Spinal Cord 1 Flashcards Preview

Neurology > Spinal Cord 1 > Flashcards

Flashcards in Spinal Cord 1 Deck (63)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

pertinent antatomical areas on posterior/dorsal surface of SC?

A
  • posterior median sulcus
  • posterior intermediate sulci
  • posterior lateral sulci
2
Q

pertinent anatomical areas on anterior/ventral surface of SC?

A
  • anterior median fissure

- anterior lateral sulci

3
Q

what travels in the groove of the posterior intermediate sulcus?

A

posterior spinal artery

4
Q

what travels in the groove of the anterior median fissure?

A

anterior spinal artery

5
Q

what is significant of the lateral (both anterior and posterior) sulci?

A

that is where the rootlets arise from

6
Q

order of meninges outermost to inner

A
  • dura
  • potential space for hematomas that must be created - otherwise dura and arachnoid are attached
  • arachnoid
  • subarachnoid space (CSF)
  • pia - only one that goes into fissure
7
Q

denticulate ligament

A
  • connects pia and arachnoid matter

- prevents movement from side to side

8
Q

funiculus

A
  • group of fibers that don’t have same function/purpose
  • ex: the 3 divisions of what matter:
  • posterior, lateral and anterior funiculus
9
Q

fasiculus

A

group of fibers w/ the same purpose

10
Q

rexed laminae

A
  • 10 divisions of grey matter

- each is a distinct region

11
Q

fasiculus proprius

A

band around the grey matter that allows for communication b/w one level of SC to another - like internal circuitry

12
Q

anterior white commissure

A
  • one of the most important commissures in SC

- “cross bar” of grey matter

13
Q

blood supply to the SC

A
  • vertebral arteries –>
  • anterior spinal a.
  • posterior inferior cerebellar artery –>
  • posterior spinal a.
  • segmental arteries –>
  • redicular arteries (help supplement)
14
Q

what is the large redicular branch at the thoracic vertral level (even w/ renal arteries)

A

artery of Adamkiewicz

15
Q

what side is the artery of Adamkiewicz

A

left

16
Q

caution with the artery of Adamkiewicz:

A
  • supplies spinal cord level that controls lower extremeties
  • if getting renal arteriogram there’s a risk for flooding it w/ contrast
  • if occluded, could get paralysis
  • avoid during contrast studies
17
Q

grey matter in the dorsal horn

A
  • small cells

- related to sensory processing and projections

18
Q

grey matter in the ventral horn

A
  • large cells

- projections to muscles of the body

19
Q

rexed laminae that make up the posterior grey column

A

I-VI

essentially the dorsal horn

20
Q

rexed laminae that make up the lateral grey column

A

VII and X

21
Q

rexed laminae that make up the anterior grey column

A

VIII and IX

22
Q

lamina II

A

substantia gelatinosa of Rolando

23
Q

laminae III and IV

A

nucleus proprius

24
Q

what lamina is involved w/ referred pain

A

lamina V

25
Q

lamina V

A
  • neck of dorsal horn
  • neuron involved in sensory afferent stimuli from cutaneous, muscle and join mechanical and visceral receptors
  • viscerosomatic pain signal convergence often occurs here (pain referral)
26
Q

which lamina deals w/ fast pain, i.e withdrawal from painful stimulus?

A

lamina VI

27
Q

lateral grey column, lamina 7 and 10, deal mainly with what?

A
  • visceral related
  • 7: intermediolateral nucleus that contains preganglionic sympathetics and parasympathetics
  • 10: around central canal; visceral afferent sensations (how fast HR, how dilated blood vessels are, etc)
28
Q

anterior grey column, lamina 8 and 9, are what kind of neurons?

A
  • big motor neurons

- going to skeletal muscle

29
Q

noted structure within lamina 9

A
  • onuf’s nucleus in sacral region

- related to pelvic function

30
Q

how to distinguish axon from dendrites in a motor neuron

A
  • all are multi-polar and large
  • multiple dendrites and 1 axon
  • the axon is clear, the dendrites are not
31
Q

what is the effect on myelin and subsequently staining from a stroke?

A
  • stroke kills cell bodies and axons
  • loss of axon myelin = loss of stain
  • this is how our brains were mapped back in the day
32
Q

What are the main ascending tracts?

A
  • Dorsal column (2)
  • lateral spinothalamic tract
  • spinocerebellar tracts
33
Q

What are the main descending tracts?

A

MAIN: lateral corticospinal tract

  • it’s modulators:
  • rubrospinal tract
  • vestibulospinal tract
  • tectospinal tract
  • reticulospinal tract
34
Q

what are the 2 dorsal column divisions?

A
  • fasciculus gracilis

- fasciculus cuneatus

35
Q

fasciculus gracilis

A

carries sensation from lower extremities

36
Q

fasciculus cuneatus

A

carries sensation from upper extremities

37
Q

what is the cut off spinal level for the two dorsal column tracts?

A
  • T6
  • below T6 is only gracilis
  • cuneatus is C5-T1
38
Q

dorsal column (overall) transmits what senses?

A
  • specific touch
  • pressure
  • 2 point discrimination
  • vibration
  • proprioception
39
Q

where does the dorsal column synapse?

A
  • in the medulla

- it enters the SC, ascends, THEN synapses, then decussates

40
Q

where is the lateral spinothalamic tract located?

A

within the lateral funiculus, it’s a large tract

41
Q

What does the lateral spinothalamic tract transmit?

A
  • pain
  • temp
  • crude touch
42
Q

fibers of the spinothalaic tract

A

C fibers

43
Q

where does the spinothalamic tract synapse?

A

at the level it enters the SC, then crosses

44
Q

spinocerebellar transmits what?

A
  • muscle tension
  • limb position
  • sensory receptors from joint capsules
  • integration of balance and movement
  • not brought to level of conciousness
45
Q

lateral corticospinal tract

A
  • from cortex to spinal cord
  • main descending pathway for volitional movement (control of fine movements)
  • modulated by additional pathways
46
Q

rubrospinal tract

  • path
  • what does it modulate
A
  • from red nucleus in mesocephalon to the SC

- modulates flexion of upper extremities

47
Q

What happens when the rubrospinal tract goes uncontrolled (for ex. from an injury)

A

flexion (decorticate) posturing

48
Q

vestibulospinal tract

A
  • think vestibulocochlear n.
  • related to balance
  • controls anti gravity muscles (extensors)
49
Q

what happens when the vestibulospinal tract goes uncontrolled?

A

extension (decerebrate) posturing

50
Q

tectospinal tract

A
  • from an area involved in visual pathways

- allows you to turn head to a visual stimuli

51
Q

reticulospinal tract

  • where
  • fxn
A
  • located b/w all different nuclei in the brain stem

- inhibits or excites depending on the brainstem level

52
Q

what are the 3 prominent divisions in terms of white/grey matter organization in the SC?

A
  • cervical enlargement
  • lumbar enlargement
  • sacral section
53
Q

cervical enlargement

A

high density of motor neurons going to upper extremities give large ventral horn

54
Q

lumbar enlargement

A

high density of motor neurons going to lower extremities gives large ventral horn

55
Q

sacral SC region

A
  • little white matter

- lg amount of grey matter (going to UG and pelvic diaphragm)

56
Q

Describe a cross section of the low cervical SC

A
  • can distinguish gracilis and cuneatus (tells you it’s above T6)
  • lg. ventral horn (upper extremities)
  • lg. white matter area
57
Q

Describe a cross section of the low thoracic SC

A
  • lack of cuneatus
  • only gracilis
  • tiny dorsal horn
  • small ventral horn
58
Q

what significant structure is found in a section of the thoracic SC?

A

clarke’s column

59
Q

clarke’s column

A

related to spinocerebellar tract - relay for proprioception

60
Q

Describe a cross section of the low lumbar SC

A
  • small amount of white matter
  • large ventral horn
  • big dorsal horn
61
Q

Describe a cross section of the mid sacral SC

A
  • very little white matter
  • relatively great amount of grey matter
  • big dorsal and ventral horn
62
Q

significant structure found in the sacral SC?

A

lateral horn from the interomediolateral cell column

63
Q

what does the interomediolateral cell column contain?

A

ANS neurons: S2, S3, S4 parasympathetics