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Spinal Cord
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Conduction | Function of the spinal cord, where nerve fibers conduct information up and down the cord and connect different levels of the trunk with the brain and each other |
| Locomotion | Function of the spinal cord, where the spinal cord initiates the simple, repetitive coordinated contractions of muscle groups, allowing for movement like walking |
| Reflexes | Function of the spinal cord, where the spinal cord quickly interprets and responds to stimuli without voluntary thought |
| Neural integration | Function of the spinal cord, where sensory input is processed and the appropriate responds is delivered |
| Spinal cord | Cylinder of nervous tissue that arises from the brainstem at the foramen magnum of the skull, ending at L1 or a little beyond |
| 31 | The number of pairs of spinal nerves that the spinal cord gives rise to |
| Cervical Segment | Segment of the spinal cord located in the neck region, C1-C8 |
| Thoracic Segment | Segment of the spinal cord located in the upper trunk region, T1-T12 |
| Lumbar Segment | Segment of the spinal cord located in the lower trunk region, L1-L5 |
| Sacral Segment | Segment of the spinal cord located in the sacral region, S1-S5 |
| Cervical enlargement | Thickened area of the spinal cord that contains the nerves to the upper limbs |
| Lumbar Enlargement | Thickened area of the spinal cord that contains the nerves to the lower limbs and the pelvic region |
| Medullary cone | Below the lumbar enlargement, the spinal cord tapers to a point |
| Cauda equina | Literally "Horse's tail", a bundle of nerve roots that occupy the vertebral canal from L2 to S5 |
| Meninges | Three fibrous connective tissue membranes that enclose the brain and the spinal cord |
| Dura mater | The most superficial of the meninges; tough, thick collagenous membrane surrounded by epidural space |
| Epidural space | The space between the dural sheet and the vertebral bone |
| Arachnoid mater | The middle layer of the meninges; made of simple squamous epithelium and has a gap located below it filled with loose collagen and elastic fibers |
| Pia mater | The deepest of the meninges; a delicate transparent membrane adherent to the spinal cord |
| Filum terminale | Structure of the pia mater that stabilizes and anchors the cord to the coccyx |
| Denticulate ligaments | Ligaments that extend through the arachnoid mater to the dura mater to anchor the cord |
| Spina bifida | congenital defect in which one or more vertebrae fail to form a compete vertebral arch for enclosure of the spinal cord |
| Folic acid | B vitamin; part of a healthy diet and greatly reduces the risk of spina bifida |
| Anterior median fissure | Longitudinal groove on the anterior side of the spinal cord |
| Posterior median sulcus | Longitudinal groove on the posterior side of the spinal cord |
| Gray matter | Neuron cell bodies with little myelin, where information is processed. Is surrounded by white matter in the spinal cord |
| White matter | Neuron cell bodies that are heavily myelinated, which carries signals from one point of the CNS to another. Surrounds grey matter in the spinal cord |
| Gray commissure | Bridge that connects the right and left sides of the spinal cord. Punctured by central canal |
| Posterior root | Root of the spinal nerve that carries only sensory fibers |
| Anterior root | Root of the spinal nerve that carries only motor fibers |
| Tracts | Fasciculi; subdivisions of the posterior, lateral, and anterior columns that carry information up and down the spinal cord |
| Ascending tracts | Carries sensory information up the spinal cord |
| Descending tracts | Carries motor information down the spinal cord |
| Decussation | As fibers pass the brainstem and spinal cord, they cross over from left to right and vice versa. As a result, the left side of the CNS controls the right and the right side controls the left |
| Contralateral | The origin and destination of a tract are on opposite sides of the body |
| Ipsilateral | The origin and destination of a tract are on the same sides of the body |
| First order neuron | The first neuron type of the ascending tract; detects stimulus and transmits signal to spinal cord or brainstem |
| Second order neuron | The second neuron type of the ascending tract; signal continues to thalamus at the upper end of the brainstem |
| Third order neuron | The third neuron type of the ascending tract; signal is carried to the sensory region of the cerebral cortex |
| Upper motor neuron | The first neuron type of the descending tract; originates in cerebral cortex or brainstem and terminates on a lower motor neuron |
| Lower motor neuron | The second neuron type of the descending tract; transmits information to an effector organ |
| Poliomyelitis | Disease caused by poliovirus that destroys motor neurons in the brainstem and anterior horn of the spinal cord |
| Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis | Disease where the astrocytes fail to reabsorb the neurotransmitter glutamate from the tissue fluid, leading to the destruction of motor neurons and muscular atrophy |
| Endoneurium | Loose connective tissue external to neurolemna that wraps around neurons |
| Perineurium | Layers of overlapping squamous cells that wrap fascicles, or bundles of nerve fibers |
| Epineurium | Dense irregular connective tissue that wraps the entire nerve |
| Ganglion | Cluster of neurosomas outside of the CNS |
| Proximal branches | Branches close to the spinal cord; anterior and posterior roots |
| Distal branches | Branches further from the spinal cord; anterior and posterior ramus, meningeal branch |
| Anterior ramus | Distal branch that innervates the anterior and lateral skin and muscles of the trunk; gives rise to nerves of the limb |
| Posterior ramus | Innervates the muscles and joints in that region of the spine and the skin of the back |
| Meningeal branch | Reenters the vertebral canal and innervates the meninges, vertebrae, and spinal ligaments |
| Cervical Plexus | C1 to C5, located in neck; supplies neck and phrenic nerve to the diaphragm |
| Brachial plexus | C5 to T1, located near the shoulder; supplies upper limb and some of the shoulder and neck, and gives rise to median nerve, ulnar nerve, and radial nerve |
| Lumbar plexus | L1 to L4, in lower back; supplies abdominal wall, anterior though, and genitalia |
| Sacral Plexus | L4, L5, and S1 to S4, located in pelvis. Supplies remainder of lower trunk and lower limb, and gives rise to sciatic nerve |
| Coccygeal plexus | Only contains S4, S5, and Co branches |
| Proprioception | Brain receives information about body position and movements from nerve endings in muscles, tendons, and joints |
| Chickenpox | Varicella-zoster; remains for life in posterior root ganglia and may reemerge as shingles, travelling down sensory nerves when immune system is compromised |
| Complete transection | Complete severance of cord, causes paralysis |
| Paraplegia | Paralysis of both lower limbs |
| Quadriplegia | Paralysis of all four limbs |
| Hemiplegia | Paralysis on one side of the body |
| Paresis | Partial paralysis or weakness of the limbs |
| Sciatica | Trauma to sciatic nerve causes sharp pain that travels from gluteal region along posterior side of the thigh and leg to ankle |
Created by:
Rylyn27463
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