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Neurology > Spinal Cord and Pathways > Flashcards

Spinal Cord and Pathways Flashcards

1
Q

Name the 2 enlargements of the spinal cord and what they relate to.

A

Cervical - UPPER limb

Lumbar - LOWER limb

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2
Q

What happens at each segment of the spinal cord?

A

Rootlets emerge from the dorsal and ventral parts

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3
Q

Where do roots pass? When do they stop?

A

Through the subarachnoid space

They stop when they reach the appropriate intervertebral space

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4
Q

What happens to the posterior root as it passes through the intervertebral space?

A

It enlarges by the posterior root ganglion

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5
Q

What do anterior and posterior roots fuse to form?

A

Mixed spinal nerve

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6
Q

What arises from the mixed spinal nerve?

A

Anterior and posterior rami

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7
Q

How does the spinal cord terminate?

A

Conus medullaris

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8
Q

At what level does the spinal cord terminate?

A

L1/L2

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9
Q

What are the spinal meninges continuous with?

A

Cranial meninges

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10
Q

What do meninges pass through?

A

Foramen magnum

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11
Q

Name the 3 layers of meninges.

A

Dura
Arachnoid
Pia

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12
Q

In the spinal canal, what suspends the spinal cord?

A

DENTICULATE LIGAMENT

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13
Q

What is the denticulate ligament made of?

A

Pia and arachnoid

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14
Q

The denticulate ligament never joins to the dura

A

False - it does at some points

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15
Q

What is different about the dura in the spinal canal?

A

It is not attached to the periosteum like in the brain

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16
Q

Describe the anatomy of the spinal cord.

A

OUTER - WHITE

INNER - GREY - ‘H’ shape

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17
Q

What does white matter in the spinal cord consist of?

A

Axons, blood vessels and glial cells

All arranged longitudinally

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18
Q

What does grey matter contain?

A

Nerve cell body, synapses, glial cells and blood vessels

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19
Q

What extends throughout the spinal cord?

A

A small canal that opens in the 4th ventricle

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20
Q

What is the white matter said to be made of?

A

Anterior, posterior and lateral funiculus

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21
Q

What is the grey matter of the spinal cord divided into?

A

4 parts

Left and right anterior and posterior

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22
Q

Where are lateral horns found?

A

T1-L2

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23
Q

What does the lateral horn contain?

A

Presynaptic sympathetic nerve fibres

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24
Q

Name the 2 veins that drain the spinal cord.

A

Longitudnal
+
Segmental

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25
Name the space between the dura and the periosteum in the spinal canal.
Epidural space
26
What is contained within the epidural space?
Adipose tissue | Anterior and posterior epidural venous plexus
27
What arteries are derived from vertebral, intercostal and lumbar arteries?
SEGMENTAL
28
What arteries travel along dorsal and ventral roots?
RADICULAR
29
3 longitudinal arteries arise from the ......... arteries
VERTEBRAL
30
There is 2 anterior and 1 posterior longitudinal arteries
FALSE 2 posterior 1 anterior
31
How do we perceive sensation?
Primary somatosensory cortex
32
Sensory fibres cross the midline, the left side of the body is represented by the right cortex
TRUE
33
How does info from the periphery reach the somatosensory cortex?
They travel in the spinal cord
34
What happens to the amount of white matter as you descend the spinal cord?
DECREASES
35
What is responsible for fine touch and conscious proprioception
Dorsal column
36
Where do dorsal column fibres cross?
In the medulla
37
What tract carries the sensation of pain, temperature and DEEP PRESSURE?
Spinothalamic
38
How do spinothalamic fibres cross?
Segmentally
39
How does info from the motor cortex reach the motor neurone?
Corticospinal tract extends down from the cortex all the way to the spinal cord
40
What tract is responsible for fine, precise movement of distal limbs e.g digits?
Corticospinal
41
How do motor commands reach the appropriate muscles?
Motor fibres cross at the midline | Left cortex controls the right side of the body and vice versa
42
What does the corticospinal tract form? And what are they known as?
Visible ridges | Pyramids
43
Where are the 'pyramids' seen?
On the anterior surface of the medulla
44
What is the corticospinal tract also known as?
Pyramidal tract
45
Where do 85% of fibres of the corticospinal tract cross?
In the caudal medulla at the decussation of the pyramids
46
What do crossed fibres of the corticospinal tract form?
Lateral CST
47
What do uncrossed fibres of the corticospinal tract form?
Ventral CST
48
How do crossed fibres of the corticospinal tract cross?
Segmentally
49
What can a CVA of the internal capsule of the pyramidal tract result in?
A lack of descending control of the CST
50
What does a lack of descending control of the CST result in?
Spastic paralysis | Hyperflexion of the upper limbs
51
What is lack of descending control of the CST also called?
Decoriate posturing
52
What are motor systems outside the pyramidal tract known as?
Extra-pyramidal system
53
What provides input to cervical segments?
Tectospinal tract
54
What does the tectospinal tract do?
Mediate head and neck reflex in response to visual stimuli
55
What forms the central core of the brainstem?
Reticular formation
56
What is reticular formation?
A highly organised network of nuclei in the brainstem
57
Describe the reticular formation.
It has MANY NUCLEI, and receives INPUT FROM virtually ALL parts of the CNS
58
What is the function of the reticular formation?
Influences voluntary movement
59
What area of the brainstem can you find reticular formation?
Pons | Medulla
60
In general, what do fibres originating in the i) pons ii) medulla facilitate and inhibit?
i) facilitate extensor, inhibit flexor | ii) facilitate flexor, inhibit extensor
61
What does the vestibulospinal tract provide excitatory input to?
'Antigravity' extensor muscles
62
Where do fibres of the vestibulospinal tract originate?
In vestibular nuclei of the pons and medulla
63
What does the vestibulospinal tract play an important role in?
Patients exhibiting decerebrate rigidity and paraplegia in extension
64
What can lesions in the brainstem at the level of the midbrain result in?
A lack of descending cortical control of this tract
65
What does lack of descending cortical control lead to?
Domination of extensor muscle tone and hyperextended spastic paralysis
66
What condition occurs after hemisection of the spinal cord e.g from a stab?
Brown-Sequard Syndrome
67
Describe Brown-Sequard Syndrome.
If there is damage to the right side, there is IPSILATERAL loss of FINE TOUCH, but CONTRALATERAL loss of pain and temperature sensation

Neurology (42 decks)

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