Spinal Cord and Pathways Flashcards

1
Q

Name the 2 enlargements of the spinal cord and what they relate to.

A

Cervical - UPPER limb

Lumbar - LOWER limb

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What happens at each segment of the spinal cord?

A

Rootlets emerge from the dorsal and ventral parts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Where do roots pass? When do they stop?

A

Through the subarachnoid space

They stop when they reach the appropriate intervertebral space

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What happens to the posterior root as it passes through the intervertebral space?

A

It enlarges by the posterior root ganglion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What do anterior and posterior roots fuse to form?

A

Mixed spinal nerve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What arises from the mixed spinal nerve?

A

Anterior and posterior rami

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How does the spinal cord terminate?

A

Conus medullaris

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

At what level does the spinal cord terminate?

A

L1/L2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the spinal meninges continuous with?

A

Cranial meninges

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What do meninges pass through?

A

Foramen magnum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Name the 3 layers of meninges.

A

Dura
Arachnoid
Pia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

In the spinal canal, what suspends the spinal cord?

A

DENTICULATE LIGAMENT

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the denticulate ligament made of?

A

Pia and arachnoid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

The denticulate ligament never joins to the dura

A

False - it does at some points

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is different about the dura in the spinal canal?

A

It is not attached to the periosteum like in the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Describe the anatomy of the spinal cord.

A

OUTER - WHITE

INNER - GREY - ‘H’ shape

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What does white matter in the spinal cord consist of?

A

Axons, blood vessels and glial cells

All arranged longitudinally

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What does grey matter contain?

A

Nerve cell body, synapses, glial cells and blood vessels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What extends throughout the spinal cord?

A

A small canal that opens in the 4th ventricle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the white matter said to be made of?

A

Anterior, posterior and lateral funiculus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is the grey matter of the spinal cord divided into?

A

4 parts

Left and right anterior and posterior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Where are lateral horns found?

A

T1-L2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What does the lateral horn contain?

A

Presynaptic sympathetic nerve fibres

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Name the 2 veins that drain the spinal cord.

A

Longitudnal
+
Segmental

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Name the space between the dura and the periosteum in the spinal canal.

A

Epidural space

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What is contained within the epidural space?

A

Adipose tissue

Anterior and posterior epidural venous plexus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What arteries are derived from vertebral, intercostal and lumbar arteries?

A

SEGMENTAL

28
Q

What arteries travel along dorsal and ventral roots?

A

RADICULAR

29
Q

3 longitudinal arteries arise from the ……… arteries

A

VERTEBRAL

30
Q

There is 2 anterior and 1 posterior longitudinal arteries

A

FALSE
2 posterior
1 anterior

31
Q

How do we perceive sensation?

A

Primary somatosensory cortex

32
Q

Sensory fibres cross the midline, the left side of the body is represented by the right cortex

A

TRUE

33
Q

How does info from the periphery reach the somatosensory cortex?

A

They travel in the spinal cord

34
Q

What happens to the amount of white matter as you descend the spinal cord?

A

DECREASES

35
Q

What is responsible for fine touch and conscious proprioception

A

Dorsal column

36
Q

Where do dorsal column fibres cross?

A

In the medulla

37
Q

What tract carries the sensation of pain, temperature and DEEP PRESSURE?

A

Spinothalamic

38
Q

How do spinothalamic fibres cross?

A

Segmentally

39
Q

How does info from the motor cortex reach the motor neurone?

A

Corticospinal tract extends down from the cortex all the way to the spinal cord

40
Q

What tract is responsible for fine, precise movement of distal limbs e.g digits?

A

Corticospinal

41
Q

How do motor commands reach the appropriate muscles?

A

Motor fibres cross at the midline

Left cortex controls the right side of the body and vice versa

42
Q

What does the corticospinal tract form? And what are they known as?

A

Visible ridges

Pyramids

43
Q

Where are the ‘pyramids’ seen?

A

On the anterior surface of the medulla

44
Q

What is the corticospinal tract also known as?

A

Pyramidal tract

45
Q

Where do 85% of fibres of the corticospinal tract cross?

A

In the caudal medulla at the decussation of the pyramids

46
Q

What do crossed fibres of the corticospinal tract form?

A

Lateral CST

47
Q

What do uncrossed fibres of the corticospinal tract form?

A

Ventral CST

48
Q

How do crossed fibres of the corticospinal tract cross?

A

Segmentally

49
Q

What can a CVA of the internal capsule of the pyramidal tract result in?

A

A lack of descending control of the CST

50
Q

What does a lack of descending control of the CST result in?

A

Spastic paralysis

Hyperflexion of the upper limbs

51
Q

What is lack of descending control of the CST also called?

A

Decoriate posturing

52
Q

What are motor systems outside the pyramidal tract known as?

A

Extra-pyramidal system

53
Q

What provides input to cervical segments?

A

Tectospinal tract

54
Q

What does the tectospinal tract do?

A

Mediate head and neck reflex in response to visual stimuli

55
Q

What forms the central core of the brainstem?

A

Reticular formation

56
Q

What is reticular formation?

A

A highly organised network of nuclei in the brainstem

57
Q

Describe the reticular formation.

A

It has MANY NUCLEI, and receives INPUT FROM virtually ALL parts of the CNS

58
Q

What is the function of the reticular formation?

A

Influences voluntary movement

59
Q

What area of the brainstem can you find reticular formation?

A

Pons

Medulla

60
Q

In general, what do fibres originating in the i) pons ii) medulla facilitate and inhibit?

A

i) facilitate extensor, inhibit flexor

ii) facilitate flexor, inhibit extensor

61
Q

What does the vestibulospinal tract provide excitatory input to?

A

‘Antigravity’ extensor muscles

62
Q

Where do fibres of the vestibulospinal tract originate?

A

In vestibular nuclei of the pons and medulla

63
Q

What does the vestibulospinal tract play an important role in?

A

Patients exhibiting decerebrate rigidity and paraplegia in extension

64
Q

What can lesions in the brainstem at the level of the midbrain result in?

A

A lack of descending cortical control of this tract

65
Q

What does lack of descending cortical control lead to?

A

Domination of extensor muscle tone and hyperextended spastic paralysis

66
Q

What condition occurs after hemisection of the spinal cord e.g from a stab?

A

Brown-Sequard Syndrome

67
Q

Describe Brown-Sequard Syndrome.

A

If there is damage to the right side, there is IPSILATERAL loss of FINE TOUCH, but CONTRALATERAL loss of pain and temperature sensation