The Spinal Cord Flashcards
What are two functions of the spinal cord?
reflexes and a pathway for sensory/motor impulses.
From what is the spinal cord derived?
ectoderm
What is another name for the alal plate?
dorsal plate/horn
What is another name for the basal plate?
ventral plate/horn
What neurons are associated with the alal plate?
sensory neurons
What neurons are associated with the basal plate?
motor neurons
Which neurons are affectors (and central processes)?
sensory neurons
Which neurons are effectors (and peripheral processes?)
motor neurons
What are interneurons?
neurons that form a communication pathway between the motor and sensory neurons.
What is the lateral horn associated with?
autonomic/parasympathetic/visceral motor
What is the somatic nervous system?
nervous system associated with the voluntary movement of muscles.
What nerves are associated with the somatic nervous system?
peripheral nerves (basal plate/horn)
What is viscera?
Refers to a group of organs
What are the visceral nerves?
Nerves that innervate organs. Includes fibers of the autonomic nervous system, afferent and efferent nerves and sympathetic nerves
What is the autonomic nervous system?
Nerves that are involved in the involuntary movement of organs.
What are the intercostal nerves?
Nerves inbetween the costals (ribs). They are in the thoracic region of the spinal cord.
What does the cervical plexus innervate?
neck, then spreads to body.
What does the brachial plexus innervate?
shoulders, upper limbs and back muscles.
What does the lumbosacral enlargement innervate?
pelvis and lower limb.
What is the outermost covering of the spinal cord?
epidural space
What is below the epidural space?
dura mater
What is below the dura mater?
subdural space
Between what layers is the CSF?
in the subarachnoid space between the arachnoid mater and pia mater.
What is below the subdural space?
arachnoid mater
What is below the arachnoid mater?
arachnoid space
What is below the arachnoid space?
pia mater
What anchors the spinal cord in place in the dural sac?
denticulae ligaments
What are the invertebral formanen?
regions where the spinal nerves exit.
What do the spinal ganglion converge into?
The spinal nerve/ventral rami
What do the ventral rami make?
spinal nerve plexuses and intercostal nerves.
What kinds of nerves to the rami carry?
motor and sensory.
What is the conus medularis?
The end of the spinal column before it brances into the the cauda equina.
What is the cauda equina?
region of poserior and anterior spinal roots.
Where does the conus medullaris end?
between L1 and L2
What is the filium terminalus?
Part of pia mater that anchors top of spinal cord into sacrum; it is made of the pia mater and is an extension of the pia mater that goes sacrally.
What vertebrae are lumbar punctures done?
below L2 (around L3 and L4)
Which lesion to the spinal cord is the most severe?
cervical lesions
