Tracts & Lesions (inc Cauda equina) Flashcards
Draw the 3 spinal tracts
Outline the clinical findings in COMPLETE SPINAL CORD INJURY
- Loss of ALL motor & sensory below the level of the lesion
- At the level = LMN lesion signs
- Below the level = UMN lesion signs
Outline the first clinical findings in INCOMPLETE SPINAL CORD INJURY
What are the types?
- Initially loss of all, then some functions may return
- Sacral dermatomes/ myosomes first [sacral sparing]
- Positive bulbocavernosus reflex
- Toe flex
- Anal spinchter muscle
- You feel your butt
-
Types
- Anterior syndrome
- Central syndrome
- brown-Sequard syndrome [hemisection]
- Posterior syndrome
Outline the clinical findings in HEMISECTION OF THE SPINAL CORD
aka Brown-Squard syndrome
-
Ipsilateral
- Loss of proprioception & fine touch [Dorsal column]
- Upper motor neurone signs [Corticospinal]
- Contralateral
- Loss of pain & temperature sensation [Spinothalamic]
Outline the clinical findings in SPINAL NERVE ROOT LESIONS
Which conditions can cause this?
- Sensory loss in a dermatomal pattern
- Muscle weakness & wasting in a radicular pattern
Causes
- Spondylosis [vertebral degenerative osteoarthritis]
- Spondylitis [vertebral inflammation]
- Invertebral disk prolapse
- Cervical or lumbar (sciatica) cause pain
Outline the clinical findings in UPPER CERVICAL CORD LESION
- Signs of UMN throghout body NIDIB
- Muscle bulk - Normal
- Muscle tone - Incr
- Muscle power - Decr
- Reflexes - Incr (brisk)
- Plantar Responce - Babinski’s sign (extension)
Outline the clinical findings in LOWER CERVICAL CORD LESION
At the lesion, the upper & lower motor neurones are cut. So below it will be UMN lesion signs, and the upper limbs/ same level will be LMN lesion signs [as the LMN are cut there].
Upper limbs - At/above the lesion
- Lower motor neurone signs [DDDD]
- Muscle bulk - Decr
- Muscle tone - Decr
- Muscle power - Decr
- Reflexes - Deminished/ Absent
Lower limbs - Below the lesion
- Upper motor neurone signs [NIDIB]
- Muscle bulk - Normal
- Muscle tone - Incr
- Muscle power - Decr
- Reflexes - Incr (brisk)
- Plantar Responce - Babinski’s sign (extension)
Outline the clinical findings in THORACIC CORD LESION
UMN lesion below the lesion (legs)
- Muscle bulk - Normal
- Muscle tone - Incr
- Muscle power - Decr
- Reflexes - Incr (brisk)
- Plantar Responce - Babinski’s sign (extension)
Outline the clinical findings in LUMBAR CORD LESION
LMN lesion signs of lower limb [DDDDA]
- Muscle bulk - Decr
- Muscle tone - Decr
- Muscle power - Decr
- Reflexes - Diminished/ absent
- Plantar Responce - Absent
Outline the clinical findings in CENTRAL CORD SYNDROME
What can cause this?
- Lower limbs [below] - UMN lesion signs
- Upper limbs [at the level] - LMN lesion signs
Hyperextension injury can cause this
Outline the clinical findings in ANTERIOR CORD SYNDROME
What can cause this?
- Complete motor paralysis [corticospinal anterior horn nuclei cut]
- Sensory impairment [spinothalamic]
Caused by vascular insufficiency or mechanical compression
Posterior collumn spared - propriocepton & fine touch
Outline the clinical findings in POSTERIOR CORD SYNDROME
Only loss of;
- Proprioception & fine touch/ vibration [dorsal collumns]
Outline the clinical findings in MIDBRAIN BASAL LESION
Midbrain (aka Weber’s syndrome) - Posterior Cerebral Artery
-
Oculomotor palsy (Ipsilaterally)
- Eye muslces
- I, S & M Rectus & I Oblique stop working
- L Rectus & S Oblique unopposed - eye goes down & out
- Light accomodation
- Motor part [Edinger-Westphal nucleus to cilliary ganglion] stop working
- Large pupil UNREACTIVE to light
- Upper eyelid [levator palpebae superioris]
- Droopy eyelid
- Eye muslces
-
Crus Cerebri [corticospinal] CUT
- Corticospinal goes down & crosses in pyramids
- Contralateral loss of motor control
Outline the clinical findings in PONS BASAL INFARCTION
Medial Pontine Syndrome?
Draw a diagram
CN 6 Nuclei, Medial leminiscus & Corticospinal;
-
Abducens palsy
- L Rectus stops working
- Eye cant go outward on ipsilateral side
- L Rectus stops working
-
Medial leminiscus
- Contralateral proprioception & fine touch loss
-
Corticospinal tract
- Corticospinal goes down & crosses in pyramids
- Contralateral loss of motor control
Facial nerve may be affected?
Outline the clinical findings in MEDULLARY MEDIAL & LATERAL SYNDROME
Draw a diagram detailing;
- Caudal medulla
- Structures & respective symptoms
- Blood supply
Laterally (aka Wallenberg) - PICA
- Inf. peduncle - ipsi ataxia
- Vestibular nuclei - vertigo, nausea
- CN 5 nuclei (spinal) - ipsi [pain & temp]
- Sympathetic - ipsi [Horner’s synd]
- Ambiguus nuclei (CN 9 & 10) - ispi [dysphagia/arthria]
- Spinothalamic - contra [pain, temp, crude touch]
Medially - Ant. Spinal Artery
- Hypoglossal nuclei/ nerve - ipsi tongue deviation
- Medial leminiscus - contra proprioception & light touch [dorsal columns]
- Corticospinal pyramids - contra weakness