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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the dorsal horn in the spinal cord?
What is the primary function of the dorsal horn in the spinal cord?
Which tract in the white matter of the spinal cord is responsible for transmitting voluntary movement information?
Which tract in the white matter of the spinal cord is responsible for transmitting voluntary movement information?
Which region of the spinal cord contains the sympathetic nervous system axons?
Which region of the spinal cord contains the sympathetic nervous system axons?
What is the function of the ventral root in the spinal cord?
What is the function of the ventral root in the spinal cord?
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What is the relationship between a dermatome and a myotome?
What is the relationship between a dermatome and a myotome?
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Which of the following statements about the white matter tracts in the spinal cord is correct?
Which of the following statements about the white matter tracts in the spinal cord is correct?
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What is the most common level of injury resulting in paraplegia?
What is the most common level of injury resulting in paraplegia?
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Which cervical cord injury level results in paralysis of diaphragm and respiratory muscles?
Which cervical cord injury level results in paralysis of diaphragm and respiratory muscles?
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What type of spinal cord injury leads to the loss of all forms of sensation?
What type of spinal cord injury leads to the loss of all forms of sensation?
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Which type of lesion affects neural function only at the level of the lesion?
Which type of lesion affects neural function only at the level of the lesion?
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What does a peripheral nerve lesion primarily cause?
What does a peripheral nerve lesion primarily cause?
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Which scale is used for the standardized assessment of motor and sensory functions for spinal cord injuries?
Which scale is used for the standardized assessment of motor and sensory functions for spinal cord injuries?
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Study Notes
Grey and White Matter
- Grey matter consists of cell bodies and is found in the horns (anterior, posterior, and lateral) of the spinal cord.
- The dorsal horn processes sensory (ascending) information, the lateral horn processes autonomic information, and the ventral horn processes motor (descending) information.
- White matter is composed of axons and forms columns or tracts.
White Matter Tracts
- Blue tracts are sensory and transmit pain and temperature information.
- Red tracts are motor and transmit voluntary movement information.
- Lateral spinothalamic tract transmits pain and temperature information.
- Anterior spinothalamic tract transmits touch information.
- Corticospinal tract transmits voluntary movement information.
- Medial tract transmits involuntary control information.
Regional Differences
- A: Cervical region
- B: Thoracic region
- C: Lumbar region
- D: Sacral region
Peripheral Nervous System
- Cranial nerves (III-XII) and spinal nerves are part of the peripheral nervous system.
- Cranial nerves enter and exit the CNS via the brainstem.
- Spinal nerves enter and exit the spinal cord.
- T1-L2 contain sympathetic NS axons, and S2-4 contain parasympathetic NS axons.
Dorsal and Ventral Roots
- Dorsal (afferent) roots transmit sensory information into the spinal cord.
- Ventral (efferent) roots transmit motor information from the spinal cord to the body.
- Dorsal and ventral roots form spinal nerves.
Dermatomes and Myotomes
- A dermatome is the area of skin innervated by a single spinal nerve.
- A myotome is a group of muscles innervated by a single spinal nerve.
Spinal Cord Injuries
- Paraplegia: paralysis of the lower limbs due to injury of the thoracic and lumbar cord.
- Quadriplegia/Tetraplegia: paralysis of upper and lower limbs due to injury of the cervical cord.
- C1-T1: paralysis of the diaphragm and respiratory muscles.
- C5: affects strength of deltoid and biceps.
- C7: affects strength of triceps, wrist flexors, and extensors.
Types of Injuries
- Anaesthesia: loss of all forms of sensation.
- Analgesia: inability to feel pain.
- Paralysis: loss of ability to move.
- Paresis: partial loss of voluntary movement.
Segmental Lesion
- Affects the horn, root, or spinal nerve.
- Results in altered/loss of sensation in dermatome, decreased/lost muscle power in myotome, and decreased/lost stretch reflex.
- Affects function of spinal cord segment only at the level of the lesion.
Vertical Tract Lesion
- Affects vertical tracts in the spinal cord.
- Results in altered/lost sensation below the level of the lesion, motor tract signs, and altered/lost control of BP, bladder, bowel control, and thermoregulation.
- Conveys ascending and descending information.
- Lesions interrupting vertical tracts result in loss of function below the level of the lesion.
Classification of Spinal Cord Injury
- Complete: no sensation and no voluntary movement below the spinal cord lesion, and no sensory or motor function in the lowest sacral region (S4-5).
- Incomplete: variable levels of sensation and/or movement in one limb compared to the other, and preservation of sensory and/or motor function in the lowest sacral segment.
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Description
Learn about the orientation and functions of grey and white matter in the brain. Explore how grey matter processes sensory and motor information, while white matter is responsible for transmitting signals through columns and tracts.
