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Neuroanatomy and Physiology > 13 - Tracts of Spinal Cord (Exam 3) > Flashcards

13 - Tracts of Spinal Cord (Exam 3) Flashcards

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1
Q

What structure extends from the foramen magnum to L1 of the spine?

A

Spinal cord

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2
Q

What are the 5 regions of the spinal cord?

A
  1. Cervical
  2. Thoracic
  3. Lumbar
  4. Sacral
  5. Coccygeal
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3
Q

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?

A

31

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4
Q

What is the core of the spinal cord composed of, and what shape does it have?

A

Gray matter

H shape

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5
Q

What are the 2 sections of the gray matter core of the spinal cord?

A
  1. Anterior horn

2. Posterior horn

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6
Q

What are the 3 groups found within the anterior horn?

A
  1. Medial group
  2. Central group
  3. Lateral group
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7
Q

Where in the spine is the medial group found and what does it innervate?

A

C1-C3 and T1-T2

Neck, trunk, intercostal, and abdominal muscles

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8
Q

Where in the spine is the central group found and what does it innervate?

A

C1-C6 (spinal root of CN XI)
C3-C5 (phrenic nerves to diaphragm)
L2-S1 (lumbosacral nucleus)

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9
Q

Where in the spine is the lateral group found and what does it innervate?

A

Cervical and lumbosacral regions

Skeletal muscles of the limbs

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10
Q

What are the 4 groups found within the posterior horn?

A
  1. Substantia gelatinosa
  2. Nucleus proprious
  3. Nucleus dorsalis (AKA Clarke’s column)
  4. Intermediolateral cell groups (AKA lateral horn)
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11
Q

What type of sensations does the substantia gelatinosa respond to?

A

Touch
Pain
Temperature

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12
Q

What type of sensations does the nucleus proprious respond to?

A

Proprioception
Resolution
Vibration

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13
Q

Where does the nucleus proprious receive information from?

A

Posterior white column

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14
Q

Where is the nucleus dorsalis found and what is the only type of information it deals with?

A

T1-L3

Proprioception

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15
Q

What type of information do the intermediolateral cell groups receive?

A

Visceral afferent information

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16
Q

What are the 3 columns of white matter in the spinal cord?

A
  1. Anterior
  2. Posterior
  3. Lateral
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17
Q

Ascending tracts carry what type of information?

A

Afferent information

From periphery to CNS

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18
Q

Descending tracts carry what type of information?

A

Efferent information

From CNS to periphery

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19
Q

What are the 3 major ascending tracts?

A
  1. Posterior column
  2. Anterolateral system (AKA spinothalamic tract)
  3. Spinocerebellar tract
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20
Q

What are the ascending and descending tracts composed of?

A

White matter

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21
Q

What is the major descending tract?

A

Corticospinal tract

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22
Q

What is another name for the corticospinal tract?

A

Pyramidal tract

Due to decussation in medulla

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23
Q

What are the 4 extrapyramidal tracts?

A
  1. Reticulospinal
  2. Tecto-spinal
  3. Rubrospinal
  4. Vestibulospinal
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24
Q

Do lesions prior to decussation in Ascending tracts produce ipsilateral or contralateral sensory defects?

A

Ipsilateral sensory defects

Doesn’t cross over before lesion, sensory information lost comes is from one side

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25
Do lesions after decussation in Ascending tracts produce ipsilateral or contralateral sensory defects?
Contralateral sensory defects
26
Do lesions prior to decussation in Descending tracts produce ipsilateral or contralateral motor defects?
Contralateral motor defects
27
Do lesions after decussation in Descending tracts produce ipsilateral or contralateral motor defects?
Ipsilateral motor defects | Doesn't cross over after lesion, results in one-side paresis/weakness
28
How do exteroceptive and proprioceptive information differ?
Exteroceptive - external stimuli (pain, touch, pressure) | Proprioceptive - internal stimuli (body position)
29
Where are first order neurons of the ascending pathway typically found?
From the receptor to the spinal cord | Cell body usually in posterior root of spinal cord
30
Where are second order neurons of the ascending pathway typically found?
From the spinal cord to the thalamus | Usually decussates
31
Where are third order neurons of the ascending pathway typically found?
From the thalamus to the cortex
32
What are the 2 pathways of conscious sensory input?
1. Posterior column - Medial lemniscal system | 2. Anterolateral system
33
What type of information does the medial lemniscal system deal with?
Non-painful touch
34
Where do the 1st order neurons of the fasciculus gracilis travel up to and including?
T6
35
Where do the 1st order neurons of the fasciculus cuneatus travel above?
T6
36
Where do 1st order neurons of the medial lemniscal system synapse and immediately decussate?
Caudal medulla
37
Where are the 3rd order neurons of the medial lemniscal system?
Thalamus
38
What type of information does the anterolateral system deal with?
Crude touch, pain, temperature
39
What is the anterolateral system also known as?
Spinothalamic tract
40
Where do the 1st order neurons of the anterolateral system synapse?
Immediately upon entry to the spinal cord
41
What type of information does the anterior portion of the anterolateral system carry?
Pressure, course touch
42
What type of information does the lateral portion of the anterolateral system carry?
Pain, temperature
43
Where do neurons of the spinotectal tract synapse?
Superior colliculus
44
What type of information do spinocerebellar tracts relay and where do they relay it to?
Information about limb position | Relayed to cerebellum
45
What 4 tracts are involved in the spinocerebellar tracts?
1. Posterior spinocerebellar tract 2. Cuneocerebellar tract 3. Anterior spinocerebellar tract 4. Rostral spinocerebellar tract
46
What is significant about the posterior spinocerebellar tract?
Ascend ipsilaterally to cerebellum No 3rd order neurons DO NOT DECUSSATE
47
What is the cuneocerebellar tract very similar to?
Posterior cerebellar tract
48
What type of information does the cuneocerebellar tract carry?
Proprioceptive information from the upper limbs
49
What is the role of the anterior spinocerebellar tract?
Integrates proprioceptive information with descending motor information
50
What is the rostral spinocerebellar tract similar to?
Anterior spinocerebellar tract | Does the same thing but for upper limbs
51
What is significant about the rostral spinocerebellar tract?
NO DECUSSATION
52
What do lesions of spinocerebellar tracts cause?
Ataxia | Loss of muscle coordination
53
What are the 3 general steps of the pathway of descending tracts?
1. Upper motor neurons 2. Lower motor neurons 3. Interneurons
54
Where do most descending tracts decussate?
At the medulla oblongata
55
What are the main descending tracts?
Corticospinal tracts
56
What are corticospinal tracts also known as?
Pyramidal tracts
57
What corticospinal tract does not decussate?
Anterior corticospinal tract
58
What are the descending tracts that are not corticospinal tracts known as?
Extrapyramidal tracts
59
Why are the extrapyramidal tracts named as such?
Do not travel through pyramids of the medulla
60
What are the 4 extrapyramidal tracts?
1. Vestibulospinal tract 2. Reticulospinal tract 3. Rubrospinal tract 4. Tectospinal tract
61
Which extrapyramidal tract is most important to us and why?
Vestibulospinal tract | Stabilizes head during body movement
62
What 2 tracts is the vestibulospinal tract broken into?
1. Medial tract | 2. Lateral tract
63
Where does the reticulospinal tract originate?
Reticular formation
64
Where does the rubrospinal tract originate?
Red nucleus
65
Where does decussation of the rubrospinal tract occur?
Midbrain
66
Where may the influence of the rubrospinal tract be seen with loss of corticospinal tract?
Comatose posturing
67
What are the 2 types of comatose posturing that may show where a lesion is present?
1. Decerebrate posture | 2. Decorticate posture
68
What does decerebrate posture look like?
Extension of both upper and lower limbs
69
What does decorticate posture look like?
Flexion of upper limbs | Extension of lower limbs
70
What does decerebrate posture clue into?
Lesion at level of midbrain (red nucleus) | Rubrospinal and corticospinal tracts interrupted
71
What does decorticate posture clue into?
Lesion rostral to the red nucleus | Corticospinal tract interrupted
72
What is the role of the tectospinal tract?
Moves head and neck in response to eye movements

Neuroanatomy and Physiology (9 decks)

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