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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the spinal cord?
What is the primary function of the spinal cord?
- To regulate body temperature
- To produce hormones that control growth and development
- To transmit information between the brain and the body and to execute simple reflexes (correct)
- To filter waste from the blood
What is the term for the horse-tail shaped structure consisting of lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal nerve roots?
What is the term for the horse-tail shaped structure consisting of lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal nerve roots?
- Dura mater
- Cauda equina (correct)
- Conus medullaris
- Filum terminale
What is the region of the spinal cord that corresponds to the C5-T1 spinal segments?
What is the region of the spinal cord that corresponds to the C5-T1 spinal segments?
- Thoracic region
- Lumbar enlargement
- Cervical enlargement (correct)
- Sacral region
What is the name of the fissure that extends down the entire spinal cord?
What is the name of the fissure that extends down the entire spinal cord?
What is the primary function of the reticulospinal tract?
What is the primary function of the reticulospinal tract?
How many spinal segments are there in the human spinal cord?
How many spinal segments are there in the human spinal cord?
What is the term for the portion of the spinal cord that gives rise to a pair of spinal nerves?
What is the term for the portion of the spinal cord that gives rise to a pair of spinal nerves?
Which descending motor pathway is responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure?
Which descending motor pathway is responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure?
Which ascending tract carries sensation of pain, temperature, and crude touch?
Which ascending tract carries sensation of pain, temperature, and crude touch?
Where do the spinal nerves exit the vertebral canal?
Where do the spinal nerves exit the vertebral canal?
Which tract transmits conscious proprioception from the lower and upper limb?
Which tract transmits conscious proprioception from the lower and upper limb?
What is the significance of the anterior and posterior roots in the spinal cord?
What is the significance of the anterior and posterior roots in the spinal cord?
What is the primary function of the spinocerebellar tracts?
What is the primary function of the spinocerebellar tracts?
What is the reason for the non-uniform diameter of the spinal cord?
What is the reason for the non-uniform diameter of the spinal cord?
What is the term for the ganglion that contains sensory neuron bodies in the spinal cord?
What is the term for the ganglion that contains sensory neuron bodies in the spinal cord?
Which artery supplies the anterior two-thirds of the spinal cord?
Which artery supplies the anterior two-thirds of the spinal cord?
What is the origin of the pontine reticulospinal tract?
What is the origin of the pontine reticulospinal tract?
Which tract is responsible for transmitting sensation from the lower limb?
Which tract is responsible for transmitting sensation from the lower limb?
What is the primary function of the medullary reticulospinal tract?
What is the primary function of the medullary reticulospinal tract?
What is the origin of the anterior spinal artery?
What is the origin of the anterior spinal artery?
What is the primary function of the lateral corticospinal tract?
What is the primary function of the lateral corticospinal tract?
What is the location of the central canal in the spinal cord?
What is the location of the central canal in the spinal cord?
What type of neurons are located in the lateral horn?
What type of neurons are located in the lateral horn?
What is the primary function of the rubrospinal tract?
What is the primary function of the rubrospinal tract?
What is the main component of the white matter in the spinal cord?
What is the main component of the white matter in the spinal cord?
What is the function of the anterior corticospinal tract?
What is the function of the anterior corticospinal tract?
What is the location of the gray matter in the spinal cord?
What is the location of the gray matter in the spinal cord?
What is the function of the interneurons in the spinal cord?
What is the function of the interneurons in the spinal cord?
What is the function of the sensory neurons in the posterior horn?
What is the function of the sensory neurons in the posterior horn?
What is the function of the tracts in the spinal cord?
What is the function of the tracts in the spinal cord?
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Study Notes
Spinal Cord Structure
- Begins at the foramen magnum as a continuation of the medulla oblongata
- Typically ends at the vertebral disc between L1 and L2 vertebrae
- Has an anterior median fissure, two anterolateral sulci, and a posterior median fissure
- Divided into grey matter and white matter
Grey Matter
- Consists of nerve cells, neuroglia, and blood vessels
- Divided into left and right comma-shaped masses connected by a transverse grey commissure
- Contains nerve cells, including motor neurons, sensory neurons, and interneurons
- Has lateral horns in T1-L2 segments
White Matter
- Composed of myelinated nerve fibers
- Divided into three columns: posterior, lateral, and anterior white columns
- Each column has different tracts, including ascending sensory tracts and descending motor tracts
Tracts in the Spinal Cord
- Descending tracts: corticospinal, rubrospinal, reticulospinal, and hypothalamic
- Ascending tracts: lateral spinothalamic, anterior spinothalamic, fasciculus gracilis, fasciculus cuneatus, spinocerebellar
Descending Tracts
- Corticospinal tracts:
- Lateral corticospinal tract: controls fine and skilled movement of hands and fingers
- Anterior corticospinal tract: controls gross movement and posture
- Rubrospinal tract: coordinates large, gross voluntary movement of arms and hands
- Reticulospinal tract:
- Pontine reticulospinal tract: enhances voluntary movement, particularly posture and locomotion
- Medullary reticulospinal tract: influences involuntary movement and reflexes
- Hypothalamic tract: crucial for involuntary bodily functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure
Ascending Tracts
- Lateral spinothalamic tract: carries sensation of pain, temperature, and crude touch
- Anterior spinothalamic tract: carries sensation of pain, touch, and temperature, and plays a role in emotional and affective aspects of pain perception
- Fasciculus gracilis and fasciculus cuneatus: transmit sensation and conscious proprioception from lower and upper limbs
- Spinocerebellar tracts:
- Posterior spinocerebellar tract: carries proprioceptive information from muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs
- Anterior spinocerebellar tract: carries proprioceptive information from upper limb and trunk
Arterial Supply to the Spinal Cord
- Anterior spinal artery: supplies anterior two-thirds of the cord
- Posterior spinal arteries: supply posterior one-third of the cord
- Segmental arteries: supply nerve roots
- Pial plexus: arterial trunks communicate around the cord forming the vasocorona/arteriae corona
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