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Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology > The Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, and Spinal Reflexes > Flashcards

The Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, and Spinal Reflexes Flashcards

1
Q

Regions of the spinal cord

A
  1. Cervical
  2. Thoracic
  3. Lumbral
  4. Sacral
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2
Q

Gray matter

A

Neuron cell bodies

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3
Q

White matter

A

Myelinated axons

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4
Q

Spinal nerves

A 
C1-C8
T1-12
L1-L5
S1-S5
CO1
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5
Q

Where does the spinal cord extend to?

A

From the brain to L1-L2

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6
Q

Posterior median sulcus

A

Shallow longitudinal groove in the spinal cord

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7
Q

Anterior median fissure

A

Deep groove along the anterior surface of the spinal cord

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8
Q

Central canal

A

Internal passageway

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9
Q

Functions of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

A

Acts as a shock absorber and a diffusion medium for dissolved gases, nutrients, chemical messengers, and wastes

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10
Q

Where is there the most gray matter?

A

In areas dedicated to sensory and motor control of the limbs

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11
Q

Cervical enlargement

A

Supplies nerves to the shoulder and upper limbs

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12
Q

Lumbosacral enlargement

A

Supplies nerves nerves to pelvis and lower limbs

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13
Q

Conus medullaris

A

Conical, tapered region of the spinal cord

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14
Q

Filum terminale

A

Slender strand of fibrous tissue that extends from the inferior tip of the conus medullaris to the sacral vetebra

Part of coccygeal ligament

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15
Q

Spinal ganglia

A

Contain cell bodies of sensory neurons

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16
Q

Posterior roots

A

Made up of axon roots of sensory neurons

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17
Q

Anterior roots

A

Made up of axons of motor neurons that extend into periphery to control somatic and visceral effectors

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18
Q

Rootlets

A

Branch out from roots of spinal nerves

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19
Q

Spinal nerve

A

Sensory and motor roots bound together to form a spinal nerve

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20
Q

White ramus communicans

A

Containing myelinated axons

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21
Q

Gray ramus communicans

A

Containing unmyelinated axons fibres that innervate flands and smooth muscles in the body walls or limbs

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22
Q

Posterior ramus

A

Providing sensory and motor innervation to the skin and muscles of the back

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23
Q

Anterior ramus

A

Supplying ventrolateral body surface, structures in the body wall and lumbs

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24
Q

Mixed nerves

A

Containing both afferent and efferent fibres

Spinal nerves are mixed nerves

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25
Q

How many spinal nerves are there?

A

31, each associated with adjacent vertebrae

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26
Q

How are cervical nerves named?

A

The cervical nerve takes the name of the vertebra immediately below it

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27
Q

How are the thoracic, lumbar and sacral nerves named?

A

The nerve takes the name of the vertenbra immediately above it

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28
Q

Spinal meninges

A

Series of specialised membranes surrounding the spinal cord that provide stability and shock absorption

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29
Q

3 layers of spinal meninges

A
  1. Dura mater
  2. Arachnoid mater
  3. Pia mater
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30
Q

Dura mater

A
  • Outermost

- Dense collagen fibres

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31
Q

Epidural space

A

Between the dura matter and the walls of the vertebral canal

Contains areolar tissue, blood vessels and adipose tissue

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32
Q

Arachnoid mater

A
  • Middle layer
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33
Q

Subarachnoid space

A

Filled with CSF

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34
Q

Lumbar puncture, spinal tap

A

Needle draws CSF from subarachnoid space

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35
Q

Pia mater

A
  • Innermost

- Meshwork of elastic collagen fibres firmly bound to neural tissue

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36
Q

Denticulate ligaments

A

Extend from pia mater through the arachnoid mater to dura mater

Provide lateral movement

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37
Q

What prevents longitudinal movement?

A

Dural connections at the foramen magnum and the coccygeal ligament

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38
Q

Meningitis

A

Inflammation of the meningeal membranes

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39
Q

Spinal anaesthesia

A

Anaesthetics injected into subarachnoid space of the spinal cord

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40
Q

Horns

A

Areas of gray matter on each side of the spinal cord

Posterior, lateral and anterior

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41
Q

Gray commissures

A

Posterior and anterior

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42
Q

Nuclei

A

Masses of gray matter within the CNS

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43
Q

Sensory nuclei

A

Receive and relay sensory information from peripheral receptors

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44
Q

Motor nuclei

A

Issue motor commands to peripheral effectors

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45
Q

Posterior horns

A

Contains somatic and visceral sensory nuclei

46
Q

Anterior horns

A

Function in somatic motor control

47
Q

Lateral horns

A

Contain visceral motor neurons

48
Q

Posterior white columns

A

Lie between the posterior horns and the posterior median sulcus

49
Q

Anterior white columns

A

Lie between the anterior horns and the anterior fissure

50
Q

Anterior white commissure

A

Connect anterior white columns

Region where axons cross from one side of the spinal cord to the other

51
Q

Lateral white column

A

White matter between anterior and posterior columns on each side

52
Q

Tract

A

Bundle of axons in the CNS

53
Q

Short tracts

A

Carry sensory and motor signals between segments of the spinal cord

54
Q

Long tracts

A

Connect spinal cord with the brain

55
Q

Ascending tracts

A

Carry sensory information toward the brain

56
Q

Descending tracts

A

Convey motor commands to the spinal cord

57
Q

Layers of spinal nerves

A
  1. Epineurium
  2. Perineurium
  3. Endoneurium
58
Q

Epineurium

A
  • Outermost layer

- Dense network of collagen fibres

59
Q

Perineurium

A
  • Middle layer

- Cover one fascicle

60
Q

Endoneurium

A
  • Innermost layer

- Surround individual axons

61
Q

Peripheral nerves

A

Branch from spinal nerves

Innervate body tissues and organs

62
Q

Dermatome

A

Specific bilateral region of the skin surface monitored by a single pair of spinal nerves

63
Q

What happens when a spinal nerve of spinal ganglion is damaged or infected?

A

Corresponding region of skin loses sensation

64
Q

Peripheral neuropathies

A

Regional losses of sensory and motor function most often resulting from nerve trauma or compression

65
Q

Shingles

A

Attacks neurons within the posterior roots of spinal nerves and sensory ganglia of cranial nerves

66
Q

Nerve plexus

A

Complex, interwoven network of nerves

67
Q

Four major plexuses

A
  1. Cervical plexus
  2. Brachial plexus
  3. Lumbar plexus
  4. Sacral plexus
68
Q

Cervical plexus

A

Consists of the anterior rami of spinal nerves C1-C5

69
Q

Phrenic nerve

A

Major nerve of the cervical plexus

Supply the diaphragm

70
Q

Brachial plexus

A

Innervates pectoral girdle and upper limb

Consists of anterior rami of spinal nerves C5-T1

71
Q

Trunks

A

Large bundles of spinal nerve axons

72
Q

Cords

A

Smaller branches of trunks

73
Q

Musculocutaneous nerve

A

Formed from lateral cord

74
Q

Median nerve

A

Made of medial cord and median nerve

75
Q

Lumbar and sacral plexuses

A

Innervate pelvic girdle and lower limbs

76
Q

Lumbar plexus

A

Contains axons from the anterior rami of spinal nerves T12-L4

77
Q

Major nerves of lumbar plexus

A

Genitofemoral nerve
Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
Femoral nerve

78
Q

Sacral plexus

A

Contains axons from the anterior rami of spinal nerves L4-S4

79
Q

Major nerves of sacral plexus

A

Sciatic nerve

Pudendal nerve

80
Q

What does the sciatic nerve branch into?

A

Fibular and tibial nerve

81
Q

Reflexes

A

Automatic responses

Motor responses to specific stimuli

82
Q

Sensory information

A
  1. Sympathetic nerve carries sensory information from the visceral organs
  2. Anterior ramus carries sensory information from ventrolateral surface, structures in the body wall, and the limbs
  3. Posterior ramus carries sensory information from the skin and skeletal muscles of the back
  4. Posterior root of each spinal nerves carries sensory information to the spinal cord
83
Q

Motor commands

A
  1. Anterior root of each spinal nerve contains the axons of somatic motor and visceral motor neurons
  2. Spinal nerve forms just lateral to the invertebral foramen, where the posterior and anterior roots unite
  3. Posterior ramus contains somatic motor and visceral motor fibers that innervate the skin and skeletal muscles of the back
  4. The axons in the relatively large anterior ramus supply the ventrolateral body surface, structures in the body wall and the limbs
  5. White ramus communicans is the first branch from the spinal nerve and carries visceral motor fibres to a nearby sympathetic ganglion
  6. The gray ramus communicans contains postganglionic fibres that innervate glands and smooth muscles in the body wall or limbs
84
Q

Which ganglionic branches are myelinated?

A

Preganglionic axons - white ramus

Postganglionic axons - gray ramus

85
Q

Rami communicantes

A

White and gray rami together

86
Q

Where are white and gray rami found?

A

White - between T1 and L2

Graya - associated with each spinal nerve

87
Q

Reflex arc

A
  1. Arrival of a stimulus and activation of a receptor
  2. Activation of a sensory neuron
  3. Information processing in the CNS
  4. Activation of a motor neuron
  5. Response by a peripheral effector
88
Q

Receptor

A

Specialised cell or the dendrites of a sensory neuron
Sensitive to chemical of physical changes
Respond to stimuli that cause or accompany tissue damage

89
Q

Innate reflexes

A

Result from connections that form between neurons during development e.g. withdrawal reflex

90
Q

Acquired reflexes

A

Learned motor patterns e.g. experienced driver steps on the brakes when trouble appears
Repetition enhances acquired reflexes

91
Q

Somatic reflexes

A

Provide a mechanism for the involuntary control of the muscular system
Immediate

92
Q

Visceral reflexes

A

Control the activities of other systems

93
Q

Monosynaptic reflexes

A

Involve the simplest reflex arc
Sensory neuron innervate a motor neuron directly
Motor neuron performs the information processing

94
Q

Polysynaptic reflexes

A

Have at least one interneuron between the sensory neuron and the motor neuron
Longer delay between stimulus and response

95
Q

Spinal reflexes

A

The important interconnections and processing events occur in the spinal cord

96
Q

Cranial reflexes

A

Reflexes processed in the brain

97
Q

Intersegmental reflex arcs

A

Most complicated polysynaptic reflex arcs

Many segments interact to produce a coordinated highly variable motor response

98
Q

Stretch reflex

A

Monosynaptic
Automatically regulates skeletal muscle length
e.g. patellar reflex (knee-jerk)

Stimulus (increase in muscle length > sensory neuron activated > immediate motor neuron response (muscle contracts) > stimulus counteracted

99
Q

Muscle spindles

A

Sensory receptors involved in the stretch reflex

100
Q

Intrafusal muscle fibres

A

A bundle of small, specialised skeletal muscle fibres

101
Q

Extrafusal muscle fibres

A

Large skeletal muscle fibres that surround muscle spindles

102
Q

Gamma motor neurons

A

Motor neurons innervating intrafusal fibres

103
Q

Gamma efferents

A

Axons of motor neurons innervating intrafusal fibres

104
Q

Function of muscle spindles

A

Stretching muscle spindles produce a sudden burst of activity in the sensory neurons > stimulation of motor neurons > rapid muscle shortening

105
Q

Postural reflexes

A

Maintains a person’s upright posture

106
Q

Tendon reflex

A

Monitors the tension produced during muscular contractions and prevents damage to tendons

107
Q

Withdrawal reflex

A

Move affected portions of the body away from a source of stimulation

108
Q

Flexor reflex

A

A withdrawal reflex affecting muscles of a limb

109
Q

Crossed extensor reflex

A

Complements withdrawal reflexes

110
Q

What do all polysynaptic reflexes involve?

A
  1. Involve pools of interneurons
  2. Are intersegmental in distribution
  3. Involve reciprocal inhibition
  4. Have reverberating circuits, which prolong the reflexive motor response
  5. Can cooperate to produce a coordinated response
111
Q

Reinforcement

A

Enhancement of spinal reflexes produced by facilitation

112
Q

Plantar reflex

A

Replaces Babinski reflex in infants

Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology (25 decks)

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