NEUR 100 Spinal Cord Lecture

ACHOO

autosomal dominant condition that results in sneezing in response to abnormal stimuli like light

adult’s pinky

spinal cord size

cervical section

section of the spinal cord that controls neck, hands, and arms

thoraic section

section of the spinal cord that controls trunk

lumbar section

section of the spinal cord that controls legs

sacral section

section of the spinal cord that controls bowels, bladder, and sexual function

dermatome

localized area of skin that has sensation via a single nerve of the spinal cord

referred pain

pain in organs is perceived as coming from a different part of the dermatome

neuron

base unit of nervous system function that is used to transmit and store information

myelin sheath

fatty sheath around the axon that speeds up and preserves neural signal

central canal

CSF filled tube that runs longitudinally sown the center of the spinal cord

grey matter

darker tissue containing sensory and motor cell bodies, unmyelinated axons and glia

afferent neurons

neurons that bring sensory input to the CNS

efferent neurons

neurons that take motor input out of the CNS and to the muscles and organs

dorsal root/horn

part of the spinal cord that controls afferent neurons

ventral root/horn

part of the spinal cord that controls efferent neurons

paralysis

loss of motor function

flaccid paralysis

severe damage to the ventral root or ventral horn cells

spastic paralysis

only motor neurons of primary motor cortex are damaged, stops movement but reflexes remain intact

reflex

involuntary action taken without thinking

interneurons

neurons within the spinal cord that integrate sensory neurons into motor neurons as part of the reflex arc

paraplegia

partial paralysis resulting from spinal cord damage in the thoracic or lumbar section

quadriplegia

total and most severe paralysis resulting from damage to the cervical section

cauda equina

a bundle of spinal roots located caudal to the end of the spinal cord

epidural space

space between spinal dura mater and walls of vertebral cord

epidural

local anesthesia is injected into a catheter in the epidural space of someone in labor

spinal tap

CSF is withdrawn from the inferior lumbar region for diagnostic purposes