Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

NPTE-Neuromuscular and Nervous Systems > The spinal cord > Flashcards

The spinal cord Flashcards

(70 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

what is the spinal cord

A

a component of the CNS that is a direct extension of the brainstem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is the spinal cord’s main function?

A

acts as a relay for information between peripheral structures and the brain in order to process information

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is the spinal cord surrounded by?

A

meninges

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what is the spinal cord contained within?

A

the vertebral canal of the vertebral column

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what types of matter does the spinal cord contain?

A

white and gray matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

where is the largest amount of gray matter found within the spinal cord?

A

in the lumbar region

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

the spinal cord runs from the __ __ to the __ __

A

foramen magnum to the conus medullaris

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

where is the conus medullaris located?

A

between the first and second lumbar vertebrae

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

the __ artery forms the __ spinal artery and two __ spinal arteries that all surround the spinal cord

A

vertebral artery; anterior spinal arterty; posterior spinal arteries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what arteries surround the spinal cord? what artery do they arise from?

A

anterior spinal artery
two posterior spinal arteries
vertebral arteries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

there a __ segments within the spinal cord with a pair of __ __ arising from each sement

A

31 segments; spinal nerves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

the 31 pairs of spinal nerves arising from each of the segments of the spinal cord are components of what nervous system?

A

peripheral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

each spinal nerve contains a __ and __ root

A

dorsal and ventral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

the dorsal root of the spinal cord contains __ fibers

A

afferent/sensory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

the ventral root of the spinal cord contains __ fibers

A

efferent/motor fibers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what do the ascending tracts of the spinal cord arise from?

A

arise from either cells of the spinal ganglia or from intrinsic neurons within the gray matter that receive primary sensory input

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

from what type of matter do the ascending tracts of the spinal cord arise from?

A

gray matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

in what type of matter do the ascending tracts of the spinal cord ascend to the cerebrum and cerebellum in?

A

white matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what structures receive primary sensory input and are what the ascending tracts arise from?

A

cells of the spinal ganglia or intrinsic neurons within the gray matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what is the general, primary function of the ascending tracts of the spinal cord?

A

to relay sensory feedback that was carried from body to spinal cord by the dorsal root of the spinal nerve to the cerebrum and cerebellum of the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what tract (ascending or descending) of the spinal cord relays sensory feedback that was carried from body to spinal cord by the dorsal root of the spinal nerve to the cerebrum and cerebellum of the brain?

A

ascending tracts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what specific sensory functions are the ascending tracts of the spinal cord involved in?

A

temperature sensation
pain sensation
proprioceptive sensation
pressure sensation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

what are the 9 primary ascending tracts of the spinal cord?

A

cuneocerebellar tract
fasciculus cuneatus (posterior/dorsal column)
fasciculus gracilis (posterior/dorsal column)
spinocerebellar tract (dorsal and ventral)
spino-olivary tract
spinoreticular tract
spinotectal tract
anterior spinothalamic tract
lateral spinothalamic tract

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

cuneocerebellar tract

A

sensory tract that ascends to the cerebellum for ipsilateral, subconscious proprioception of the neck and BUE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
what ascending tract of the spinal cord ascends to the cerebellum to provide ipsilateral, subconscious proprioceptive information of the neck and BUE?
cuneocerebellar tract
26
spinocerebellar tract (dorsal and ventral)
sensory tract that ascends to the cerebellum for trunk and BLE ipsilateral subconscious proprioception, tension in muscles, joint sense and posture
27
what ascending tract of the spinal cord ascends to the cerebellum for trunk and BLE ipsilateral, subconscious proprioception, tension in muscles, joint sense and posture?
spinocerebellar tract (dorsal and ventral)
28
fasciculus cuneatus (posterior/dorsal column)
sensory tract for trunk, neck and BUE proprioception, vibration, two-point discrimination and graphesthesia
29
what ascending tract of the spinal cord carries sensory information regarding proprioception, vibration, two-point discrimination and graphesthesia of the neck, trunk and BUE?
fasciculus cuneatus (poster/dorsal column)
30
fasciculus gracilis (posterior/dorsal column)
sensory tract for trunk and BLE proprioception, two-point discrimination and graphesthesia
31
what ascending tract of the spinal cord carries sensory information regarding proprioception, vibration, two-point discrimination and graphesthesia of the trunk and BLE?
fasciculus gracilis (posterior/dorsal column)
32
spino-olivary tract
ascends to cerebellum and relays info from cutaneous and proprioceptive organs
33
what ascending tract of the spinal cord ascends to the cerebellum and realys information from cutaneous and proprioceptive organs?
spino-olivary tract
34
spinoreticular tract
afferent pathway for the reticular formation that influences levels of consciousness
35
what ascending tract of the spinal cord acts as the afferent pathway for the reticular formation that influences levels of consciousness?
spinoreticular tract
36
spinotectal tract
sensory tract providing afferent information for spinovisual reflexes and assists with movement of eyes and head towards a stimulus
37
what ascending tract of the spinal cord provides afferent information for the spinovisual reflexes and assists with movement of eyes and head towards stimulus?
spinotectal tract
38
anterior spinothalamic tract
sensory tract for crude touch and pressure
39
what ascending tract of the spinal cord is the sensory tract for crude touch and pressure?
anterior spinothalamic tract
40
lateral spinothalamic tract
sensory tract for pain and temperature sensation
41
what ascending tract of the spinal cord is the seonsory tract for pain and temperature sensation?
lateral spinothalamic tract
42
what do the descending tracts of the spinal cord arise from?
the largest tract (corticospinal) originates in the cerebral cortex smaller descending tracts originate in the nulcei in the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata
43
where does the corticospinal tract/ largest descending tract of the spinal cord originate from?
cerebral cortex
44
where do the smaller descending tracts of the spinal cord originate from?
the nuclei in the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata
45
what functions are the descending tracts of the spinal cord involved in?
voluntary motor function muscle tone reflexes equilibrium visceral innervation modulation of ascending sensory signals
46
what tract (ascending or descending) of the spinal cord relays motor signals from brain to spinal cord, with motor commands in the spinal cord being carried to skeletal muscle by the ventral root of the spinal nerves?
descending tracts
47
what are the primary descending tracts (6) of the spinal cord?
anterior corticospinal tract lateral corticospinal tract reticulospinal tract rubrospinal tract tectospinal tract vestibulospinal tract
48
anterior corticospinal tract
pyramidal, descending motor tract responsible for ipsilateral voluntary, discrete, skilled movement
49
what is a discrete movement?
a movement that has a clear start and finish involving a single goal ex. kicking a ball, reaching glass, throwing a dart
50
what is the largest descending tract of the spinal cord?
corticospinal tract
51
lateral corticospinal tract
pyramidal, descending motor tract responsible for contralateral, voluntary fine movement
52
what descending tract of the spinal cord is responsible for ipsilateral voluntary, discrete skilled movement?
anterior corticospinal tract
53
what descending tract of the spinal cord is responsible for contralateral, voluntary fine movement?
lateral corticospinal tract
54
what is the corticospinal tract of the descending tracts of the spinal cord also known as?
pyramidal tract
55
damage to what descending tracts of the spinal cord results in a positive Babinski sign, absent superifcial abdominal reflexes and cremasteric reflex and loss of fine motor/skilled voluntary movement
corticospinal/pyramidal tract
56
damage to the corticospinal/pyramidal tracts results in (4)...
positive Babinski sign absent superficial abdominal reflex absent cremasteric reflex loss of fine motor/skilled voluntary movement
57
reticulospinal tract
extrapyramidal, descending motor tract responsible for facilitation or inhibition of voluntary and reflex activity through the influence on alpha and gamma motor neurons
58
what descending spinal tract is responsible for facilitation or inhibition of voluntary and reflex activity through the influence on alpha and gamma neurons?
reticulospinal tract
59
what type of neurons does the reticulospinal tract have influence on?
alpha and gamma motor neurons
60
alpha motor neuron
influenced by the reticulospinal tract innervates extrafusal muscle fibers, whcih are the main muscle fibers responsible for generating movement
61
gamma motor neuron
influenced by the reticulospinal tract innervates intrafusal muscle fibers, which are specialized fibers within muscle spindles, which detect muscle length and tension
62
rubrospinal tract
extrapyramidal, descending motor tract responsible for motor input of gross postural tone, facilitating activity of flexor muscles and inhibiting activity of extensor muscles
63
what descending tract is responsible for motor input of gross postural tone, fascilitating activity of flexor muscles and inhibiting activity of extensor muscles?
rubrospinal tract
64
vestibulospinal tract
extrapyramidal, descending motor tract responsible for ipsilateral gross postural adjustments subsequent to head movements, facilitating activity of the extensor muscles and inhibiting activity of the flexor muscles
65
what descending tract is responsible for ipsilateral, gross postural adjustments subsequent to head movements, facilitating activity of the extensor muscles and inhibiting activity of the flexor muscles?
vestibulospinal tract
66
tectospinal tract
extrapyramidal, descending motor tract responsible for contralateral postural muscle tone associated with auditory/visual stimuli
67
what descending tract is responsible for contralateral, postural muscle tone associated with auditory/visual stimuli?
tectospinal tract
68
what descending tracts are considered extrapyramidal?
reticulospinal tract rubrospinal tract tectospinal tract vestibulospinal tract
69
damage to what descending tracts of the spinal cord results in significant paralysis, hypertonicity, exaggerated DTRs and clasp-knife reaction?
extrapyramidal motor tract
70
damage to the extrapyramidal tracts of the spinal cord results in (4)...
significant paralysis hypertonicity exaggerated DTRs clasp-knife reaction

NPTE-Neuromuscular and Nervous Systems (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions