The Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to the spinal cord and spinal nerves.

Spinal Cord

The major connection between the brain and the body.

Vertebral Column

Composed of bone tissue, encases and protects the spinal cord.

Spinal Meninges

Three protective membranes that encircle the spinal cord.

Dura Mater

The outermost layer of the spinal meninges.

Arachnoid Layer

The middle layer of the spinal meninges.

Pia Mater

The innermost layer of the spinal meninges that directly adheres to the spinal cord.

Cervical Enlargement

The part of the spinal cord in the neck that supplies nerves to the arms.

Lumbar Enlargement

The part of the spinal cord in the lower back that supplies nerves to the legs.

Conus Medullaris

The tapered end of the spinal cord, located near the second lumbar vertebra.

Filum Terminale

An extension of the pia mater that anchors the spinal cord to the coccyx.

Cauda Equina

A collection of nerve fibers extending from the conus medullaris into the pelvic region.

Gray Matter

The butterfly-shaped region in the center of the spinal cord.

White Matter

Surrounds gray matter and contains myelinated nerve fibers in the spinal cord.

Ascending Tracts

Nerve pathways that carry sensory information to the brain.

Descending Tracts

Nerve pathways that carry motor commands from the brain.

Spinal Tap

Procedure to remove cerebrospinal fluid for diagnostic purposes.

Reflexes

Rapid, predictable motor responses to a stimulus, often involuntary.

Reflex Arc

The pathway that a reflex follows, including receptor, sensory neuron, integration center, motor neuron, and effector.

Somatic Reflexes

Reflexes that involve skeletal muscle contractions.

Autonomic Reflexes

Reflexes that involve smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands.

Patellar Reflex

Knee extension reflex, indicating nerve function in the lumbar region.

Quadriplegia

Loss of function in all four limbs due to cervical spinal cord injury.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

A disease caused by destruction of anterior horns of the spinal cord, leading to muscle atrophy.

Poliomyelitis

Viral infection that can cause motor neuron destruction and paralysis.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

A demyelinating condition often triggered by viral infection, leading to nerve dysfunction.

Shingles

Painful rash along sensory nerves caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus.

Paresthesia

Abnormal sensations such as tingling or burning without actual stimulation.

Spinal Meningitis

Inflammation of the spinal meninges due to viral or bacterial infection.