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Year 2: Neurobiology II > Lecture 1: Spinal Cord > Flashcards

Lecture 1: Spinal Cord Flashcards

(58 cards)

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1
Q

describe the path of the spinal cord (where it starts, ends, and where there are enlargements)

A

starts at foramen magnum

cervical enlargement for cervical and brachial plexuses

lumbosacral enlargement for lumbar and sacral plexuses

ends at T12~L2 vertebral level

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2
Q

what spinal nerves are considered part of the lumbar section of the spinal cord

A

T11-L5

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3
Q

what spinal nerve exits from below C7 vertebrae

A

C8 nerve

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4
Q

vertebral foramen houses

A

spinal cord

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5
Q

where do spinal nerves exit

A

intervertebral foramen

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6
Q

what makes up the spinal canal

A

vertebral foramen and sacral canal

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7
Q

what layer of the meninges is filum terminale externum derived from

A

dura mater

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8
Q

what ligaments are derived from a condensing of the pia mater

A

denticulate ligament (teeth like)
filum terminale internum

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9
Q

blood supply to the spinal cord

A

anterior spinal artery supplies most of the spinal cord and anterior medulla

posterior spinal arteries (x2) supplies most of the posterior spinal cord and medulla

both receive segmental support as well

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10
Q

where does the anterior spinal artery stem from

A

both vertebral arteries give a branch to form

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11
Q

where do the posterior spinal arteries derive from

A

each of the PICA gives off one posterior spinal artery

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12
Q

white matter is made up of

A

myelinated axons

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13
Q

gray matter is made up of

A

unmyelinated axons

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14
Q

ventral vs dorsal horn functions

A

ventral = motor

dorsal = sensory

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15
Q

compare the proximal vs distal spinal cord in terms of gray matter and white matter as well as the corresponding function

A

proximal = more ascending/descending tracts so more white matter than gray matter

distal = less descending and ascending tracts and more gray matter than white matter

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16
Q

where in a cross section of the SC can you see faciculus cuneatus

A

above T6

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17
Q

where in a cross section of the SC can you see fasciculus gracilis

A

below T6

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18
Q

describe gray matter

A

nuclei inside SC

10 laminae from dorsal to ventral with different functions

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19
Q

where is lamina IX

A

in both lamina VII and VIII

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20
Q

substantia gelatinosa: levels of SC, lamina, and function

A

all levels

lamina II

function = modulate pain and temp info transmission

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21
Q

Clarke’s nucleus: levels of SC, lamina, and function

A

levels: T1-L2

lamina VII

function: posterior spinocerebellar tract cells

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22
Q

intermediolateral column: levels of SC, lamina, and function

A

levels: T1-L2

lamina: VII

function: preganglionic sympathetic neirons

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23
Q

sacral parasympathetic nucleus: levels of SC, lamina, and function

A

levels: S2-S4

lamina: VII

function = preganglionic sympathetic neurons; pelvic floor function

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24
Q

accessory nucleus: levels of SC, lamina, and function

Study These Flashcards
A

levels: C1-C5

lamina: IX

function: motor neurons to SCM/trapezius

25
phrenic nucleus: levels of SC, lamina, and function
levels = C3-C5 lamina: IX function: motor neurons for diaphragm
26
what is the corresponding lamina for the somatic motor efferent portion of the spinal cord
lamina IX in lamina VIII
27
what are the corresponding lamina for the somatic sensory afferent portion of the spinal cord (except for C1)
Lamina I-V
28
what are the specific spinal levels for visceral motor/efferent signals and what lamina is related
sympathetic = T1-L2 parasympathetic = S2-S4 lamina IX in lamina VII for both
29
what are the specific spinal levels for visceral sensory/afferent and the corresponding lamina
follows same path as visceral motor sympathetic = T1-L2 parasympathetic = S2-S4 Lamina I-V most spinal levels involved in the sympathetic trunk
30
what is contained in the ventral horn of the spinal cord
LMNs that directly innervate muscles
31
what is the distribution of the LMNs in the ventral horn from medial to lateral and anterior to posterior
medial to lateral = axial to distal extremity anterior to posterior = extensors to flexors *correlates to the 3 functional lobes of the cerebellum*
32
describe a lower motor neuron
executors of movements multipolar neurons with dendritic trees (highly regulated function) somata are clustered in a column to regulate one muscle (called a motor neuron pool/nuclei) cranial to caudal vs proximal to distal
33
describe the dorsal column medial lemniscus system
axons of 1st order neurons in dorsal root ganglion axons are large and myelinated no decussation in SC maintains somatotopy of sacral to cervical from medial to lateral respectively (fasciculus gracilis to fasciculus cuneatus) function: conscious proprioception/vibration/fine touch
34
describe the pathway of the anterolateral system (aka the spinothalamic pathway)
non-myelinated axons from 1st order neurons in dorsal root ganglion axons synapse with 2nd order neurons in dorsal laminae decussate at the anterior white commissure to the contralateral anterolateral funiculus
35
describe the function of the anterolateral system
anterior spinothalamic pathway: diffuse pain, no somatotopy maintained, bilateral projection lateral spinothalamic pathway: sharp pain, temp, crude touch, itch (if somatotopy is maintained, it is for conscious proprioception)
36
what ascending pathways are a part of the lateral funiculus
From the anterolateral system: -lateral spinothalamic tract for crude touch, pain, temp, itch, and sharp pain from the spinocerebellar tracts: - posterior spinocerebellar tract for unconscious proprioception -anterior spinocerebellar tract for motor information
37
where does the posterior spinocerebellar tract travel
to clarkes nucleus and then ipsilateral ascending to cerebellum
38
where does the anterior spinocerebellar tract decussate
decussates after clarkes nucleus at anterior white commissure
39
describe the somatotopy of the DCML
from medial to lateral = lower to upper limb/back posterior to anterior: different sensory modalities, proprioception to fine touch
40
describe the somatotopy of the lateral spinothalamic tract
superficial to deep: lower to upper limb/back anterior to posterior: different sensory modalities
41
what ascending tracts do not cross in the spinal cord
fasciculus gracilis fasciculus cuneatus lissauer's tract posterior spinocerebellar tract
42
what ascending tracts cross in the spinal cord
anterior/lateral spinothalamic tract anterior spinocerebellar tract spinoreticular tract
43
what does the lateral funiculus control
flexor muslces innervates posterior ventral horn fine motor control
44
where is the decussations of the corticospinal tract
70-90% of fibers decussate at the pyramid (part of the lateral corticospinal tract) 10-30% of fibers descend ipsilaterally (part of ipsilateral lateral and medial corticospinal tract) **no somatotopy below the pons**
45
what is the rubrospinal tract responsible for
not very prominent in human beings role in fine motor control
46
path of rubrospinal tract
synapses at red nucleus decussates in midbrain
47
what does the anterior funiculus control
mainly extensors innervates medial and anterior ventral horn
48
what pathways are a part of the anterior funiculus and their subgroups
medial corticospinal tract vestibulospinal tract - medial and lateral portions reticulospinal tract - pontine and medullary portions
49
what descending tracts are already crossed when in the spinal cord
lateral corticospinal tract (at medullary pyramid) rubrospinal tract (at midbrain)
50
what descending tracts of the spinal cord are uncrossed
vetibulospinal tract reticulospinal tract anterior/medial corticospinal tract **most project bilaterally**
51
what information can be learned from knowing which descending tracts of the spinal cord are crossed or uncrossed
the trunk and even proximal extremities always remain functional immediately after brain injuries fine motor control patterns are difficult to recover
52
what are propriospinal neurons
somata and axons only in spinal cord (>90% of spinal neurons) somata surrounding or in different rexed laminae (mainly III) of spinal cord fasciculus proprius: interconnects different spinal cord levels (like association fibers of cerebrum)
53
what are central pattern generators
like apps of smartphone automatic prewritten motor programs
54
what are interneuron coordinate reflexes
like different types of apps automatic prewritten motor programs
55
what are the functional components of the propriospinal neurons and tracts
central pattern generators interneurons coordinate reflexes interneurons for visceral pain sensory ascending tracts (archispinothalamic tract) interneurons for higher level descending tracts
56
what is brown sequard syndrome
R or L hemi spinal injury ipsilateral deficits due to tracts w/o decussation: - motor functional loss - proprioception/vibration/fine touch loss -unconsious proprioception contralateral deficits due to decussations that occur at anterior white commisure - pain/temp/crude touch -motor info
57
what is a syrinx
cyst in syringomyelia (spinal cord) or syringobulbia (brainstem) compression of anterior white commissure = bilateral anterolateral system impaired resulting in pain/paraesthesia in same dermatome bilaterally above C2 level results in head and scalp symptoms due to the spinal trigeminal nucleus descending to c2 level as well
58

Year 2: Neurobiology II (10 decks)

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