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Anatomy > Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves > Flashcards

Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the size and location of the spinal cord

A
  • Slender nerve column
  • About 45 cm long
  • Starts at foramen magnum & ends between L1 & L2 (does not go into the sacrum)
  • 31 pair spinal nerves
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2
Q

does the spinal cord have bilateral symmetry?

A

yes

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3
Q

What are the two types of matter found in the spinal cord?

A

gray and white matter

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4
Q

What is the central canal? What does it contain?

A

Hole down the center of cord; continuous with brain ventricles; both contain CSF

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5
Q

There are two grooves in the spinal cord.. what are they?

A

Anterior median fissure

Posterior median sulcus

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6
Q

What are enlargements?

A

Swollen regions of the spinal cord

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7
Q

What are two regions for enlargement?

A

Cervical enlargement

Lumbar enlargement

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8
Q

What is the Conus Medullaris ?

A

inferior-most tip of spinal cord; cone shaped

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9
Q

What is the Cauda Equina ?

A

means horse’s tail; bundle of nerves inferior to spinal cord

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10
Q

What is the Filum terminale ?

A

inferior most spinal nerve

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11
Q

Describe Gray Matter

A 
Cell bodies, dendrites & synapses
Projections called horns
Cell bodies organized into nuclei
-Sensory
-Motor
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12
Q

What are the three interior horns of the gray matter?

A

Posterior gray horn
Anterior gray horn
Lateral gray horn

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13
Q

What are the two Gray commissures? What separates them?

A

Anterior Commissure and Posterior Commissure

Separated by the central canal

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14
Q

White matter is made up of ______ and ________

A

tracts and columns

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15
Q

What are the three columns in white matter?

A

Posterior White column
Anterior white column
Lateral white column

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16
Q

What are the two tracts in white matter? What are they responsible for?

A 
Ascending= sensory 
Descending= motor
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17
Q

What are meninges? Are they similar in both the spinal cord and brain? explain

A

Membranes covering CNS

Are similar in both brain and spinal cord

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18
Q

Meninges are split into layers called what?

A

Mater (meaning mother)

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19
Q

vertebrae consist of what?

A

vertebral arches

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20
Q

What is the epidural space? What does it contain?

A
  • Space between meninges and vertebra

- Contains BV and adipose

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21
Q

Meninges connect to ______ covering of __________

A

Connective Tissue; spinal nerves

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22
Q

describe the Dura Mater

A
  • “tough mother”
  • Durable
  • Deep to epidural space
  • Superficial to subdural space
  • Stabilized by coccygeal ligament
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23
Q

describe the Arachnoid Mater

A
  • “spidery mother”
  • Superficial to subarachnoid space
  • Contains CSF
  • CT looks like a spider web
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24
Q

describe the Pia Mater

A
  • “delicate mother”
  • Light layer adhering to cord
  • Forms part of filum terminale
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25
from superficial to deep, name the parts of the spinal meninges (8)
``` Vertebra Epidural space Dura mater Subdural space Arachnoid mater Subarachnoid space (with CSF) Pia mater Neural tissue ```
26
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31
27
Where are all the spinal nerves located? How many in each location?
``` 8 cervical 12 thoracic 5 lumbar 5 sacral 1 coccygeal ```
28
for the nerve components you have the _____ and _____ root. Describe them
Doral and Ventral Root Dorsal (posterior) root - dorsal root ganglion - soma - usually sensory Ventral (anterior) root - No ganglion - Usually motor
29
______ merge to form _______. Hence _____ nerves are usually mixed (_____ and ______)
Roots, Nerves, Spinal nerves, sensory, motor
30
All roots go through.....
intervertebral foramina
31
What are the three Connective tissue coverings and describe them
Epineurium-surrounds the entire nerve Perineurium-Surrounds bundles of 10-100 axons (known as fascicles) Endoneurium-Surrounds each individual axon of each neuron
32
What are Rami?
offshoots of a nerve once it exits the vertebra
33
What are the three types of Rami?
Dorsal ramus Ventral ramus Ramus communicantes
34
What is a rami communicantes?
A spitting in the ramus separating sensory and motor fiber
35
What are the two types of Rami Communicantes?
White ramus communicantes | Gray ramus communicantes
36
What are Dermatomes?
Sensory innervation by specific spinal nerves
37
Dermatomes are used as a....
detection method
38
______ damage will result in loss of sensation in _______
Spinal cord, dermatome
39
What are Nerve Plexuses?
braid off ventral rami
40
Nerve Plexuses are found in several regions... what are they?
Cervical Lumbar Sacral (Most thoracic nerves are all isolated)
41
describe the cervical plexus
``` C1-C4 & part of C5 Innervate certain muscles of neck and torso phrenic nerve C3, 4 & 5 go to diaphragm ```
42
describe the brachial plexus
C4-C8 & T1 | Innervate the chest, upper back, and arm
43
Slide 25
fun fact: im drunk and typing these so enjoy :)
44
lumbosacral plexus is located where? It may be split into what?
Last thoracic, lumbar, sacral & coccygeal nerves | May be split into lumbar and sacral plexuses
45
the lumbosacral plexus intervates the .....
lower limb regions
46
What are the three lower limb nerves and describe them
obturator nerve: to adductors of leg femoral nerve: motor impulses to leg & thigh & receive sensory from skin of leg & thigh sciatic nerve: to muscles & skin in thighs, legs & feet
47
What are reflexes?
Rapid automatic involuntary motor response to stimuli
48
reflexes help preserve.....
homeostasis
49
where do reflexes occur?
spinal cord or brain stem
50
do reflexes require cerebral processing?
no
51
reflexes can be modified by...
cerebral control
52
What are the 4 ways reflexes are classified?
By development Site of processing Nature of motor response Complexity of neural circuit
53
What are the two types of site of processing classification? describe them
Spinal reflex: impulse only goes to the spinal cord | Cranial reflex: Makes it to the brain
54
What are the two types of motor response classification? describe them
Somatic: influences the skeletal muscle system | Visceral (autonomic): influences the involuntary systems such as smooth muscle and glands
55
Slide 31-32
fun fact: im drunk off 5 different types of tequila :)
56
What are step 1-5 of the reflex arc?
Step 1: The receptor is stimulated by a detectible environmental stimulus Step 2: The receptor stimulates a sensory neuron that sends a signal to the CNS for processing Step 3: The information is processed by being transmitted to the appropriate neurons (This could be an interneuron or motor neuron) Step 4-5: A motor neuron is stimulated, sending a signal to an effector. This results in behavior
57
What is a stretch reflex?
A reflex stimulated by the stretching of a muscle
58
______________________are receptors that detect stretching
Muscle spindle fibers
59
_____________is the contraction of the muscle
The effector
60
The patellar reflex is a ________
stretch reflex.
61
the patellar reflex functions to... (2 things)
Prevent muscles from being overstretched | Prevent one from falling forward

Anatomy (23 decks)

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