Spinal Cord Anatomy

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Questions and Answers

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?

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?

Thoracic region

Lumbar enlargement

Cervical enlargement (correct)

Sacral region

What is the name of the fissure that extends down the entire spinal cord?

Anterior median fissure Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the reticulospinal tract?

To regulate muscle tone and balance Signup and view all the answers

How many spinal segments are there in the human spinal cord?

31 Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the portion of the spinal cord that gives rise to a pair of spinal nerves?

Spinal segment Signup and view all the answers

Which descending motor pathway is responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure?

Hypothalamospinal tract Signup and view all the answers

Which ascending tract carries sensation of pain, temperature, and crude touch?

Lateral spinothalamic tract Signup and view all the answers

Where do the spinal nerves exit the vertebral canal?

Through the intervertebral foramina Signup and view all the answers

Which tract transmits conscious proprioception from the lower and upper limb?

Facilicus gracilis tract Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the anterior and posterior roots in the spinal cord?

They form the spinal nerves Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the spinocerebellar tracts?

To convey proprioceptive information to the cerebellum Signup and view all the answers

What is the reason for the non-uniform diameter of the spinal cord?

Due to the shorter length of the spinal cord compared to the vertebral canal Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the ganglion that contains sensory neuron bodies in the spinal cord?

Posterior root ganglion Signup and view all the answers

Which artery supplies the anterior two-thirds of the spinal cord?

Anterior spinal artery Signup and view all the answers

What is the origin of the pontine reticulospinal tract?

Reticular foramen Signup and view all the answers

Which tract is responsible for transmitting sensation from the lower limb?

Posterior spinocerebellar tract Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the medullary reticulospinal tract?

To influence involuntary movement and reflexes Signup and view all the answers

What is the origin of the anterior spinal artery?

Union of two small spinal branches of the vertebral arteries Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the lateral corticospinal tract?

Voluntary movement, especially fine and skilled movement of hands and fingers Signup and view all the answers

What is the location of the central canal in the spinal cord?

In the middle of the gray commissure Signup and view all the answers

What type of neurons are located in the lateral horn?

Preganglionic autonomic neurons Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the rubrospinal tract?

Coordination of larges, gross voluntary movement of the arms and hands Signup and view all the answers

What is the main component of the white matter in the spinal cord?

Myelinated nerve fibers Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the anterior corticospinal tract?

Control of gross movement and maintaining posture Signup and view all the answers

What is the location of the gray matter in the spinal cord?

Central mass of the spinal cord Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the interneurons in the spinal cord?

Connecting different types of neurons Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the sensory neurons in the posterior horn?

Relaying sensory information to different parts of the brain Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the tracts in the spinal cord?

Conducting impulses from the brain to the spinal cord Signup and view all the answers

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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Description

This quiz covers the structure and functions of the spinal cord, including its anterior and posterior horns, location, and primary roles.