spinal cord Flashcards
(37 cards)
spinal cord
ends between L1-L2 of the vertebral column in adults and L4 in infants
terminates at conus medullaris
anchored to coccyx by the film terminale
divided into 5 regions and 31 segments
spinal nerves
branch to form peripheral nerves that innervate all part of the body
mixed nerves= contains axons of sensory and motor neurons
connect to spinal cord by dorsal and ventral nerve root
dorsal root
contains axons of sensory neuron
dorsal root ganglion contains cell bodies of sensory neuron
ventral root
contains the axons of motor neuron
cauda equina
lumbar, sacral and coccygeal nerve roots travel beyond conus medullaris to reach the vertebral region from which those spinal nerves emerge
protection of spinal cord
vertebral column
cerebrospinal fluid
spinal meninges
spinal meninges
extend beyond spinal cord to second sacral vertebra
lumbar puncture involves insertion of needle into subarachnoid space beyond L3= doesn’t damage spinal cord, withdraw CSF fluid for diagnostic testing
outer dura mater is separated from vertebral column by epidural space
internal anatomy of spinal cord
neural tissue of spinal cord divided into left and right side by 2 grooves:
anterior median fissure
posterior median sulcus
gray matter
neuron cell bodies, unmyelinated axons & neuroglia
gray commissure= site where axons cross from one side of the CNS to the other
subdivided into gray horns which contain sensory or motor nuclei
sensory nuclei of posterior gray horns
contain the cell bodies of spinal cord interneurons which receive and process incoming sensory input
somatic motor nuclei of anterior gray horn
contains the cell bodies of lower motor neuron
autonomic motor nuclei of lateral gray horns
contain the cell bodies of preganglionic neuron
white matter
composed of myelinated & unmyelinated axons
anterior white commissure = site where axons cross from one side of the CNS to the other
spinal cord tracts of the white matter
ascending tracts= conduct sensory input to brain
descending tracts= conduct motor input away from the brain
somatosensory pathway
general sensory input
involves 1st, 2nd, 3rd order neuron
3 main somatosensory pathway
spinothalamic, posterior column pathway and spinocerebellar
spinothalamcic pathway
conducts sensation of crude touch, deep pressure, pain and temp
first order neuron
1st order conduct sensory input from receptors into posterior gray horn synapse with 2nd within a sensory nucleus
2nd order neuron
2nd order conduct sensory input to thalamus ascend spinal cord in a:
anterior spinothalamic tract (crude touch & deep pressure)
lateral spinothalamic tract (pain & temperature)
synapse with 3rd order in the thalamus
3rd order neuron
conduct sensory input to the primary somatosensory cortex
posterior column pathway
conducts sensation of fine touch, light pressure, vibration and proprioceptors
1st order neuron
conduct sensory input into posterior gray horn and to the medulla oblongata ascends spinal cord in a fascuclus gracilis or fascuclus cuneatus
synapse with 2nd order in the medulla oblongata
2nd order neuron
conducts sensory input to the thalamus
synapse with 3rd order in the thalamus
3rd order neuron
conducts sensory input to the PSC