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Week 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the most important content of the vertebral canal?

A

The spinal cord.

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2
Q

At what vertebral level does the spinal cord become continuous with the medulla oblongata?

A

At the upper border of the C1 vertebra.

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3
Q

Where does the spinal cord terminate in adults?

A

At the lower border of the L1 vertebra (L1–L2 disc).

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4
Q

What is the conus medullaris?

A

The conical lowest part of the spinal cord.

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5
Q

What is the filum terminale?

A

A fibrous cord (strand of pia mater) extending from the conus medullaris to the dorsal surface of the first coccygeal vertebra.

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6
Q

What are the two enlargements of the spinal cord and what do they supply?

A

Cervical enlargement (C5–T1) for the upper limbs and lumbosacral enlargement (L1–S3) for the lower limbs.

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7
Q

Why is the spinal cord shorter than the vertebral canal?

A

Because the vertebral column continues to grow after the spinal cord reaches its adult length.

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8
Q

Where does the spinal cord end at birth?

A

At the level of the L3 vertebra.

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9
Q

What structure is formed by descending spinal nerve roots in the lumbosacral region?

A

The cauda equina (“horse’s tail”).

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10
Q

Why do spinal roots become longer from cervical to sacral levels?

A

Because the spinal nerves must reach their corresponding intervertebral foramina even though the spinal cord ends at L1–L2.

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11
Q

How do spinal cord segments and vertebral levels mismatch in the cervical region?

A

Each spinal cord segment is about one level higher than the corresponding vertebra.

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12
Q

How do spinal cord segments and vertebral levels mismatch in the upper thoracic region?

A

There is a difference of about two segments.

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13
Q

How do spinal cord segments and vertebral levels mismatch in the lower thoracic and lumbar regions?

A

There is a difference of about three to four segments.

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14
Q

What are the three meninges surrounding the spinal cord?

A

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

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15
Q

What is the extradural (epidural) space and what is it used for?

A

The space between the dura mater and the vertebral canal wall; used for epidural anesthesia during childbirth.

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16
Q

What lies between the dura and the arachnoid mater?

A

The subdural space.

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17
Q

What lies between the arachnoid and pia mater and what does it contain?

A

The subarachnoid space, which contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

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18
Q

What is the denticulate ligament and its function?

A

A continuation of pia mater that stabilizes the spinal cord by anchoring it to the dura mater.

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19
Q

What is a lumbar puncture and where is it performed?

A

A procedure to remove CSF from the subarachnoid space, typically done at L3–L4.

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20
Q

Why is L3–L4 a safe site for lumbar puncture?

A

Because the spinal cord ends at L1–L2, but the subarachnoid space extends to S2.

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21
Q

What shape does the grey matter of the spinal cord form?

A

An H-shaped mass in the center of the spinal cord.

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22
Q

What connects the two halves of the grey matter?

A

The grey commissure, which is traversed by the central canal.

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23
Q

What structures make up the grey matter of the spinal cord?

A

Dorsal horns, ventral horns, and in T1–L2 segments, a lateral horn.

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24
Q

Where are the preganglionic sympathetic neurons located?

A

In the lateral horn (lateral column) of the grey matter from T1 to L2 segments.

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25
How is the white matter of the spinal cord divided?
Into right and left halves by the anterior median fissure and the posterior median sulcus.
26
Where do dorsal nerve roots attach to the spinal cord?
Along the posterolateral sulcus.
27
Where do ventral nerve roots exit the spinal cord?
Through the anterolateral sulcus.
28
Where is the posterior funiculus located?
Medial to the posterolateral sulcus.
29
Where is the anterior funiculus located?
Medial to the anterolateral sulcus.
30
Where is the lateral funiculus located?
Between the anterolateral and posterolateral sulci.
31
What connects the white matter of the two halves of the spinal cord?
The white commissures.
32
Where is white matter thickest in the spinal cord?
At cervical levels, due to numerous ascending and descending fibers.
33
Where is grey matter thickest in the spinal cord?
At cervical and lumbosacral levels, especially in the ventral horns.
34
Why is grey matter thick at the cervical and lumbosacral levels?
Because of the presence of lower motor neurons for the upper and lower limbs.
35
What are spinal cord tracts?
Spinal cord tracts are collections of nerve fibers with the same origin, course, and termination, classified into ascending (sensory) or descending (motor) tracts.
36
What is an ascending (sensory) tract?
An ascending (sensory) tract transmits sensory information from the body to the brain.
37
What is a descending (motor) tract?
A descending (motor) tract transmits motor commands from the brain to the spinal cord, controlling voluntary movements.
38
How are spinal cord tracts named?
Tracts are named after the masses of grey matter they connect. For example, the corticospinal tract connects the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord ## Footnote For example, the corticospinal tract connects the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord.
39
What is the Dorsal Columns/Medial Lemniscal Pathway?
This pathway carries information about touch, pressure, and proprioception (body position) from the body to the brain.
40
What is the function of the Spinocerebellar Tracts?
The Spinocerebellar Tracts transmit information about muscle and joint position to the cerebellum, helping coordinate movement.
41
What sensations does the Spinothalamic Tract convey?
The Spinothalamic Tract conveys pain, temperature, and crude touch sensations to the brain.
42
What are the Corticospinal Tracts?
The Corticospinal Tracts carry motor commands from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord, controlling voluntary movements.
43
What is the function of the Rubrospinal Tract?
The Rubrospinal Tract is involved in motor control, particularly in regulating fine motor movements.
44
What is the role of the Tectospinal Tract?
The Tectospinal Tract helps coordinate head and eye movements in response to visual and auditory stimuli.
45
What is the function of the Vestibulospinal Tract?
The Vestibulospinal Tract helps maintain balance and posture by transmitting information from the vestibular system to the spinal cord.
46
What does the Reticulospinal Tract influence?
The Reticulospinal Tract influences muscle tone and reflex activity, contributing to both voluntary and involuntary movements.
47
What are spinal cord lesions?
Spinal cord lesions are disruptions in the spinal cord that impact motor, sensory, and autonomic pathways, often resulting in disability.
48
What are common causes of spinal cord dysfunction?
Common causes include trauma, vascular issues, nutritional deficiencies (e.g., B12, E), cancer, epidural abscess, infections (e.g., HIV), inflammatory conditions (e.g., MS, Lupus), and degenerative/developmental disorders.
49
What is paralysis and what causes it?
Paralysis is the inability to move part of the body due to interruption of corticospinal pathways from the motor cortex to the muscles.
50
What is the upper motor neuron?
A neuron located in the cerebral cortex whose axon descends to the spinal cord, part of the two-neuron system controlling movement.
51
What is the lower motor neuron?
A neuron located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord whose axon exits through a peripheral nerve to innervate muscles.
52
What are the two types of spinal cord injury?
The two types are complete (transverse) spinal cord injury and incomplete spinal cord injury.
53
What is a complete spinal cord injury?
A type of injury where there is no motor or sensory function below the level of the lesion.
54
What is an incomplete spinal cord injury?
A type of injury where some motor and/or sensory function is retained below the level of the lesion.
55
What is Brown-Séquard Syndrome?
An incomplete spinal cord injury involving damage to one side of the spinal cord, causing ipsilateral motor loss and proprioception, and contralateral pain and temperature loss.
56
What causes Brown-Séquard Syndrome?
It is often caused by penetrating injuries like gunshots or knife wounds.
57
What is a posterior cord lesion?
A spinal cord lesion that preserves motor function and pain/temperature sensation but causes loss of light touch, proprioception, and vibration.
58
What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)?
A progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting upper motor neurons (corticospinal tracts) and lower motor neurons (ventral horn cells).
59
What are the early symptoms of ALS?
Weakness in the lower limbs, followed by involvement of the upper limbs, hands, and trunk muscles.
60
How does ALS affect autonomic functions?
ALS leads to bladder and bowel dysfunction due to the loss of descending autonomic pathways.

Neuroscience (12 decks)

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