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Anatomy > Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, & Associated Structures > Flashcards

Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, & Associated Structures Flashcards

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1
Q

peripheral nervous system

A

all parts external to the CNS
. 12 pairs cranial nerves arise from ganglia in the brain
. 31 pairs of spinal nerves arise from/attached to the spinal cord

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2
Q

motor neuron function

A

relay motor impulses from the CNS to muscle fibers and glands

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3
Q

motor neuron structure

A

They have a unipolar structure with a proximally located cell body and single
axon

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4
Q

sensory neuron function

A

relay impulses from receptors in the body to the CNS

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5
Q

sensory neuron structure

A

pseudounipolar structure with a centrally located cell body and an axon that is divided into a central process and a peripheral process.

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6
Q

PNS subdivisions of body

A

somatic & autonomic

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7
Q

somatic component on PNS

A

. structures of the body wall and limbs

. voluntary system.

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8
Q

somatic sensory neurons

A

. neurons convey information from receptors in skin, joints, & skeletal muscles to CNS
. detect touch, pain, pressure, temp, and proprioception.

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9
Q

somatic motor neurons

A

neurons relay impulses from the CNS and innervate voluntary muscle fibers

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10
Q

autonomic component of PNS

A

. visceral structures: organs, vessels, and glands

. involuntary/visceral system.

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11
Q

visceral sensory neurons

A

. convey info from receptors located in organ wall, vessels & glands to CNS
. detect stretch, pain, temp, chemical irritation, hunger

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12
Q

visceral motor neurons

A

relay impulses from the CNS and innervate smooth

muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands

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13
Q

where does spinal cord run?

A

through the vertebral canal from the foramen magnum to the L1 or L2 vertebrae
inferiorly

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14
Q

meninges

A

encased in protective membranes

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15
Q

spinal cord functions

A

. motor & sensory innervation of the body inf. to head
. Provides conduction pathway for signals between the body and brain
. Major reflex center

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16
Q

primary tissues in spinal cord

A

white & gray matter

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17
Q

white matter

A

. interconnected, myelinated axon tracts connecting parts of the spinal cord to each other or brain
. contains glial cells that support &nourish nervous tissue

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18
Q

gray matter

A

Forms the central core of the spinal cord.

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19
Q

why is gray matter gray?

A

axons in it are unmyelinated

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20
Q

Gray matter shape

A

transverse cross-section, it is “H”-shaped with two ventral horns and two dorsal horns

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21
Q

what do ventral horns contain?

A

cell bodies of motor neurons (somatic and visceral)

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22
Q

what do dorsal horns contain?

A

interneurons & prox. axons of sensory neurons (somatic & visceral)

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23
Q

interneurons

A

in CNS and transmit impulses between other

neurons

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24
Q

spinal nerves are composed of ___

A

motor and/or sensory neurons

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25
Fila
(sl. filum; axons, rootlets) emerge from the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the spinal cord and unite to form ventral and dorsal roots
26
ventral root
. consists of motor axons (fibers) exiting the spinal cord
27
where are cell bodies of ventral root neurons?
gray matter of the spinal cord.
28
dorsal root
consists of central processes of sensory neuron axons (fibers) entering the spinal cord.
29
where are cell bodies of dorsal root neurons?
dorsal root ganglia (DRG) located on the lateral end | of the dorsal root adjacent to, or within, the intervertebral foramina.
30
spinal nerve proper formation
(aka mixed spinal nerve): Formed by the union of the dorsal and ventral nerve roots of a single spinal cord segment.
31
Spinal nerve proper characteristics
. Contains both motor and sensory axons/fibers | . Only a few mm. long; located w/in or just external to an intervertebral foramen
32
spinal nerves split into ___
dorsal & ventral primary rami
33
dorsal primary ramus
. Supplies motor and sensory innervation to deep back mm. . Supplies cutaneous sensory innervation to the skin of the back via post. cutaneous n. branches . smaller than ventral ramus
34
ventral primary ramus
. Supplies motor and sensory innervation to muscles of lat. & ant. body wall, plus limbs . Supplies cutaneous sensory innervation to these regions . Connects to sympathetic chain via rami communicantes
35
branches of ventral rami to body wall
. Intercostal nerves that further branch into following: . lat. cutaneous n., large post. & ant. branches . ant. cutaneous n.
36
which ventral rami form plexuses?
rami that supply motor &; sensory innervation to limbs & neck merging together
37
how many segments is the spinal cord divided into and what are they?
31 segments; one segment for each pair of spinal nerves: 8 cervical; 12 thoracic; 5 lumbar; 5 sacral; and, 1 coccygeal
38
each spinal cord segment innervated a ___
dermatome
39
cervical enlargement
related to nerves of upper limb | Origination of brachial plexus
40
lumbosacral enlargement
related to nerves to lower limbs | Origination of lumbo-sacral plexus
41
conus medullaris
Inferior to the lumbar enlargement is the tapered inferior end of the cord
42
Dermatome
Specific segment of skin supplied by single spinal nerve
43
Which spinal nerve DOES NOT inner age a segment of skin?
C1
44
Why are dermatomes clinically important?
Can indicate potential damage to spinal nerves
45
T/F cutting a spinal nerve produces complete anesthesia of dermatome it supplies
F, dermatomes overlap so it only causes reduction in sensitivity
46
How many spinal nerves must be cut to produce zone of total sensory loss?
3
47
Does the vertebral column or spinal cord grow faster?
Vertebral column
48
How spinal cord corresponds with vertebral column in fetal stage
At same level
49
At birth where does spinal cord end
Inferiorly at about same level as L3
50
In adults how do the cervical spinal cord and vertebrae correspond?
Same level
51
In adults, how do thoracic and lumbar vertebrae correspond with spinal cord?
Spinal nerve segments are superior to the corresponding vertebra with disparity increasing inferiorly (conus medullaris at L1/L2)
52
Cauda equina
Long dorsal and ventral roots of lumber and sacral spinal cord segments that droop inferiorly to lumbar and sacral intervertebral foramina
53
Where do spinal nerves exit the vertebral column?
Intervertebral foramina or sacral foramina
54
How many cervical nerve pairs are there compared to vertebrae?
8 pairs but 7 vertebra
55
Where do nerve exit in cervical spine?
C1-C7 nerves exit superiority to corresponding numbered vertebra, C8 is between C7 and T1
56
Where do nerves exit thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine?
Inferior to corresponding numbered vertebrae
57
Where do C1 set of spinal nerves exit spine?
Between skull and C1 post. To Atlanto-occipital synovial joints
58
Where does C2 set of spinal nerves exit?
Between C1 and C2 post. To lateral Atlanto-axial synovial joints
59
Where do S1-S4 rami pass through?
Ventral rami pass throughVentral sacral foramina, dorsal rami pass through dorsal sacral foramina
60
Where do S5 and coccygeal sets of spinal nerves exit?
Sacral hiatus
61
Meninges of brain
Dura, arachnoid, and pita mater
62
Dura mater
. Outermost rough fibrous CT layer . Forms Dural sac from brain to S2 and filum terminale externum . Creates dural sleeve around spinal roots that is replaced by epineurium
63
Filum terminale externum
Slender ligament continues inferiorly and anchors dura to coccyx
64
arachnoid mater
. Delicate, transparent membrane lining dura | . Arachnoid trabeculae: thing strands connecting to pia mater
65
Pia mater
. Thin layer adhered to spin, cord, and spinal nerve roots . Denticulate ligaments between dorsal and ventral roots pinning arachnoid mater to dura between spinal nerves . Filum terminale interum
66
Denticulate ligaments
Along right and left sides, strong lateral extension of pia that anchor spinal cord laterally to the dura
67
Filum terminale internum
Strong strand of pia extends inferiorly beyond conus medullaris to terminal end of dural-arachnoid sac
68
Epidural space
. Between dura and vertebral canal wall . Filled w/ fat and internal vertebral venous plexus (thin walled veins) . None in skill
69
Why is there no fat filled epidural space in skull?
Dura fuses to periosteum of skull
70
Subdural space
. Potential space between dura and arachnoid | . Contains only film of watery liquid
71
Subarachnoid space
. Between arachnoid and pia | . Full of CSF
72
CSF function in subarachnoid space
Pressure of CSF pushes arachnoid membrane against dura so spinal cord and brain are buoyed up by CSF
73
Lumbar cistern
. Enlarged are of subarachnoid space between inf. Extentsion of cord and inf. Extentsion of dural-arachnoid sac (L2-S2) with pool of CSF . Contains cauda equina
74
How are sensory nerves organized within dorsal horn?
Somatic sensory neurons posterior (upper part of horn) to visceral sensory neurons
75
How are motor neurons organized in ventral horn?
Somatic motor neurons more anterior (upper part of horn) than visceral motor neurons
76
Difference between roots and rami
Roots only carry sensory or motor neurons, rami carry ALL types of neurons (sensory and motor)
77
Sympathetic chain
Assists in visceral motor system | . Connected to ventral Ramos via rami communicantes
78
Do dorsal rami have plexuses?
NO
79
What is a nerve plexus?
Nerve fibers that blend together and create new nerves
80
What are the 2 plexuses formed from ventral rami?
Brachial plexus and lumbo-sacral plexus
81
Sciatica
Herniated disc that impinges on sciatic nerve (L4-S3 spinal nerves)
82
Which nerve roots are affected from disc herniation?
Spinal roots that are inferior to herniation (L5 spinal roots affected from L4 disc herniation)
83
What is lumbar cistern used for medically?
Lumber punctures for CSF testing

Anatomy (49 decks)

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