Spinal Cord Pathway Activity PDF

Plan for Today Introduction- 5 minutes Answer questions - 10 minutes Each pathway presented to group- 20 minutes Discussion and overview- 15 minutes Check-out quiz- 15 minutes  Spinal Cord Pathway Activity Purpose- Linking patient symptoms to spinal cord pathways is vital in dia...

Plan for Today Introduction- 5 minutes Answer questions - 10 minutes Each pathway presented to group- 20 minutes Discussion and overview- 15 minutes Check-out quiz- 15 minutes  Spinal Cord Pathway Activity Purpose- Linking patient symptoms to spinal cord pathways is vital in diagnosing the type and location of myelopathies. Task- Identify important components of each direct spinal cord pathway to create a diagram. Diagrams will aid in interpreting symptoms caused by spinal cord trauma/compression/pathologies. Criteria- Work with your partner to answer the questions associated with your assigned pathway. Create a diagram that includes and labels neurons involved, location of cell bodies and their axons, location of synapsing, location of decussation, and terminal location. Present the diagram to the class. Overview and Clinical Connections Myelopathy Myelopathy is a condition that involves damage or dysfunction of the spinal cord itself. It can result from various causes, including spinal cord compression, spinal cord injury, degenerative conditions like cervical spondylosis, tumors, or infections. Symptoms can include weakness, numbness, and changes in sensory perception, often affecting both the upper and lower limbs. Additional symptoms may include problems with balance and coordination, as well as issues with bladder and bowel control.  Understanding the location of pathway decussation is integral to interpreting sensory and motor symptoms  Brown-Sequard Syndrome Dorsal column Rare; hemi-section (one side section) of spinal Cerebrum cord Dorsal columns: fine touch, vibration, two- Spinothalamic point discrimination, and conscious proprioception Cerebellu Affected ipsilateral to the lesion because dorsal m columns ascend ipsilaterally carrying the Spinocerebellar information from the body before they decussate in the lower medulla. Brainstem Spinothalamic tracts - pain, temperature, and Dorsal root ganglia crude touch Affected contralateral to the lesion because they ascend a level up and then cross to the opposite side of the cord. Spinocerebellar tracts: unconscious Spinal cord proprioception Lesion affecting posterior spinocerebellar T6 tracts cause ipsilateral dystaxia; anterior spinocerebellar would cause contralateral dystaxia since these fibers cross to the opposite side and ascend.  Brown-Sequard Syndrome Dorsal column Cerebrum Corticospinal tracts: Spinothalamic Ipsilateral loss of movements at the Cerebellu site of the lesion which presents with m flaccid paralysis, lower motor neuron Spinocerebellar lesion like loss of muscle mass, Brainstem fasciculations, and decreased power and tone. Dorsal root ganglia Below the level of lesion, there would be upper motor neurons lesion signs like paralysis with hypertonia clasp Corticospinal knife type, hyperreflexia, and positive Babinski sign. Spinal cord Upper motor neurons inhibit reflexive T6 pathways; without UMN signals, LMN are more prone to receiving these reflexive signals causing muscle spasticity and contraction Injury to tracts in the midbrain Dorsal column Cerebrum Dorsal columns: fine touch, vibration, two- point discrimination, and conscious Spinothalamic proprioception Cerebellu Affected contralateral to the lesion because dorsal columns ascends carrying the information from the m body then decussate in the lower medulla before Spinocerebellar reaching the injury. Brainstem Spinothalamic tracts - pain, temperature, and crude touch Dorsal root ganglia Affected contralateral to the lesion because they ascend a level up and then cross to the opposite side of the cord. Spinocerebellar tracts: unconscious proprioception Lesion affecting posterior spinocerebellar tracts Spinal cord cause ipsilateral dystaxia (loss of control of bodily movement); T6 anterior spinocerebellar would cause contralateral dystaxia since these fibers cross to the opposite side and ascend. The side of the spinal cord that is compressed/has the lesion is linked to the possible symptoms  Spinal cord tracts- Cross section Dorsal column- cuneate fasciculus Corticospinal- lateral Dorsal column- gracile Corticospinal- posterior fasciculus Spinocerebellar- posterior Spinocerebellar- anterior Spinothalamic- lateral Medial indirect motor pathway Spinothalamic- anterior  Herniated Disc Anterior Spinothalamic Pathway- pain, temperature, and crude touch Loss of pain contralateral to lesion Spinothalamic- anterior  Spinal Cord Contusion/Laceration/Fracture Dorsal column  Dorsal column Spinal Stenosis Spinocerebellar Narrowing of the vertebral canal Spinocerebellar- Unconscious proprioception Dorsal column- discriminative touch, vibration, pressure  Spinal Cord Vascular Supply Anterior Spinal Artery single, midline artery that runs along the anterior aspect of the spinal cord responsible for supplying the anterior two-thirds of the spinal cord, including the motor neurons and other cells responsible for motor function. Posterior Spinal Arteries two arteries, smaller than the anterior spinal artery, running on each side of the spinal cord supply posterior one-third of the spinal cord, including the dorsal columns and the posterior white matter. contribute to the overall blood supply and help ensure that all parts of the spinal cord receive some level of oxygen and nutrient delivery. Anterior view of spinal cord  Radiculopathy vs Myelopathy Radiculopathy refers to a condition that affects the spinal nerve roots, typically where they exit the spinal cord. It is often caused by compression, inflammation, or irritation of these nerve roots, which can occur due to herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or other degenerative conditions. Common symptoms of radiculopathy include pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the area of the body served by the affected nerve root. Compare spinal cord versus spinal root: How does the location of injury/damage determine what type of fibers are impacted? How does this impact the location impacted?