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Spinal Cord Pt 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

what is the conus medullaris

A

termination of SC located at T12/L1 vertebral in adults

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2
Q

what is cauda equina

A

the lumbosacral nerve roots that descend in lower vertberal canal and sacral canal

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3
Q

what is the lumbar cistern

A

enlargement of the subarachnoid space that is located distal to the conus medullaris

  • contains CFS and the cauda equina nerve roots
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4
Q

what is filum terminale interna

A

continuation of PIA that extends to the “bottom” of the lumbar cistern

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5
Q

what is the filum terminale externa

A

a continuation of DURA that extends to the coccyx bone

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6
Q

what is the denticulate ligament

A

pia extension anchors SC to the arachnoid/dura layers

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7
Q

how many cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spinal nerve roots

A

cervical 8
thoracic 12
lumbar 5
sacral 5

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8
Q

what are dorsal nerve roots

A

sensory input from peripheral nerves

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9
Q

what are ventral nerve roots

A

motor output to peripheral nerve

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10
Q

what is gray matter

A

“H” shape located in the middle of a spinal cord cross section that contains nuclei
UNMYELINATED nerve fibers

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11
Q

what does the posterior horn of gray matter receive ?

A

receives SENSORY INPUT (afferent) from the body

terminates in the dorsal horn

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12
Q

what does the anterior horn of gray matter contain?

A

contains cell bodies of ventral nerve root motor neurons that exit out the ventral nerve root
LOWER MOTOR NEURONS

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13
Q

what is a LMN lesion

A

peripheral
damage to the MOTOR pathways in the anterior horn of the SC , motor spinal nerve root, plexus and/or the peripheral nerves

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14
Q

what are the s/s of LMNL

A

hyporeflexia
hypotonia
flaccid paralysis
quick atrophy

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15
Q

what is white matter

A

MYELINATED ascending sensory tracts and descending motor tracts of the SC

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16
Q

what is the sensory function of white matter

A

ascending tracts in the white matter transmit sensory info from body to the BRAINSTEM, CEREBELLUM, DIENCEPHALON, AND CEREBRUM

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17
Q

what is the motor function of white matter

A

descending tracts in the white matter transmit motor info from CEREBRUM AND BRAINSTEM TO THE MUSCLES OF BODY

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18
Q

what is the location, motor, and sensory function of the POSTERIOR (dorsal) column of white matter

A

location: posterior of the H
Motor: NO MOTOR TRACTS
Sensory: contains 1 sensory tract that carries proprio, discriminating touch, and vibration info

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19
Q

what is the location, motor, and sensory function of the LATERAL column of white matter

A

location: lateral to H
motor: contains 2 tracts called lateral motor tracts
sensory: contains 2 sensory tracts that carry pain/temp info and unconscious proprioception info

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20
Q

what is the location, motor, and sensory function of ANTERIOR (central) column of white matter

A

location: anterior to the H
Motor: contains “medial motor tacts”
Sensory: contains sensory tracts that carry PAIN/TEMP INFO

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21
Q

what is the anterior spinal artery

A

“single” artery that descends anteriorly along the length of the SC

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22
Q

anterior spinal artery originates from what arteries?

A

R/L vertebral arteries

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23
Q

anterior spinal artery supplies how much in the SC

A

supplies 2/3 of SC

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24
Q

what is the posterior spinal arteries (R/L)

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A

“pair of arteries”
descends posteriorly along the length of the SC

25
posterior spinal arteries originate from what arteries
small branches of the vertebral arteries
26
posterior spinal arteries (R/L) supplies how much in the SC
supply posterior 1/3 of SC
27
what is the general fuction of lateral motor tracts
fine motor movements of distal extremities
28
what are the types of lateral motor tracts
1. lateral corticospinal tracts 2. rubrospinal tract
29
what is the general function of the medial (anterior) motor tracts
axial/trunk control and reflexes control and balance
30
what are the types medial (anterior) motor tracts
1. tectospinal tract 2. anteriomedial corticospinal tract 3. reticulospinal tract 4. vestibulospinal tract
31
what is the function of lateral corticospinal tract (lateral motor tract)
controls fine motor movement of distal extremities
32
what is the pathway of the lateral corticospinal tract (lateral motor tract)
1. motor cortex output 2. internal capsule 3. ipsilateral anterior brainstem 4. crosses midline (decussate) in lower medulla (pyramids) 5. descends in the lateral column of SC 5. terminates on the ANTERIOR HORN motor neurons that supply the UE/LE muscles
33
what would happen if there was a lesion ABOVE the medulla in the lateral corticospinal tract (lateral motor tract)
stroke/tumor of motor cortex contralateral hemiparesis
34
what would happen if there was a lesion BELOW the medulla in the lateral corticospinal tract (lateral motor tract)
spinal cord injury or MS/ALS in the lateral SC IPSILATERAL hemiparesis below lesion
35
what is the function of the rubrospinal tract (lateral motor tract)
supportive role of lateral corticospinal tract (fine motor movement) PROMOTES UE flexors and INHIBITS UE extensors funciton is more involved in UPPER vs LE
36
what is the pathway of the rubrospinal tract (lateral motor tract)
1. originates in RED NUCLEUS 2. crosses in the ventral tegmental decussation “crosses immediately” 3. descends in lateral column of SC just ANTERIOR to lateral corticospinal tract 4. terminates on ANTERIOR HORN that supply the UE/LE muscles
37
(T/F) lesion to the rubrospinal tract is common and would cause hemiparesis
FALSE lesion to the rubrospinal tract is VERY RARE and WOULDNT cause hemiparesis
38
what would happen if there was a lesion in the RED NUCLEUS
decorticate and decerebrate posture
39
(T/F) decorticate and decerebrate posturing are associated with good prognosis
FALSE POOR OUTCOMES !!! TF
40
decerebrate posturing involves…
the red nucleus and below EXTENSION considered more severe and has the WORST prognosis
41
decorticate posturing involves…
brainstem damage ABOVE the red nucleus excessive UE flexors
42
what is the function of the anterior (medial) corticospinal tract (medial motor tract)
control and maintain AXIAL/PROXIMAL limb voluntary movement - works SYNERGISTICALLY with lateral corticospinal tract control of distal voluntary motor movement
43
what is the pathway of anterior (medial) corticospinal tract (medial motor tract)
1. motor cortex then goes to 2. brainstem 3. DOES NOT CROSS MIDLINE IN MEDULLA 4. descends anteromedial SC 5. terminates near ventral horn of MOST LEVELS OF SC
44
what is the function of the tectospinal tract (medial motor tract)
visual reflexes/coordination of HEAD + EYE MOVEMENT reflexive reactions to visual input
45
what is the pathway of the tectospinal tract (medial motor tract)
1. originates in SUPERIOR COLLICULI of midbrain 2. CROSSES IMMEDIATELY 3. terminates in ANTERIOR HORN of c-spine - supplies head/neck muscles ONLY FOUND IN THE C-SPINE
46
what is the function of the reticulospinal tract
MODULATES reflexive/autonomic motor movements related to posture/gait reticular system modulates FLEXOR RESPONSE to noxious pain input
47
what is the pathway of the reticulospinal tract (medial motor tract)
1. originates in RETICULAR NUCLEI in lower 2/3 of brainstem 2. descends in anteromedial SC 3. terminates on motor nuclei of in the ANTERIOR HORN in ALL levels of SC DOES NOT CROSS!!!!
48
what is the function of the MEDIAL vestibulospinal tract (medial motor tract)
control HEAD/NECK movement/posture
49
what is the pathway of MEDIAL vestibulospinal tract (medial motor tract)
1. begins MEDIAL VESTIBULAR NUCLEI of medulla 2. descends in anterormedial SC BILATERALLY 3. terminates on motor nuclei of the NECK MUSCLES located in the anterior horn of CERVICAL SPINAL CORD ONLY FOUND IN THE C-SPINE
50
what is the function of the lateral vestibulospinal tract (medial motor tract)
maintain BALANCE AND EXTENSOR TONE
51
what is the pathway of the lateral vestibulospinal tract (medial motor tracts)
1. begins LATERAL VESTIBULAR NUCLEI of medulla 2. descends in anteromedial SC terminates on motor nuclei of ANTIGRAVITY (EXTENSORS) muscles located in the anterior horn in ALL LEVELS OF SC
52
what is considered the “head version: of the corticospinal tract?
corticoBULBAR tract
53
what is the fuction of the corticoBULBAR tract
CONTRALATERAL voluntary motor movement of the LOWER FACIAL MUSCLES (lower CN 7) and the TONGUE (CN 12) BILATERAL voluntary motor movement of upper face/mouth/pharynx/larynx muscles
54
what is the pathway of the corticoBULBAR tract
1. begins in the primary motor cortex 2. descends through the internal cap 3. descends in the ANTERIOR BRAINSTEM 4. terminates on motor nuclei CN 5, 7, 10, 12 DOES NOT CROSS
55
corticobulbar tract CN 7 upper face
bilateral innervation
56
corticobulbar tract CN 7 lower face
contralateral innervation
57
corticobulbar tract CN 12 tongue
contralateral innveration
58
lesion in the corticobulbar tract
produces no clinical effect on muscles of the head EXCEPT contralateral hemiparesis of the lower facial muscles and the tongue
59
what is bell’s palsy
causes damage to CN 7 itself which leads to hemiparesis to both the UPPER and LOWER facial muscles

Neuro Anat/Path (15 decks)

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