Spinal cord nerves and functions

conduction

up and down moventment of electrical impluses within the spinal cord.

locomotion

simple repetive central pattern generators

somatic reflexes

quick, involuntary, stereotypic responses to stimuli
may or may not involve brain, they are unlearnt skeletal muscle reflex, testing these help diagnose diseases

plexus

combination of interlaced parts, a network especially of nerve, blood vessels or lymphatics

spinal cord

cylinder of nervous tissue that aries from the brainstem at the foramen magnum of the skull

segement

part of spinal crod supplied by each pair of spinal nerve

features of spinal cord

- it passes through the vertebral canal
-ends at L1 or little beyound in adults
- gives rise to 31 pairs of spinal nerve
- ave 1.8 cm thick and 45cm long

anterior median fissure
posterior median sulcus

grooves on anterior side
grooves on posterior side

division of spinal nerve

cervical, thoracic,lumbar and sacral

caudia equina

bundle of nerve root that occupy the vertebral canal from L2 to S5
formed from roots that arise from L2-Coccyx

cervical and lumbar enlargement

two ares of the cord thicker than elsewhere, cervical: nerve to upper limbs and lumbar: lower in thoracic that supply nerves to pelvis region and lower limbs.

meninges of the spinal cord

three layers of fibrous connective tissue membranes
- enclose the brain and spinal cord
- separate soft tissue of central nervous system from bones
of cranium and vertebral canal

dura mater arachnoid mater - pia marer (DAP)

from superficial to deep vertebral bone - epidural space

gray matter

central area shaped like butterfly or H in the spinal cord, surrounded by white matter,
- neuron cell bodies have little myelin
- information processing, site of most synpases
- carries signal from one part to another of CNS

Parts of Gray Matter

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white matter

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Spinal tracts

ascending: carry sensory info up spianl cord
descending: carry motor info down sipnal cord
decussation:as fibers pass through the brainstem they cross over
contralatteral: opposite side of body
ipsilateral: same side of body

nerve

cordlike organ composed of numerous nerve fibers (axon) bound by connective tissue
composed of thousands of fibers carrying currents

sipnal nerve function

allow spinal cord communication with rest of body

Schwann cells

nerves of the peripheral nervous system are ensheathed in these

Endoneurium

external to myelin sheath,each fiber surround by this

Fascicles

nerve fiber gathered in bundles wrapped in perineurium

Epineurum

bundles numerous fascicles that make up whole nerve, consist of dens irregular connective tissue fiber ( conituous with dura meter
protects nerve from streching and injury

blood vessels function in nerves

they penetrate connective tissue coverings to supply the plentiful need by the high metabolic rates of nerve

classification of nerve

afferent fiber, efferent fiber, somatic fiber, visceral fiber, general fiber, special fiber

sensory (afferent )nerve

carry signals from sensory receptors to CNS

motor (efferent) nerve

carry signals from CNS to muscles and glands

mixed nerve

consit of both afferent and efferent fibers
conduct signals in two directions

somatic fibers

innervate skin, skeletal muscles, bones and joints

visceral fiber

innervates blood vessels, glands and viscera

general fibers

innervate wide sperad organs eg. muscles,skin,glands,visceras, blood vessels

specail fibers

innervate more localized organs in the head eg. eyes, ears, olfactory, taste, muscles for chewing, swallowing and facial movements

ganglion

cluster of neuron cell bodies outside CNS,surrounded by epineurium, continuous with tract of nerve and dura mater

dorsal root ganglion

contians cell bodies of afferent neurons

Spinal Plexses location

Cervical plexses(C1-C5,8 pairs of nerve); Brachial plexses(C5-T1);Intercostal/thoracic nerve (12 pairsof nerve, T1-T12)
Lumbar plexses(L1-L5, 5 pairsof nerves); Sacral plexes(5 pairs of nerves); Sacral plexses(L4-S4,5 pairs of nerve)Coccygeal plexes (S4-Co1, i co nerve)

spinal nerve proper

merging of dorsal and ventral roots

dorsal root proximal anatomy

sensory input to spinal cord, six to eight rootlets that enter posterior horn

ventral root proximal anatomy

motor output of spinal cord,six to eight rootlets that converge to form anterior root

anterior ramus

innervates the anterior and lateral boby

posterior ramus

innervates the back

communicating rami

T1-L2 these additional braches pair form sympathetic (chain) ganglion outside nertebrae

somatosensory function

carry sensory signals from bones, joints, muscles and skin

proprioception

brian receives info about body position and movements fron nerve endings in muscle, tendons and joints

motor function

primarily to stimulate muscle contraction

dermatome

-specific area of the skin that recieves sensory input fr pair of spinal nerve, they overlap their edges as mcuh as 50 times,
-severing or anesthetize three successive spinal nerve cause loss of sensation in one dermatome

dermatome map

a diagram of the cutaneous regions innervated by each spinal nerve

reflexes

reactions of glands and muscles to stimulation, they are quick, involuntary and stereotyped, can incldue glandular secretions of contraction of any three muscle types

four properties of reflexes

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pathway of reflex arch (1-5)

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interfusal fiber

muscle fiber within spindle

muscle spindle

-stretch receptor embedded in myelin sheath
-enable control of coordinated movmment, muscle tone and pressure
-serve as proprioceptors to onitor position and movement of body(muscle ;ength and change in length

3 types of nerve fiber in muscle spindle

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tendon reflex

reflexive contraction of a muscle when its tendon is tapped,
-knee-jerk(patellar) reflex is monosynaptic reflex, no interneuron

strech reflex

-stretch muscle 'figth back' and contract which maintains increased tonus thus muscle is stiffer than unstretch muscle
-maintain posture and equilibrium, stablilize joint by balacning tension in extensors and flexors smoothing muscles actions

path of patellar tendon reflex arc

1. extensor muscle stretched 2. muscle spindle stimulated 3.primary afferent neuron excietd 4. primary afferent neuron stimulates alpha motor neuron to extensor muscle 5.alpha motor neuron stimulates extensor muscle to contract 6.primary afferent neuron stimulates inhibitory interneuron 7.interneuron inhibits alpha motor neruon to flexor muscle

path of flexor (withdrawal) reflexes

1. stimulation of sensory receptors 2.sensory neuron activi-ates multiple iterneurons 3.ipsilateral motor neuron to flexor excited.4.ipsilateral flexor contracts 5.contrlateral motor neurons to extensor excited 6. contralateral extensor contracts

flexor reflexor

quickcontraction of flexor muscles resulting in the withdrawal of limb fr an injurious stimulus
-requires contractionof flexor and relaxation of extensors in limb.

reciprocal inhibition

prevent muscles fr wking against each oyher by inhibiting tha antagonist.

polysynaptic reflex arc

pathway in which signals travels over the many synapses on their way back to muscle

ipsilateral reflex arc

sensory input and motor output are on the same sides of spinal cord

crossed extension reflex

contraction of extensor muscles in limb of one that is withdrawn

contralateral reflex arc

one in which input and output are on opposite side.

goli tendon organ

proprioceptors in a tendon near its junction with a muslce.

tendon reflex

in response to excessive tension on the tendon
-reduces muscle contraction b4 it tears a tendon or pulls it loose fr the muscle of bone.

complete transection

complete severance of spinal cord
-immediate loss of motor control below level of injury
-above C4 threat to respiratory failure (phrenic nerve) and spinal shock, paralysis

paraplegia

paralysis of both lower limbs

quadriplegia

paralysis of all four limbs

hemiplegia

paralysis on one side of body due to BRAIN INJURY not spinal cord.

sciatic nerve injury

sharp pain travels fr gluteal region along posterior side of thigh and leg to ankle
-90% result fr herniated intervertebral disc or osteoporosis

sciatic nerve

longest nerve in body, fron lower spine all dwn to ankles

spina bifida

congenital defect where one or more vertebrae fail to form a complete vertebral arch. 1:1000 born with it folic acid reduce risks

poliomyelitis

caused by polio virus, spread by fecal contaminated water
-destroy motro neuron in brian and anterior horn of spinal cord, muslce pain, weakness, loss of some reflexes, muscular atrophy

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

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chicken pox

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shingles(herpes zoster)

localized disease caused by virus traveling dwn sensory nerves when immune system is compromised
-over 50 yo,pain, itching,chest and waist of body it shows
-chicken pox vaccine reduce risk