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Biology 252 Lab > The Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves > Flashcards

The Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves Flashcards

1
Q

Where does the spinal cord begin?

A

Approximately as the medulla oblongata exits the skull and centers the vertebral foramen of the 1st cervical vertebra.

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2
Q

vertebral foramen

A

opening formed by the body and the vertebral arch

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3
Q

What is the 1st cervical vertebra called?

A

C1 or the atlas

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4
Q

where does the spinal cord travel?

A

within the vertebral canal from the medulla oblongata exit to the first lumbar vertebra (L1) in adults (this is due to the vertebral column outgrowing the spinal cord)

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5
Q

What is the termination point of the spinal cord called?

A

conus medularis located at L1

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6
Q

Why is the spinal cord thicker at the top and bottom?

A

more neurons send and receive info from the limbs resulting in cervical enlargement (upper) and lumbar enlargement (lower)

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7
Q

spinal nerves

A

segments of the spinal cord

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8
Q

intervertebral foramina

A

through which spinal nerves exit the vertebral column (holes in between the cervical vertebra)

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9
Q

cauda equina

A

the bundle of spinal nerves that continue beyond the spinal cord’s termination point, on their way to the appropriate intervertebral foramen (exit)

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10
Q

filum terminale

A

extension of the pia mater that lie within causa equina

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11
Q

C1-C7

A

cervical vertebrae (top)

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12
Q

T1-T12

A

Thoracic vertebrae (second from top)

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13
Q

L1-L5

A

lumbar vertebrae (3rd from top)

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14
Q

S1-S5

A

Sacral vertebrae (4th from top)

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15
Q

Coccygeal vertebrae

A

3-5; bottom of the spine

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16
Q

What do each of the vertebral levels contain?

A

muscles, skin, and bones

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17
Q

Neurons that supply instruction to/from the vertebral levels of the body travel within what?

A

spinal nerves

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18
Q

Due to the difference in length of the spinal cord and the vertebral column…

A

the spinal nerve exits lower than where the nerve fibers originate from

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19
Q

How are spinal nerves numbered?

A

according to their vertebral level, from which they take their exit from the vertebral canal

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20
Q

dura mater

A

outermost, toughest layer that protects the spinal cord, surrounded by the epidural space

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21
Q

epidural space

A

space filled with fat, veiny, common place for injection of anesthetic during labor..surrounds the dura mater of the spinal cord

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22
Q

epineurium

A

the outermost layer of a nerve, formed when the dura mater extends outward around the spinal nerves

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23
Q

within the dura mater of the spinal cord lies

A

the arachnoid mater (right after the dura mater) and subarachnoid space (space between dura mater and pia mater)

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24
Q

pia mater of spinal cord

A

in direct contact with spinal cord. has two specializations:

  1. there are at least 20 pairs of lateral projections that anchor the spinal cord to the dura mater
  2. as the spinal cord ends, the pia mater continues as a thread
25
Q

denticulate ligaments

A

lateral projections that anchor the spinal cord to the dura mater and limit the movement of the cord

26
Q

filum terminale

A

the pia mater that continues after the conus medularis and anchors the end of the spinal cord to the sacrum

27
Q

The outer region of the spinal cord

A

white matter consisting of myelinated axons that are oriented vertically to communicate with higher or lower regions of the CNS. Usually groups into 3 columns on each side of the sagittal plane (outside of cross section)

28
Q

The gray matter of the spinal cord

A

lies internal to the white matter and contains unmeylinated neurons (interneurons). Portions of sensory neurons and motor neurons reside in the gray matter. organized into 3 columns

29
Q

name and locate the three columns of the gray matter of the spinal cord

A

dorsal/posterior horn (top), ventral/anterior horn (bottom), and lateral horn (middle)

30
Q

What is at the center of the spinal cord?

A

the central canal, which is a cavity in continuity with the ventricles of the brain

31
Q

What is the spinal cord used for?

A

sending information up to the brain or sending motor commands down to the appropriate level of the spinal cord

32
Q

ascending pathways

A

the systems of neurons that bring information up to the brain. they travel along 3 neurons (1st, 2nd, and 3rd order neurons)

33
Q

What is an example of an ascending pathway?

A

spinothalamic tract

34
Q

describe the path of signal produced by a sensory neuron

A

the sensory neuron (1st order)- source of stimulus to the dorsal horn where is synapses with interneurons;(2nd order) from dorsal horn to the flip side and enters the white matter, runs up to the thalamus; (3rd order) thalamus to appropriate part of the somatosensory cortex

35
Q

descending pathways

A

systems of neurons that bring motor information from the brain down to the appropriate spinal level. signals travel along two neurons

36
Q

name an example of a descending pathway

A

corticospinal tract

37
Q

describe the path of a signal going to the spinal level

A 
originates from primary motor cortex
travels along an upper motor neuron
down the white matter (whatever tract)
crosses over and continues down
at the appropriate spinal level, the axon leaves the tract and enters the ventral horn where it synapses with a lower motor neuron of the PNS and leaves the spinal cord to innervate skeletal muscles
38
Q

the spinal nerve forms from the joining of which two tributaries?

A

the dorsal and ventral roots

39
Q

dorsal root

A

carries sensory information to the dorsal horn. it has a large collection of cell bodies that form the dorsal root ganglion.

40
Q

how are sensory neurons unique?

A

their cell body is in the middle of the course of the axon - unipolar

41
Q

the axons of the ventral root are?

A

entirely motor

42
Q

somatic

A

outer body (bones, skeletal muscles, skin)

43
Q

visceral

A

interior cavities of the body (digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular)

44
Q

what are the four functional components of spinal nerves?

A

somatic motor - to skeletal muscles
visceral motor- to smooth muscle and glands
somatic sensory - from skin, skeletal muscles, joints
visceral sensory- from the viscera

45
Q

dorsal ramus

A

branch coming off spinal nerve that carries somatic motor and somatic sensory to the posterior body wall

46
Q

ventral ramus

A

branch coming off the spinal nerve that carries somatic motor and somatic sensory to the lateral and anterior body wall (straight out)

47
Q

communicating rami

A

two branches that carry visceral motor and visceral sensory neurons to and from the heart/lungs.abdominal organs via the sympathetic trunk

48
Q

sympathetic trunk

A

runs parallel to the spinal cord and sends branches towards the thoracic and abdominal cavities

49
Q

intercoastal nerves

A

ventral rami that travel along the inferior surface of the ribs. they send small branches to nearby muscles, bones, and skin

50
Q

plexus

A

a network for ventral rami

51
Q

brachial plexus

A

formed of C5-T1 spinal nerve rami supplies the upper limb

52
Q

lumbosacral plexus

A

formed of L2-S2 rami supplies the lower limb

53
Q

spinal reflexes

A

involuntary circuits that respond to stimuli without the involvement of the brain

54
Q

monosynaptic reflexes

A

reflexes that involve a sensory neuron and its synapse with a motor neuron

55
Q

describe the path for a monosynaptic reflex to occur

A

a stimulus travels along a sensory neuron that has an axon terminal in the ventral horn (also a projection is send upward to brain to inform it of the sensation)
motor neurons are stimulated and signal occurs along them to stimulate muscle to contract

56
Q

name the most common monosynaptic reflex and an example of that reflex

A

stretch reflex; knee-jerk reflex

57
Q

polysynaptic reflexes

A

reflexes that involve one or several interneurons

ex: withdrawal reflex

58
Q

describe the path for a polysynaptic relfex

A

stimulus travels along a sensory neuron
sensory neuron synapses with one or serveral interneurons
motor neurons are stimulated
additionally inhibitory signals may be sent to muscles to let the withdrawal happen
and also signals can be sent to other side of body so both limbs do not perform the action

Biology 252 Lab (4 decks)

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