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functional neuroanatomy > week 4 - spinal cord > Flashcards

week 4 - spinal cord Flashcards

1
Q

What do barriers do?

A

Protect, support, maintain homeostasis

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2
Q

What barriers are there in the spinal cord?

A
  • bony structures: vertebrae physically protect
  • meninges: dura, arachnoid, pia mater surround and support
  • barriers between the internal and external chemical environments
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3
Q

Name the two barriers between the internal and external chemical environments in the spinal cord

A
  1. Blood- CSF
  2. Blood - Brain barrier
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4
Q

How many spinal arteries are there in the spinal cord?

A

1 anterior
2 posterior

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5
Q

What secures the spinal cord within in the middle of the bony vertebrae?

A

Arachnoid trabeculae and denticulate ligaments

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6
Q

What reflects the spinal cord segmental organisation?

A

Associated vertebrae and dermatomes

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7
Q

In adults, where does the spinal cord end?

A

L1/2

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8
Q

What happens to the spinal cord at L1/L2?

A

Tapers into a conical end called the conus medullaris

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9
Q

How do the dorsal and ventral root exit the vertebral column?

A

Increasingly oblique, downwards course

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10
Q

Where is the lumbar cistern found?

A

L1/L2

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11
Q

What structures are in the cauda equina?

A

Dorsal and ventral roots

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12
Q

Explain a lumbar puncture

A
  • hollow needle may be inserted into the lumbar cistern at levels below L2 to remove CSF
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13
Q

Is there any risk to a lumbar puncture?

A

No risk of impaling the spinal cord, and roots will move out of the way of the needle

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14
Q

What is the filum terminale?

A

The attachment of the spinal cord most distally to the dura and on the coccyx

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15
Q

Name the order to the structures making up the end of the spinal cord

A

Conus medullaris
Cauda equina
Filum terminale

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16
Q

What is grey matter?

A

Areas containing neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, connecting axons, synapses, supporting ganglia

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17
Q

What is white matter?

A

Areas where budnles or tracts of axons course

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18
Q

What is the position of white and grey matter in the spinal cord?

A

White matter tracts surround the grey matter

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19
Q

Describe the look of the grey matter in the spinal cord

A

Butterfly shaped and H shaped

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20
Q

What are the cervical (C4-T1) and lumbosacral enlargements (L1-S3)?

A

Regions of expanded grey matter serving the needs of the arms and legs respectively

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21
Q

What is the function of the Spinal cord?

A
  • sensory processing
  • motor outflow
  • reflexes - somatic and autonomic
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22
Q

What os the sensory input?

A

Afferents with cell bodies in dorsal root ganglia input via the dorsal horn

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23
Q

What are redicular arteries?

A

Supply sacral and lower regions of spinal cord
Bypass rest of spinal chord in order to not have run out of oxygen

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24
Q

What is the motor output?

A

Mediated by lower motor neurons, receive inputs form reflex circuitry and descending motor pathways

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25
Q

How many laminae are there?

A

10 different ones based on their cytoarchitecture

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26
Q

What do laminae I-VI do?

A
  • dorsal horn
  • receives sensory information and is involved in its processing
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27
Q

What is the function of Lamina VII?

A
  • intermediate zone
    contains cell groups of sensory-motor integration, visceral sensory, and the preganglionic motor nuclei at thoracic and sacral levels
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28
Q

What do lamina VIII and IX (ventral horn) contain?

A

interneurons and lower motor neurones

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29
Q

What is the function associated with lamina X (Central zone)?

A
  • interneurones, somatosensory and visceral processing
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30
Q

What is the input into the dorsal horn laminae (somatosensory processing)?

A

modality specific

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31
Q

Describe the association of the dorsal horn and pain

A
  • nociceptive afferents (C and A-beta fibres) input to lamina 1, 2, 5
  • interneuron processing in lamina 2 (substantia gelatinosa) modulates sensitivity to nociceptive stimuli
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32
Q

What is the substantial gelatinosa?

33
Q

What does the horn of the thoracolumbar s.c. have?

A

preganglioic sympathetic neurons (motor)

34
Q

Where is the intermediolateral cell column found ?

A

near the lateral horn

35
Q

Describe the structure of the ventral horn

A
  • somatic motor neurones are located in the ventral horn and somatotopically arranged
  • medially located neurons innervate axial musculature
  • laterally located ones innervate limbs
36
Q

What is the significance of formal horn, I - marginal zone?

A

projection neurons that receive inout form small diameter afferents, one source of anterolateral system projections

37
Q

What is the significance of formal horn, 2, substantia gelatinosa?

A
  • interneurons that receive input mainly form mall diameter afferents
  • forwards pain transmission
38
Q

What is the significance of formal horn,3/4 - nucleus proprius?

A
  • interneurons that integrate inputs form small and large diameter afferents
39
Q

What is the significance of formal horn, 5/6 - base of dorsal horn?

A
  • projection neurons that receive input form both large and small diameter afferents and spinal interneurons
  • another source of anterolateral system projections
40
Q

What is the significance of the lateral horn, 7, intermediate gray?

A
  • mainly internousn that communicate between dorsal and ventral
  • in thoracic cord also contains projection neurons of dorsal nucleus of Clarke, spin-cerebellar relay
  • sympathetic preganglionic neurons
  • in sacral cord, also contains parasympathetic preganglionic nuclei
41
Q

What is the significance of ventral horn, 8 - motor interneurons?

A
  • in medial aspect of ventral horn
  • coordinate activities of lower motor neurons
42
Q

What is the significance of ventral horn, 9 - motor neuron columns

A
  • govern limb musculature
43
Q

What is the significance of the central zone, 10 - central gay?

A
  • internuerons surrounding rudiment of central canal
44
Q

Grey matter summary

A
  • dorsal horn: afferent input form skin, muscle
  • ventral horn: motor neuon, efferent output to skeletal muscle
  • lateral horn: thoracic cord, preganglionic sympathetic neurons, efferent output to sympathetic ganglia innervating smooth muscle, glands
45
Q

What is a reflex?

A

tiny motor programme or neural circuit between sensory neurons, interneurons and motor neurons that coordinates a local, unconscious stereotyped response

46
Q

What is a monosynaptic reflex?

A

stretch reflex - maintains tone of muscle

47
Q

What is a polysynaptic reflex?

A

cutaneous reflexes/ nociceptive flexor (withdrawal) reflex

48
Q

What are reciprocal and crossed reflexes?

A

enable or enhance effectiveness

49
Q

What is special about reciprocal and crossed reflexes?

A

both somatic and autonomic reflexes

50
Q

Are reflexes modifiable?

A

yes, eg. reflex sensitivity with arousal descending input facilitates quick withdrawal, stretching for exercise

51
Q

What is the most simple sensorimotor reflex (monosynaptic)?

A

muscle stretch reflex

52
Q

What is a crossed extensor reflex?

A

a noxious cutaneous stimulus elicits a flexor withdrawal reflex but also elicits activation of contralateral limb extensor muscles to take the weight of the body

53
Q

Describe the organisation of white matter

A
  • dorsal column
  • lateral column
  • ventral column
54
Q

What may a column also be referred to as?

55
Q

How does the white matter look like when stained?

A

myelin is stained black - axonal pathways surround the grey matter in the spinal cord

56
Q

What is the name for pathways for communication between the spinal cord and brain?

A

tracts - bilateral

57
Q

Describe ascending tracs

A
  • dorsal column
  • carrying proprioceptive information to higher centres
  • discriminative touch
58
Q

What are the main three ascending tracts?

A
  1. dorsal columns - two fasciculi
  2. spinocerebellar tracts
  3. spinothalamic tract
59
Q

What is the function of the dorsal columns?

A
  • carry proprioception and discriminative touch information to cortex
  • fasciculus gracilis form the leg
  • fasciculus cuneatus from the arm
60
Q

What is the function of the spin-cerebellar tracts?

A
  • carry proprioceptive information (unconscious proprioception) and other cutaneous sensory information to cerebellum where it is used to compare movements actually being made with those the CNS intended – for coordination of these movements
61
Q

What is the function of the spinothalamic tract?

A

carries information about pain (noxious stimuli),m temperature and crude touch

62
Q

Describe the dorsal column

A
  • proprioceptive eg. limb position, movement and force
  • discriminative touch information carried in afferents ascending in dorsal/ posterior columns
63
Q

Describe the dorsal column - medial lemniscus (DCML) pathway that brings info to cerebral cortex and conscious perception

A
  1. mechanoreceptor afferents send ascending collateral into dorsal column (gracile or cuneate fasciculus)
  2. afferent synapses in medulla in dorsal column nucleus -> second order enrol sends an axon that crosses (decussates) to the other side of the medulla to ascend in medial leminiscus
  3. 3rd order neuron located in ventral posterior nucleus of thalamus which projects to primary somatosensory cortex
64
Q

Describe the spinothalamic tract

A
  • information about pain, innocuous temperature and crude touch conveyed
65
Q

Describe the neuronal pathway which brings information in the spinothalamic tract into conscious perception

A
  1. primary afferent synapses in laminae 1 and 5 of dorsal horn
  2. with 2nd order spinal projection neuron - neuron sends axon to cross ventral white commissure and ascend in the contralateral spinothamic tract in anterolateral funiculus
  3. 3rd order neon located in ventral posterior nucleus have axons which synapse in comatosensory cortex for discriminative aspects and insular and anterior cingulate cortices for affective (emotional) aspects of perception
66
Q

What is the spinothalamic tract also called?

A

anterolateral system

67
Q

Describe the descending tract

A
  • arises in cerebral cortex and brainstem
  • control movement, muscle tone, spinal reflexes, autonomic functions and sensory transmission
68
Q

Name the four units the descending tracts consist of

A
  1. coticospinal tract (CST)
  2. rubrospinal tract
  3. vestibulospinal tract
    4.reticulospinal tract
69
Q

Describe the corticospinal tract

A
  • form cerebral cortex
  • controls discrete skilled movements particularly of the distal limbs
70
Q

Describe the rubrospinal tract

A
  • originating in midbrain red nucleus
  • it controls limb flexor muscles of the upper limb in humans
71
Q

Describe the vestibulospinal tracts

A
  • control muscle tone of anti-gravity extensor (postural) muscles and reflexive head/ eye/ neck movements which changes in bodily position (= medial longitudinal fasciculus for the head )
72
Q

Describe the reticulospinal tract

A
  • influence voluntary movement, reflexes and muscle tone through inout to alpha and gamma motor neuons, control vital functions via autonomic control
73
Q

Describe the corticospinal tract

A
  • originates in motor cortex (pre central gyrus) and related cortices
  • principle motor control pathway in humans, influences production fo most precise movements
74
Q

describe axon travel in the corticospinal tract

A
  • cortical axons travel via posterior limb of internal capsule though ventral part of the brainstem (cerebral peduncles, basal pons and medullary pyramids)
  • at junction between medulla and spinal cord most of the fibres cross to contralateral side of descend in lateral funiculus of spinal cord
  • axons directly synapse on motor neurones and also with interneurones within central horn
75
Q

Where are the origins of autonomic parasympathetic nerves?

A

cranial sacral

76
Q

Between which two meningeal layers does blood fill in a hemorrhagic stroke?

A

arachnoid/ pia

77
Q

brachial movement is innervated by motor neuron tracts extending form which region of the spinal cord?

78
Q

Which type of neural fibre receive afferent autonomic input at the dorsal horn?

79
Q

Which ascending tract delivers unconscious proprioception information?

A

spinocerebellar

functional neuroanatomy (16 decks)

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