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