Term
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Definition
brain and spinal cord
spinal cord receives (afferent) and send to cerebral cortex, thalamus and cerebellum
efferent info. originating from the cortex is transmitted to spinal cord and back to peripheral nervous system |
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Term
| vertebrae numbers and facts |
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Definition
33 vertebrae
7 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral which are fused
4 fused coccygeal vertebrae that make up the coccyx or tailbone
31 pairs of spinal nerves that leave SC to form peripheral nervous system
nerves named according to the vertebrae avbove or below which they exit
C1-C7 exit above the rest below so 8 cervical nerves
SC ends just below L1 then cauda equina |
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Term
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Definition
| The meningeal covering of the spinal cord contains the cerebrospinal fluid (SCF) that bathes the structures of the CNS also extends past the end of the spinal cord to the L4 vertebral level. The CSF-filled meningeal space between L2 and L4, referred to as the lumbar cistern is the site where spinal taps are performed because the spinal cord is not present, yet CSF is accessible. |
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Term
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Definition
tract
pathway
lemniscus
fasciculus
these all refer to bundles of nerve fibers that have similar function and travel through the spinal cord in a particular area. |
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Term
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Definition
pathways are named according to their origin and the location of their final synapse
EX: spinocerebellar, corticospinal) |
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Term
| ascending (afferent) pathways |
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Definition
spinocerebellar
lateral spinothalamic
ventral spinothalamic
fasciculus gracilis/fasciculus cuneatus (posterior column) |
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Term
| Descending efferent (motor) pathways |
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Definition
lateral corticospinal
ventral corticospinal
vestibulospinal
reticulospinal |
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Term
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Definition
| motor and sensory info. for the head, neck, diaphragm, arms and hands |
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Term
| Thoracic spinal nerves T1-T12 |
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Definition
| serve the chest and upper abdominal musculature |
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Term
| The lumbar spinal nerves (L1-L5) |
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Definition
| carry info. to and from the legs and a portion of the foot |
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Term
| sacral spinal nerves (S1-S5) |
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Definition
| carry impulses for part of the foot, bowel, bladder and the muscles involved in sexual functioning. |
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Term
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Definition
spinal nerve receives info from dorsal root and exits ventral root with no communication to the brain
the tapping of the knee for the reflex is example and the brain also receives the sensation of touch. In SCI this is not the case. |
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Term
| C1-C3 primary muscle groups |
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Definition
infrahyoid muscles
head/neck extension
rectus capitis
sternocleidomastoid
longus colli
longus capitis
scaleni
depression of hyoid
neck extension, flexion, rotation and lateral flexion |
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Term
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Definition
Trapezius
upper cervical paraspinals
diaphragm
shoulder elevation, scapular adduction and depression
independent breathing |
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Term
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Definition
Rhomboids
Deltoids
rotator cuff muscles (some at C6)
serratus anterior (partially)
pectoralis (clavicular segments)
total innervation of elbow flexors
supinators
extensor carpi radialis
flexor carpi radialis
biceps
brachialis (partially)
brachioradialis (partially)
scapular downward rotation
weak shoulder external rotation, flexion and extension
shoulder abduction and rotation
weak approximation of humeral head to glenoid fossa
elbow flexion
full shoulder rotation, adduction, flexion, extension
scapular abduction
horizontal shoulder adduction
strong elbow flexion and supination
wrist extension (weak)
tenodesis action of hand
very weak wrist flexion |
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Term
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Definition
Latissimus dorsi
pec. major (sternal portion)
triceps
pronator teres
flexor carpi radialis
flexor digitorum superficialis
extensor digitorum
extensor pollicis longus and brevis
elbow extension
forearm pronation
wrist flexion
finger flexion (trace0
finger extension (weak)
thumb extension (weak) |
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Term
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Definition
Flexor carpi ulnaris
extensor carpi ulnaris
flexor digitorum profundus and superficialis
flexor pollicis longus and brevis
abductor pollicis longus
abductor pollicis
opponens pollicis
lumbricals
complete writs extension, adduction and abduction
finger flexion
thumb flexion, abduction, adduction, opposition
weak flexion at MCP and IP extension |
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Term
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Definition
interossei
abductor pollicis brevis
lumbricals (complete innervation)
erector spinae muscles (partially)
intercostal muscles (partially)
finger abduction, adduction
thumb bduction (strong)
MCP flexion with IP extension (strong)
thoracic spine extension
increased respiratory function with presence of intercostals |
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Term
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Definition
Erector spinae (partially)
intercostal muscles (paritally)
abdominal muscles (beginning at T7)
Stronger thoracic spine extension
stronger respiratory function
thoracic flexion
weak trunk flexion |
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Term
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Definition
Lower erector spinae muscles
lower intercostal muscles
abdominal muscles
quadratus lumborum (paritally)
pelvic elevation
hip flexion
lumbar extension |
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Term
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Definition
Lumbar erector spinae
hip adductors
hip rotators
quadriceps
hamstrings (paritally)
Tibialis anterior
Lumbar extension and stability
hip adduction
hip rotation
knee extension
knee flexion (weak)
Andle dorsiflexion (weak) |
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Term
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Definition
Hip extensors
hip abductors
hamstrings (complete innervation)
plantar flexors
invertors of ankle
evertors of ankle
Hip extension
hip abduction and stability
knee flexion
ankle plantar: flexion
ankle inversion and stability
ankle eversion and stability |
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Term
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Definition
bladder
lower bowel
genital innervations
gastrourinary functions
bowel functions |
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Term
| Upper Motor Neuron injury |
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Definition
reflex arcs are intact below the level of the injury but are no longer mediated by the brain
characteried by
a. loss of voluntary function below the level of the injury
b. spastic paralysis
c. no muscle atrophy
d. hyperactive reflexes |
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Term
| Lower Motor Neuron injuries |
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Definition
injury involving spinal nerves after they exit the cord at any level
The reflex arc cannot occur because impulses can't enter the cord to synapse
characterized by
a. loss of voluntary function below the level of the injury
b. flaccid paralysis
c. muscle atrophy
d. absence of reflexes |
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Term
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Definition
| damage to the anterior spinal artery or indirect damage to the anterior spinal cord tissue |
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Term
| clinical signs of anterior cord syndrome |
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Definition
loss of motor function below the level of injury. Loss of thermal pain, and tactile sensation below the level of injury
Light touch and proprioceptive awareness are generally unaffected |
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Term
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Definition
occurs when only one side of the spinal cord is damaged
usually stab or gunshot wound |
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Term
| clinical signs of Brown-Sequard's syndrome |
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Definition
ipsilateral loss of motor function below the level of injury
ipsilateral reduction of deep touch and proprioceptive awareness(there is a reduction rather than loss as many of these nerve fibers cross)
contralateral loss of pain, temperature and touch
Usually the extremities with the greatest strength have the poorest sensation |
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Term
| Central Cervical Cord Syndrome |
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Definition
neural fibers serving the upper extremities are more impaired than those of the lower extremities.
usually seen with structural changes in the vertebrae
Most commonly hyperextension of the neck combined with a narrowing of the spinal canal-more prevalent in older adults with narrowing due to arthritis |
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Term
| clinical signs of central cord syndrome |
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Definition
motor and sensory functions in the lower extremities less involved than in the upper extremities
a potential for flaccid paralysis of the upper extremities, as the anterior horn cells in the cervical spinal cord may be damaged. Because these are synapse sites for the motor pathways an LMN injury may result |
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Term
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Definition
| no damage to the spinal cord itself but to the spinal nerves that extend below the cord. Usually incomplete injuries |
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Term
| clinical signs of cauda equina injuries |
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Definition
loss of motor function and sensation below the level of injury
absence of a relfex arc, as the transmission of impulses through the spinal nerves to their synapse point is interrupted. Motor paralysis is of the LMN type with flaccidity and muscle atrophy seen below the level of injury. |
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Term
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Definition
refers to lost or limited function of all extremities as a result of damage to cervical cord segments
also tetraplegia |
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Term
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Definition
| period of altered reflex activity immediately after traumatic SCI |
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Term
| clinical signs of spinal shock |
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Definition
flaccid paralysis of muscles below the level of injury and an absence of reflexes.
Bladder is flaccid -catheterization necessary
lasts from 1 week to 3 months after injury
The spinal cord is still alive and functional above and below the level of injury. THe problem is one of communication. The brain can't receive sensory info. beyond the lesion site and cannot volitionally control motor function below that point. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
need respirator
c4 and below don't need them |
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Term
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Definition
also called hyperreflexia
body's way of letting it know something is wrong below the level of injury. EX: UTI
involves an exaggerated response of the autonomic nervous system.
above t6
ANS is the fight-or-flight |
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Term
| signs of autonomic dysreflexia |
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Definition
pounding headache
diaphoresis
flushing
goose bumps
tachycardia followed by bradycardia
all caused by irritation of nerves below the level of injury |
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Term
| important thing with autonomic dysreflexia |
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Definition
finding the source and treating it
risk of stroke or death if the situation is ignored or mismanaged |
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Term
| reasons for increased risk of DVT |
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Definition
reduced circulation caused by decreased tone
frequency of direct trauma to legs causing vascular damage
prolonged bed rest.
signs are swelling in lower extremities
localized redness
low grade fever |
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Term
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Definition
| the body assumes the temperature of the external environment |
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Term
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Definition
| emptying of bladder by pressing on it with external pressure |
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