Motor neuron disease and other disease of the SPINAL CORD - DONE

Question 1

What is the length of the spinal cord?

Answer 1

45-47 cm in length

- starts from the foramen magnum and extends to the level of the first or second lumbar vertebra(the range is T12 to L3)

Question 2

Lumbar puncture

Answer 2

= spinal tap

- taken below L2

Question 3

What is a dermatome?

Answer 3

a dermatome is a area of the skin that is a mainly supplied by a single spinal nerve.

Question 4

Reflex arc - def:

Answer 4

A reflex arc is a neural pathway that controls a reflex

Question 5

What are the deep tendon reflexes?

Answer 5

• biceps C5-C6
• triceps C6-C7
• radial C7-C8
• ulnar C7-C8
• patellar (knee jerk) L2-L4
• achilles tendon S1 (L5-S2)

Question 6

What are the cutaneous reflexes?

Answer 6

abdominal upper Th8-Th9

• medial Th10-Th11
• lower Th11-Th12

Question 7

Diseases of the spinal cord:

Answer 7

• traumatic spinal cord injury
• neurodegenerative disease (ALS)
• metabolic (vit. 12 deficiency)
• immune mediated (MS)
• vascular
• tremors (primary, metastatic)
• developmental
• genetic (SMA, SBMA)

Question 8

High-cervical lesion:

Answer 8

• most severe of the spinal cord injury levels
• tetraplegia
• respiratory insufficiency (diaphragm C3-C5)
• no control of bowel or bladder movements
• require 24-hour-a-day personal care

Question 9

Complete transverse transsection of the spinal cord:

Answer 9

• lower motor neuron paralysis in the segment of the lesion
• upper motor neuron paralysis below the level of the lesion
• all forms of the sensation abolished below
• loss of bladder and bowel movement

Question 10

Hemisection of the spinal cord:

Answer 10

• Brown-Sequard syndrome
• Ipsilaterally:
  
  • pyramidal effect
  • posterior column signs
• contraleterally
  
  • loss of spinotholamic function

Question 11

Conus medullaris syndrome:

Answer 11

3 lower sacral and 1 coccygeal segment

• early disturbances of the bladder and bowel
• impotence
• hypesthesia or anesthesia over the sacral dermatome (saddle area)
• mixed upper and lower neuron syndrome

Question 12

Cauda equina syndrome:

Answer 12

3 last lumbar, all sacral 1 coccygeal nerve root

• paralysis (peroneal distribution)
• areflexia (achilles tendon reflex)
• pain
• sphincteric disorders
• impotence
• radicular sensory loss (saddle area)

Question 13

Dissociated sensory loss:

Answer 13

• SELECTIVE loss of pain and temperature
• WITHOUT loss of fine touch and proprioception (deep sensation)
• lesion of the lateral spinothalamic tracts, with cross central part of the cord close to the level they enter it.

Question 14

Central cord syndrome:

Answer 14

• common causes: include post traumatic confusion and syringomyelia, and intrinsic spinal cord tumors
• impaired pain and temperature sensation, C5-C6 dermatomes bilaterally