week 5 - AUTONOMIC SYSTEM

Question 1

5 regions of the spinal cord

Answer 1

cranial, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, coccyx

Question 2

how many cranial nerves in each region

Answer 2

cranial = 8
thoracic = 12
lumbar = 5
sacral = 5
coccygeal = 1

Question 3

where does spinal cord end in adults and children

Answer 3

L1 + L2 adults and L4 in children

Question 4

where does spinal cord terminate

Answer 4

conus modularise

Question 5

where is spinal cord anchored

Answer 5

coccyx by the filum terminale

Question 6

dorsal roots

Answer 6

contain axons of sensory neurons

Question 7

ventral roots

Answer 7

• contain axons of motor neurons

Question 8

spinal nerves

Answer 8

formed by united ventral and dorsal roots and are classified as mixed nerves

Question 9

both dorsal and ventral roots

Answer 9

• connected to the lumbar, sacral and coccygeal regions
• emerge from the vertebral column to form the peripheral nerves

Question 10

dorsal root ganglion

Answer 10

contain the cell bodies of sensory neurons

Question 11

protection of the spinal cord

Answer 11

• vertebral column
• cerebrospinal fluid (also nourishes neural tissue and removes waste products)
• spinal meninges

Question 12

structure of spinal meninges

Answer 12

1. pia meter
2. arachnoid mater
3. dura mater

Question 13

internal anatomy of spinal cord

Answer 13

divided into the posterior (dorsal) median sulcus and anterior (ventral) median fissure

Question 14

gray and white comissue

Answer 14

the site where axons cross from one side of the CNS to another
- part of gray matter of spinal cord

Question 15

gray matter of spinal cord

Answer 15

composed of mostly neuron cell bodies - unmyelinated axons

Question 16

structure + sensory function of gray matter of the spinal cord

Answer 16

posterior grey horns (sensory nuclei) - lateral grey horns (autonomic motor nuclei) - anterior grey horns (somatic motor nuclei)

Question 17

sensory nuclei of gray horns

Answer 17

1. posterior gray horns = interneurons
2. anterior gray horns = lower motor neurons
3. lateral gray horns = preganglionic neurons

Question 18

spinal reflexes

Answer 18

• gray matter = site of spinal reflexes
• receptor, sensory neuron, integration centre (spinal cord), motor neuron, effector, muscle or gland

Question 19

white matter of spinal cord

Answer 19

• conduction highway
• composed of myelinated axons
• subdivided into white columns

Question 20

structures of white columns

Answer 20

• posterior white columns
• lateral white columns
• anterior white columns
• anterior white commissure

Question 21

spinal cord tracts of white matter

Answer 21

ascending tracts: sensory input to the brain
descending tracts: motor output away from the brain

Question 22

ascending spinal cord tracts

Answer 22

fasciculus gracilis - fasciculus cuneatus (posterior white columns)
lateral spinothalamic - anterior spinocerebellar - posterior spinocerebellar (lateral white columns) anterior spinothalamic (anterior white columns)

Question 23

descending spinal cord tracts

Answer 23

lateral corticospinal tracts (lateral white columns)
anterior corticospinal tracts (anterior white columns)

Question 24

descending spinal cord tracts

Answer 24

lateral corticospinal tracts (lateral white columns)
anterior corticospinal tracts (anterior white columns)

Question 25

damage to the posterior horns or ascending spinal cord tracts

Answer 25

loss of sensation

Question 26

damage to the anterior gray horns or corticospinal tracts

Answer 26

muscle weakness or paralysis

Question 27

somatosensory pathways (sensory)

Answer 27

• conduct general sensory input from receptors to the brain
• spinothalamic pathway, posterior column pathway, spinocerebellar pathway

Question 28

spinothalamic pathway

Answer 28

conducts sensations of crude touch, deep pressure, pain and temperature
- first second and third-order neurons
- lateral/anterior spinothalamic tracts

Question 29

posterior column pathway

Answer 29

conduct sensations of fine touch, light pressure, vibration and proprioception
- first, second and third order neurons
- fasciculus gracilis + fasciculus cuneatus tracts

Question 30

spinocerebellar pathway

Answer 30

conducts sensations of proprioception
- first and second-order neurons
- spinocerebellar tracts (anterior and posterior)

Question 31

somatic motor pathways

Answer 31

lateral corticospinal pathway - anterior corticospinal pathway

Question 32

lateral corticospinal pathway

Answer 32

conducts somatic motor output from the primary motor cortex to skeletal muscles (limbs)
- lateral corticospinal tracts
- lower motor and upper motor neurons

Question 33

anterior corticospinal pathway

Answer 33

somatic motor output to skeletal muscles (trunk)
- anterior corticospinal tracts
- lower motor and upper motor neurons