The Spinal Cord and the Periphery Flashcards

1
Q

Grey and white matter of the spinal cord

A

White outside

Grey inside

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2
Q

How do axons of sensory fibres enter though into the spinal cord?

A

Through the dorsal route into the dorsal horn of grey matter

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3
Q

Where do motor neurones have their cell bodies in the spinal cord?

A

In the ventral horn

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4
Q

What is white matter made up from?

A

Tracts

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5
Q

What are tracts?

A

Axons transmitting information between higher centres in the brain and peripheral nerves = pathways

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6
Q

What type of information do ascending tracts take?

A

Sensory

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7
Q

What type of information do descending tract take?

A

Motor

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8
Q

What columns does white matter have?

A

Posterior
Lateral
Anterior

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9
Q

Function of ascending spinal tracts

A

Carries sensory information to the brain (cerebral cortex and cerebellum)

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10
Q

Features of ascending spinal tracts

A

3 neurones between the peripheral receptor and the cortex

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11
Q

Order of features in ascending spinal tracts

A
  1. receptor - first order neurone (dorsal root present off this)
  2. Reaches grey matter of spinal cord or nucleus in medulla
  3. 2nd order neurone - crosses over to contralateral side in spinal cord or medulla
  4. Reaches Nucleus in contralateral thalamus
  5. 3rd order neurone - to contralateral parietal cortex
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12
Q

What does the posterior/dorsal column of ascending tracts carry?

A

Fine touch
Tactile localisation
Vibration sense
Proprioception

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13
Q

Journey of posterior/dorsal column of ascending tracts

A
  1. Gracile and cuneate nuclei in medulla -> 1st order neurone to
  2. 2nd order neurone -> Crosses over to medial lemniscus in pons to the
  3. VPL nucleus in thalamus
  4. 3rd order neurone -> post central gyrus in parietal lobe
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14
Q

What does the lateral spinothalamic tract carry on the right side?

A

Pain and temp from left side of body

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15
Q

What does the lateral ascending tracts carry?

A

Pain

Temperature

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16
Q

Journey of Lateral spinothalamic tract

A

2nd order neurone crosses over at the level of entry to reach lateral column in the spinal cord
VPL nucleus of thalamus
Post central gyrus of parietal lobe

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17
Q

Where do motor/descending tracts of the spinal cord originate?

A

Within the cerebral cortex and brainstem

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18
Q

Function of descending tracts

A

Control of movement
Muscle tone
Spinal autonomic fibres

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19
Q

How many neurones do descending tracts have?

A

2

20
Q

Features of descending tracts

A

Motor
2 Neurones in the pathway
They decussate to the opposite side of the brainstem

21
Q

Function of the corticospinal/pyramidal tract

A

Control of voluntary skilled movements

22
Q

What kind of pathway is the corticospinal/pyramidal tract?

A

Descending

23
Q

What is the blood supply to the corticospinal/pyramidal tract?

A

MCA

24
Q

Where do corticobulbar fibres go?

A

Go to contralateral cranial nerve nuclei

25
Q

Where do corticospinal fibres go?

A

Mostly cross in decussation of pyramids (lateral corticospinal tract)

26
Q

How much of the fibres does the anterior corticospinal tract have?

A

10 - 15%

27
Q

What is the lower motor neurone responsible for?

A

Muscle tone and reflexes

28
Q

What is the autonomic nervous system?

A

Nerve cells within both CNS and PNS concerned with innervation and control of visceral organs, smooth muscle and secretory glands

29
Q

How many neurones does the basic autonomic efferent pathway have?

A

2

30
Q

What nerves does the sympathetic ANS have an effect on?

A

T1-12

L1 + 2

31
Q

What nerves does the parasympathetic ANS have an effect on?

A

III, VII, IX, X

S2-4

32
Q

What is the outflow of sympathetic fibres taken by?

A

Thoracolumbar

33
Q

What is the outflow of parasympathetic fibres taken by?

A

Craniosacral

34
Q

What is motor neurone disease?

A

A group of diseases affecting the motor neurone in the ventral horn of the spinal cord (LMN). The neurone dies and as a result the muscle supplied by it atrophies

35
Q

Presentation of an UMN lesion

A

Exaggerated reflexes - hyperflexia

Exaggerated tone - spasticity (spastic paralysis)

36
Q

Presentation of a herniated disc on the left side of C3 (e.g. brown sequard syndrome)

A

Left sided paralysis
Left sides loss of touch, vibration and sense
Right sided loss of temp and pain
Reflexes on left side exagerated

37
Q

What is a reflex?

A

An involuntary stereotyped pattern of response brought about by a sensory stimulus

38
Q

Where are many reflexes mediated?

A

At the level of the spinal cord (spinal reflexes)

39
Q

Types of reflexes anatomically

A

Monosynaptic

Polysynaptic

40
Q

Example of a monosynaptic reflex

A

Stretch reflexes

41
Q

Example of a polysynaptic reflex

A

Flexor reflex

42
Q

How does a stretch reflex work?

A
  1. Tendon stretched
  2. Intrafusal muscle fibres stimulated
  3. Sensory neurone activated
  4. Monosynaptic reflex arc
    4b. Polysynaptic reflex arc to inhibitory interneurone
  5. Muscle contraction
    5b. Reciprocal innervation
43
Q

What is the stretch reflex important in?

A

Control of muscle tone and posture

44
Q

What is the function of the flexor reflex?

A

Helps to protect the body from painful stimuli

45
Q

How does the flexor reflex work?

A
  1. pain stimulus
  2. Sensory neurone activated
  3. Polysynpatic reflex arc
  4. Flexion and withdrawal from noxious stimulus
    4b. Crossed extensor response to contralateral limb (only in weight bearing limbs)