Cord Lesions Flashcards
1
Q
3 most clinically important tracts of spinal cord
A
- dorsal columns
- lateral corticospinal tracts
- spinothalamic tracts (w/in anterolateral pathway)
2
Q
function of dorsal columns
A
- carry info on fine touch, vibration, and proprioception to the brain
3
Q
function of the lateral corticospinal tracts
A
- carry efferent impulses from the motor cortices to the peripheral musculature, to control fine, voluntary movements
4
Q
function of the spinothalamic tracts
A
- carry information on pain and temperature from the periphery to the brain
5
Q
describe transverse lesions
A
- complete transection of the cord resulting in loss of pain/temp perception, vibration/touch/proprioception perception, and UMN lesion sx
6
Q
describe UMN lesion sx
5
A
- paralysis
- spasticity
- hyper-reflexemia
- clonus
- pos babinski
7
Q
describe anterior lesions
A
- bilateral UMN lesion signs
- Loss of pain/temp sensation below the level of the lesion
- Dorsal columns spared (no loss of fine touch)
8
Q
describe posterior lesions
A
- bilateral loss of fine touch, vibration, and proprioception below level of spinal lesion
- motor function and pain/temp sensation are spared
9
Q
hemi-cord lesions AKA
A
brown-sequard syndrome
10
Q
describe hemi cord lesions
A
- loss of fine touch, proprioception, and vibration sensation and UMN lesion sx on the side of the lesion
- loss of pain/temp sensation on the opposite side of the lesion
11
Q
describe small central cord lesions
A
- only disrupts the spinothalamic fibers at the level of the lesion
- causes a “cape of pain/temp loss” over the arms
12
Q
describe large central cord lesions
A
- disrupts all but the outermost area of the spinal cord
- sacral region is spared
13
Q
mnemonic for identifying causes of lesions
A
INVITED MD
14
Q
INVITED MD
I
what it stands for + 2 specifics
A
INFECTIOUS
* epidural abscess
* tertiary syphilis
15
Q
INVITED MD
N
2 specifics
A
NEOPLASM
* intrinsic/extrinsic spinal cord tumor
