The Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, and Spinal Reflexes Flashcards
Regions of the spinal cord
- Cervical
- Thoracic
- Lumbral
- Sacral
Gray matter
Neuron cell bodies
White matter
Myelinated axons
Spinal nerves
C1-C8 T1-12 L1-L5 S1-S5 CO1
Where does the spinal cord extend to?
From the brain to L1-L2
Posterior median sulcus
Shallow longitudinal groove in the spinal cord
Anterior median fissure
Deep groove along the anterior surface of the spinal cord
Central canal
Internal passageway
Functions of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Acts as a shock absorber and a diffusion medium for dissolved gases, nutrients, chemical messengers, and wastes
Where is there the most gray matter?
In areas dedicated to sensory and motor control of the limbs
Cervical enlargement
Supplies nerves to the shoulder and upper limbs
Lumbosacral enlargement
Supplies nerves nerves to pelvis and lower limbs
Conus medullaris
Conical, tapered region of the spinal cord
Filum terminale
Slender strand of fibrous tissue that extends from the inferior tip of the conus medullaris to the sacral vetebra
Part of coccygeal ligament
Spinal ganglia
Contain cell bodies of sensory neurons
Posterior roots
Made up of axon roots of sensory neurons
Anterior roots
Made up of axons of motor neurons that extend into periphery to control somatic and visceral effectors
Rootlets
Branch out from roots of spinal nerves
Spinal nerve
Sensory and motor roots bound together to form a spinal nerve
White ramus communicans
Containing myelinated axons
Gray ramus communicans
Containing unmyelinated axons fibres that innervate flands and smooth muscles in the body walls or limbs
Posterior ramus
Providing sensory and motor innervation to the skin and muscles of the back
Anterior ramus
Supplying ventrolateral body surface, structures in the body wall and lumbs
Mixed nerves
Containing both afferent and efferent fibres
Spinal nerves are mixed nerves
How many spinal nerves are there?
31, each associated with adjacent vertebrae
How are cervical nerves named?
The cervical nerve takes the name of the vertebra immediately below it
How are the thoracic, lumbar and sacral nerves named?
The nerve takes the name of the vertenbra immediately above it
Spinal meninges
Series of specialised membranes surrounding the spinal cord that provide stability and shock absorption
3 layers of spinal meninges
- Dura mater
- Arachnoid mater
- Pia mater
Dura mater
- Outermost
- Dense collagen fibres
Epidural space
Between the dura matter and the walls of the vertebral canal
Contains areolar tissue, blood vessels and adipose tissue
Arachnoid mater
- Middle layer
Subarachnoid space
Filled with CSF
Lumbar puncture, spinal tap
Needle draws CSF from subarachnoid space
Pia mater
- Innermost
- Meshwork of elastic collagen fibres firmly bound to neural tissue
Denticulate ligaments
Extend from pia mater through the arachnoid mater to dura mater
Provide lateral movement
What prevents longitudinal movement?
Dural connections at the foramen magnum and the coccygeal ligament
Meningitis
Inflammation of the meningeal membranes
Spinal anaesthesia
Anaesthetics injected into subarachnoid space of the spinal cord
Horns
Areas of gray matter on each side of the spinal cord
Posterior, lateral and anterior
Gray commissures
Posterior and anterior
Nuclei
Masses of gray matter within the CNS
Sensory nuclei
Receive and relay sensory information from peripheral receptors
Motor nuclei
Issue motor commands to peripheral effectors