Module 18- Spinal Patho Flashcards
(62 cards)
1
Q
The spine
A
- 33 vertebrae
- Stabilized by ligaments and muscles
- Support and protect neural components; allow for fluid movement and erect stature
2
Q
Identified by location as…
A
- Cervical
- Thoracic
- Lumbar
- Sacral, or coccyx
3
Q
What are the components of the vertebrae?
A
- Lamina
- Pedicles
- Spinous processes
- Each vertebrae is unique in appearance but they share basic structural characteristics (except for C1 and C2, the atlas and axis)
4
Q
What does each pedicle contain?
A
- Each pedicle contains a notch forming the intervertebral foramen
- This space allows exit of the peripheral nerve roots and spinal vein, and entrance of the spinal artery bilaterally
5
Q
Transverse spinous process
A
- The junction of the pedicle and lamina bilaterally
- The posterior spinous process is a fusion of the posterior lamina where muscles and ligaments attach
6
Q
Cervical Spine
A
- The cervical spine includes the first seven bones
- Supports the weight of the head and permits a high degree of mobility
- The atlas (C1) and axis (C2) allow for rotational movement of the skull
7
Q
Thoracic Spine
A
- 12 vertebrae
- The thoracic spine is supported by ribs, muscles, and ligaments
8
Q
Lumbar Spine
A
- Five largest bones of the column
- Integral in carrying a large portion of body weight
- Susceptible to injury
9
Q
Sacral Spine
A
- five fused bones, forms the posterior pelvis
- Coccyx made up of 3-5 fused bones
10
Q
Each vertebra is separated and cushioned by what?
A
Intervertebral discs
11
Q
What do intervertebral discs do?
A
- Limit bone wear and act as shock absorbers
- Lose water content and become thinner with age
- Discs can herniate into the spinal cord
- Herniated discs result in pressure on the nerve rot or spinal cord
12
Q
Body flexion and extension is allowed by what?
A
- Allowed by muscles, tendons, and ligaments without stressing the spinal cord
13
Q
What does the central nervous system include?
A
Brain & spinal cord
14
Q
Brain & Meninges
A
- Located in the cranial cavity and is the largest component of the CNS
- Brain contains billions of neurons
15
Q
Brain Stem
A
- Medulla, pons, and midbrain
- Brain stem connects to spinal cord
- 10 of 12 cranial nerves exit here
16
Q
Entire CNS enclosed by 3 membranes, called what?
A
- Meninges
17
Q
Outer layer
A
- Dura mater (tough & fibrous)
18
Q
Middle layer
A
- Arachnoid mater (contains blood vessels that have the appearance of spider web)
19
Q
Inner layer
A
- Pia mater (rests directly on the brain or spinal cord)
20
Q
Cerebrospinal Fluid
A
- CSF bathes the brain and spinal cord
- This cushion of fluid protects the CNS
21
Q
What does the spinal cord do?
A
- Transmits nerve impulses between the brain and the rest of the body
- Exits the skull through a large opening called the foramen magnum
- Extend from base of skull to L2
22
Q
At L2, where does the spinal cord branch?
A
- Spinal cord branches into the cauda equina, a separate collection of individual nerve roots (also known as the “horse’s tail”)
- 31 pairs of spinal nerve named according to the level of origin
23
Q
What does the spinal cord look like?
A
- A cross-section of spinal cord shows inner gray matter and outer white matter
- Gray matter: butterfly-shaped central core
24
Q
What are the neural cell bodies divided into?
A
- Posterior (dorsal) horn: sensory input
- Anterior (ventral) horn: motor input
25
White matter
- Three columns of myelinated ascending and descending fiber pathway
- Messages are relayed to and from brain along these spinal tracts
26
Ascending tracts
carry info to brain
27
Descending tract
carry info away from the brain
28
Anterior spinothalamic tracts (ascending)
Carry sensation of crude touch and pressure sensation to the brain
29
Lateral spinothalamic tracts (ascending)
Carry pain and tempature
30
Spinocerebellar tracts (ascending)
Coordinate impulses necessary for muscular movements by carrying impulses from muscles in the legs and trunk to the cerebellum
31
Corticospinal tracts (descending)
Voluntary motor commands
32
Reticulospinal tracts (descending)
Muscle tone and sweat glands activity
33
Rubrospinal tracts (descending)
Posterior Spinal Tracts
Muscle tone
34
Fasciculus gracilis and cuneatus
Proprioception vibration, light touch, deep pressure, two-point discrimination, and stereognosis
35
How many cervical nerves?
8
36
8 cervical nerves
perform functions in the scalp, neck, shoulders, and arms
37
How many thoracic nerves?
12
38
12 thoracic nerves
the upper nerves supply the muscles of the chest to assist in coughing and breathing; the lower nerves supply the sympathetic nervous system and the abdominal muscles
39
How many lumbar nerves?
5
40
5 lumbar nerves
supply hip flexors and leg muscles, and provide sensation to anterior legs
41
How many sacral nerves?
5
42
5 sacral nerves
supply bowel and bladder control, sexual function, and sensation to posterior legs and rectum
43
How many coccygeal nerve?
1
44
Cervical plexus (C1-C5) includes what nerve?
Phrenic nerve (C3-C5), which innervates the diaphragm
- Any injury above C4 breathe no more
45
Brachial plexus (C5-T1)
nerves controlling the upper extremities (axillary, median, musculocutaneous, radial, and ulnar
46
Lumbar plexus (L1-L4)
nerves of the skin and muscles of the abdominal wall, external genitalia, and lower limbs
47
Sacral plexus (L4-S4)
includes the pudendal and sciatic nerves supplying the buttocks, perineum, and lower limbs
48
What is the peripheral nervous system divided into?
- The somatic nervous system (SNS)
- The autonomic nervous system (ANS)
49
Somatic Nervous System
- Made up of peripheral nerve fibers that send sensory information to the central nervous system and motor nerve fibers that send information to skeletal muscle
- Control voluntary movements of your body and to help you feel through all your senses
50
What is the autonomic nervous system subdivided into?
- Sympathetic nervous system
- Parasympathetic nervous system
51
Sympathetic Nervous System
- Controlled by the hypothalamus in the brain
- Governs our fight or flight response
- Information is transmitted through the brainstem and the cervical spinal cord
- Exits at the thoracic and lumbar levels to reach target structures
52
The thoracolumbar system provides what?
- Sympathetic stimulation to the periphery through alpha and beta receptors
53
Alpha receptors
Induce smooth muscle contraction in blood vessels and bronchioles
54
Beta receptors
Respond with relaxation of smooth muscle in blood vessels and bronchioles, has effects on myocardial
55
Chronotopic
controls HR
56
Inotropic
Controls force of contraction
57
Dromotropic
controls conduction speed at AV node
58
Somatic Nervous System
- Sweating
- Pupil dilation
- Temperature regulation
- Shunting blood from the periphery to the core
- Fight or flight responses
- An SCI at T6 or below may disrupt the flow of sympathetic communication
59
What can disruption of SNS communication cause?
- Disruption of homeostasis, leaving the body unable to cope with environmental changes
- Autonomic dysreflexia due to sympathetic overdrive (sympathetic stimulation without parasympathetic input)
- Causes life threatening hypertension
60
The parasympathetic nervous system
- Carries signals from the brain stem and upper spinal cord to the organs (abdomen, heart, lungs) and skin above the waist
- Includes fibers arises from brain stem and upper spinal cord
61
Vagus Nerve
- Travels outside the medulla to the heart via the carotid arteries, thus vagus tone remain intact following a spinal injury
- Vagus nerve controls HR and when stimulated can slow HR. Vaso vagal response
62
What do the parasympathetic nerves supply?
- They supply the reproductive organs, pelvis, and legs
- They begin at the sacral level (S2-S4)
