Unit IV: Spinal Cord Flashcards
How long is the spinal cord?
16-18 inches
At what vertebral level does the spinal cord occupy 75% of the vertebral canal?
C5-C6
What is the superior boundary of the SC for convenience?
Foramen magnum
What is the superior boundary of the SC being precise?
1st cervical spinal nerve
What is the inferior boundary of the SC?
L1-L2: conus medullaris
*How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31
*What does the Bell-Magendi Law state?
Dorsal roots contain sensory (afferent) fibers and ventral roots are motor (efferent) fibers
*Where are cervical spinal nerves found in position to its corresponding vertebra?
One above
*Where are thoracic spinal nerves found in position to its corresponding vertebra?
One below
*Where are lumbar spinal nerves found in position to its corresponding vertebra?
One below
*S5 exits at the ___
Sacral hiatus
*___ exits at the sacral hiatus
Co1-> may be missing
*During the first 3 months of the embryonic development, the cord and the vertebral column are approximately the ___
Same length
At birth, the Co1 cord level is at the same level as ___
L1-L3
By adulthood, the Co1 cord level is found at ___
L1-L2
The end of the SC is called the ___
Conus medullaris
Through the lumbar cistern, the formation of the SC is called the ___
Cauda equina
The ___ is continuous with the MO and 4th ventricle
Central canal
The central canal expands in the conus medullar is as a ___
Terminal ventricle
*Terminal vs. lumbar cistern
- both contain CSF
- T- within the cord
- L- outside the cord
The dorsal horn of gray matter functions in ___
Sensory
The lateral horns of gray matter functions in ___
Autonomic-> preganglionic
The ventral horn of gray matter functions in ___
Motor
What is a funiculus?
A longitudinal bundle of white matter fibers-> columns
White matter composition
- dense concentrations of neuron cell bodies
- many synaptic areas
- support glial cells
- dense capillary beds
*Rexed lamina I
Forms a thin cap over the dorsal horn
*RL II
- “substantia gelatinosa”
2. important pain reception center
*RL III and IV
- “nucleus proprius”
2. sensory receptors
*RL V
- cervical area only
- reticular formation
- axons cross to the other side of the cord
*Which tract is found in RL V?
Lateral spinothalamic
*RL VI
- missing at some cord levels
2. most anterior aspect of dorsal horn
*RL VII
- intermediate gray area
- descending fibers
- C8-L3
- lateral horn-> T1-L2
- “sacral parasympathetic nucleus”
*Which tract is found in RL VII?
Posterior spinocerebellar tract
*RL VIII
- anterior horn
- delta motor neurons
- most medial
*RL IX
- skeletal muscles
- “somatic motor horn”
- class A alpha motor neurons
- series of disconnected islands
*RL X
- surrounds the central canal
- gray commissures
- crosses midline
- Blood vessels are ___ dense in white matter than in gray matter
Less
Fibers associate and stay together by surface proteins are called ___
NCAMs
*Are tracts observable by general staining techniques?
No
Sensory input enters the SC as ___ at the dorsal later sulcus
Dorsal root ganglion axons
Most axon will synapse in the ___ when entering the cord
Dorsal gray horn laminae
*Where is gracilis located?
Dorsal funiculus-> medial aspect
*Where is gracilis present?
In all cord levels
*Where do fibers synapse in gracilis?
MO
- Functions of gracilis
- 2 point touch discrimination
- vibratory sensations
- kinesthetic sensation
*Pathway of gracilis
- DRG at all cord levels-> MO
- medial lemniscus-> thalamus
- post. central gyrus
*Where is cuneatus located?
Dorsal funiculus-> lateral aspect
*Where is cuneatus present?
T6 and up
*Where do fibers synapse in cuneatus?
MO
*Functions of cuneatus
- 2 point touch discrimination
- vibratory sensations
- kinesthetic sensation
*Pathway of cuneatus
- DRG: T6 and up-> MO
- medial lemniscus-> thalamus
- post. central gyrus
*Where is the lateral spinothalamic tract located?
Lateral funiculus
*Where is the lateral spinothalamic tract present?
All cord levels
*What is the function of the lateral spinothalamic tract?
Pain/temperature