fingers, rocking, and crossing and uncrossing your legs.

Akathisia (agitation)

a condition that causes muscles to involuntarily contract and contort. This can lead to painful positions or movements.

Dystonia

uncontrollable facial movements such as sucking or chewing, lip-smacking, sticking your tongue out or blinking your eyes repeatedly.

Tardive dyskinesia