Spinal Cord and spinal nerves Lehigh

Name the three meninges and what they do

The protective layers that encircle the spinal cord and brain

Dura Mater: thick outer layer, tough mother

Arachnoid mater: Middle layer, spiderlike

Pia mater: Inner most layer, soft mother

What is the CSF function and where is it

Acts as a cushion around the spinal cord and brain. Found in the subarachnoid space

What is the BBB and what makes it up

Astrocytes make up the BBB and it prevents toxins from the blood from entering the brain

Where does the spinal cord run from

Runs from the inferior part of the brain to the level of L1

What are the three parts of the end of the spinal cord

Conus medullaris: Where the spinal cord starts to taper and end at L1

Filum terminale: Arises from the conus medullaris. Extention of the pia mater that fuses with the arachnoid and dura mater to anchor the spinal cord to the coccyx

Cauda equina: Found at the lower end of the spinal cord. Bundle of nerve roots

White matter is seperated into what columns

Anterior column

Posterior column

Lateral column

Grey matter is seperated into what horns

Ventral horn and dorsal horn

What is the posterior root

Sensory. Axons do not synapse here but go to the interneurons of the dorsal horn or to the white matter

What is the anterior root

Axons synapse in the grey matter

How many pairs of spinal nerves are there

31 pairs

Name all the regions of spinal nerves

Cervical 8

Thoracic 12

Lumbar 5

Sacral 5

Coccygeal 1

What are dermatomes

The area of skin that provides sensory info to a specific spinal level

What are plexuses

A network of axons

Describe the cervial plexus

C1-C4. Contains the phrenic nerve which causes contraction of the diaphram for breathing. Hiccups

Describe the Brachial plexus

C5-T1. Provides nerve distribution into the upper extremeties.

Axillary: deltoid

Radial: Extensors of arm

Musculocutaneous: anterior muscles of arm

Ulnar: intrinsic muscles of hand

Median: Most forearm flexors and mucles for thumb

Describe the lumbar plexus

L1-L4. Contians major nerves like the obturator, femoral, tibial, and peroneal

Describe the Sacral Plexus

L4-S4

Describe the Coccygeal plexus

S4- Coccygeal. Supplies coccygeal region

Sensory is referred to as

Ascending tracts

Motor are referred to as

Descending tracts

What level is the biceps reflex

C5

What level is the brachioradialis reflex arc

C6

What level is the triceps reflex arc

C7

What level is the patellar reflex arc

L2-L4

What level is the achilles reflex arc

S1

What is monoplegia

Paralysis of one limb

What is diplegia

Paralysis of both upper or lower limbs

What is quadriplegia

Paralysis of all four limbs

What is complete transection

All function lost below that level

What are some causes and symptoms of spinal cord compression

Fractured vertebrae, herniated intervetrabral disc, tumors, infections. Symptoms include pain, weakness, paralysis

What is Multiple sclerosis

Immune system attacking the neurolemma of nerves

What is ALS and its symptoms

Immune system attacking motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy

What is shingles, its causes, and symptoms

Acute infection of the peripheral nerve that arises from the spinal nerves. Caused by Herpes Zoster. Symptoms include pain and blisters along dermatome