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Chapter 14: The Nervous System
The Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves
34
Anatomy
Undergraduate 1
12/09/2011

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Cards

Term
How many segments is the spinal cord divided into?
Definition

31 segments

  • cervical: C1-C8 (8)
  • thoracic: T1-T12 (12)
  • lumbar: L1-L5 (5)
  • sacral: S1-S5 (5)
  • coccygeal (1)
Term
dorsal root ganglia
Definition

contain the cell bodies of sensory neurons

[image]

Term
ventral root
Definition

leaves the spinal cord; contains axons of somatic and visceral motor neurons

[image]

Term
spinal nerve
Definition

distal to root ganglia the sensory and motor fibers form a single spinal nerve

[image]

Term
About how long does the spinal cord continue to enlarge and elongate?
Definition

until an individual is approximately 4 years old

(after 4 years the spinal COLUMN continues to grow but the spinal CORD does not)

as a result of this, the dorsal and ventral roots gradually elongate

Term
cauda equina
Definition

[image][image]

the long dorsal and ventral roots that extend posterior to the end of the spinal cord

Term
spinal meninges
Definition
specialized membranes that provide protection, physical stability, and shock absorbtion to the spinal cord and nerve roots
Term
What does DAP stand for?
Definition
  • dura mater
  • arachnoid mater
  • pia mater
Term
What are the 3 meningeal layers?
Definition
  • dura mater- outermost layer - tough fibrous
  • arachnoid mater
  • pia mater
Term
dura mater
Definition
tough, fibrous, outermost covering of the brain and spinal cord
Term
subdural space
Definition
separates the dura mater from deeper meningeal layers
Term
arachnoid mater
Definition
the middle meningeal layer, consists of simple squamous epithelium
Term
subarachnoid space
Definition
separates the arachnoid mater from the innermost pia mater; contains cerebrospinal fluid
Term
cerebrospinal fluid
Definition

acts as a shock absorber as well as a diffusion medium for dissolved gases, nutrients, chemical messengers, and waste products

(easily accessed between L3 and L4 examination)

Term
pia mater
Definition
innermost meningeal layer; blood vessels supplying the spinal cord are found in the pia mater
Term
spinal tap headache
Definition
  • lowers pressure in system = headache
  • insertion of patients blood into epidural space
Term
meningitis
Definition
  • inflammation of meninges due to immune system response to a pathogen
  • subarachnoid space is enlarged due to increased spinal pressure
  • pressure causes decreased blood flow to spine and brain
Term
gray matter
Definition

contain sensory and motor nuclei

[image]

Term
dorsal gray horns
Definition
contain somatic and visceral sensory nuclei
Term
ventral gray horns
Definition
contain neurons concerned with somatic motor control
Term
lateral gray horns
Definition
found between segments and contain visceral motor neurons
Term
white matter
Definition

can be divided into columns

[image]

Term
ascending tracts
Definition
white matter that carries sensory information towards the brain (UP)
Term
descending tracts
Definition
relays motor commands into the spinal cord (DOWN)
Term
Dermatomes
Definition

an area of skin supplied with afferent nerve fibers by a single posterior spinal root

 

Term
dorsal/ventral ramus
Definition

mixed sensory and motor

[image]

Term
nerve plexus
Definition
complex interwoven network of nerves; exist where ventral rami are converging and branching to form these compound nerves
Term

How does this relate to nerve plexi?

 

R.obert T.aylor D.rinks C.old B.eers

Definition
roots, trunks, division, cords, branches
Term
pudendal nerve
Definition

excretory and reproductive

 

Term
pinched nerve
Definition

AKA: radiculopathy (stinger)

  • mostly in contact sports
  • entrapment or nerve compression
  • pain
Term
sciatica
Definition
pressure on sciatic nerve causing pain, tingling, numbness in lower limb
Term
reflex
Definition
an immediate involuntary response to a specific stimulus
Term
reflex arc
Definition
the neural "wiring" of a single reflex; begins at a receptor and ends at a peripheral effector, such as a muscle or gland cell
Term
stretch reflex
Definition

reflex that provides automatic regulation of skeletal muscle length, stretches a relaxed muscles thus activating a sensory neurn and triggering the contraction of that muscle

(most familiar stretch reflex is patellar reflex)

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