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57 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
The brain and spinal cord form the
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Functions of the spinal cord
1. Spinal cord reflexes.
2. Integration (summing of inhibitory and excitatory) nerve impulses/ pathway for nerves.
3. Highway for upward and downward travel of sensory and motor information from your body to your brain.
Spinal cord is protected by
vertebral column, meninges, cerebrospinal fluid, and vertebral (denticulate) ligaments
bony vertebrae protect the spinal cord. Spinal nerves exit at the intervertebral space. (Fibrocartilage)
Vertebral column
connective tissue coverings that encircle the brain and spinal cord.
Meninges
"tough mother"- outer, tough meninx (singular)
Dura mater
(similar to a spider web) - made of a delicate spider web arrangement of collagen fibers.
Arachnoid mater
The area between the dura mater and the arachnoid contains a fluid that cushions the brain and spinal cord.
cerebrospinal fibers (CSF)
in the subarachnoid space, between the arachnoid and pia is
Pure CSF
inner layer which directly covers the brain and spinal cord.
Pia mater
thickenings of the pia mater which suspend the spinal cord in the middle of the meninges.
Denticulate Ligament
flattened cylinder, 16-18 inches long and 3/4 inch in diameter
spinal cord
in the adult it ends at L2 and in newborn in ends at L4
spinal cord
growth of the cord stops at age 5
spinal cord
nerves which control the upper limbs leave the spinal cord at the
cervical vertebrae
nerves which control the lower limbs leave the spinal cord at the
lumbar vertebrae
"Horse's tail" - nerves which leave the inferior part of the spinal cord do not travel straight out, but they hang from the end of the spinal cord like wisps of hair and look like a horse's tail. (Goes up, not down)
cauda equina
how many pairs of cervical nerves
8
how many pairs of thoracic nerves
12
how many pairs of lumbar nerves
5
how many pairs of sacral nerves
5
how many pairs of coccygeal nerves
1
are two bundles of axons which connect each spinal nerve to a segment of the cord
roots
contains only sensory fibers, which conduct nerve impulses from the periphery into the CNS. (goes up the back side)
Poseterior or dorsal root
contains axons of motor neurons, which conduct impulses from the CNS to effector organs and cells. (goes down the front side)
Anterior or ventral root
(lumbar puncture) - local anesthetic is given, and a long needle is inserted into the subarachnoid (to get CSF, clear fluid, between the arachnoid and pia) space between L3-L5. The procedure samples CSF for diagnosis, measures CSF pressure. Can be used for injection of antibiotics, anethetics, or chemotherapy.
Spinal tap
anesthesia is injected into the outside dural space to block (numb) the spinal nerve.
epidural
matter is shaped like the letter H or a butterfly. Contains neuron cell bodies, unmyelinated (wiring with no insulation) axons and dendrites. Surrounded by white matter (myelinated nerves).
Gray
gray matter on each side of the spinal cord is divided into regions called
horns
located in the center of the gray matter and extends the entire length of the spinal cord and is filled with CSF.
central canal
bundle of axons and dendrites extending up and down the spinal cord without a connective tissue covering
tract
sensory tracts ascend (up) and are called
afferent
motor tracts descend (down) and are called
efferent
impulses travel from the spinal cord toward the brain (thalamus) and it's found in the anterior part of the spinal cord.
anterior spinothalamic tract
automatic responses to changes in the environment.
reflexes
is the integration center for spinal reflexes
gray matter of the spinal cord
result in skeletal muscle contraction
somatic reflexes
involve smooth and cardiac muscle and glands (heart rate, respiration, digestion, urination, etc.)
autonomic (visceral) reflexes
reflex arc includes:
receptor, sensory neuron, integrating center, motor neuron, and effector (muscle, gland, or another neuron)
controls muscle tension by causing muscle relaxation before muscle force becomes so great that the tendon might be torn.
patellar tendon reflex
are mixed nerves because they contain sensory and motor nerves within the same nerve.
spinal nerves
wraps around each nerve fiber (axon)
endoneurium
surrounds a group of nerve fibers forming a fascicle
perineurium
covering of the entire nerve
epineurium
branches of a nerve
rami
nerves join together to form networks called plexuses; found in the neck, arm, low back, and sacral regions.
nerve plexus
no plexus in which region
thoracic
supplies the head, neck, and shoulders.
cervical plexus
(C3-C5) keeps the diaphragm alive.
phrenic nerve
damage to the spinal cord above what causes respiratory arrest.
C3
includes nerves from C5-T1. Supplies the shoulder and arm.
brachial plexus
includes the sciatic nerve (L4-S3) supplies the posterior thigh and the area below the knee.
sacral plexus
occurs when pain extends from the buttock down the leg to the foot and may be a sign of a herniated disc in the area of L4 to S3.
Sciatica
area of skin that provides sensory input to one pair of spinal nerves or to cranial nerve V (for face).
dermatome
inflammation of the nerves caused by injury, vitamin deficiency, or poison.
neuritis
infection of peripheral nerve by chicken pox virus (Herpes Zoster) which causes severe pain, skin discoloration, and a line of skin blisters.
shingles
viral infection causing motor neuron death in the spinal cord and possible death from cardiac failure or respiratory arrest. Paralysis and can lead to death.
poliomyelitis