Set 7: Spinal Cord & Reflex Pathways

Where does the spinal cord begin?

Foramen magnum

Where does the spinal cord end?

Around L1–L2 vertebrae

What is the tapered end of the spinal cord?

Conus medullaris

What are nerve roots below the spinal cord called?

Cauda equina

What anchors the spinal cord to the coccyx?

Filum terminale

How many spinal nerve pairs exist?

31 pairs

What protects the spinal cord?

Vertebrae, meninges, and CSF

What is gray matter made of?

Neuron cell bodies and dendrites

What is white matter made of?

Myelinated axons

What are ascending tracts?

Sensory pathways to the brain

What are descending tracts?

Motor pathways from the brain

What is a reflex?

Automatic response to a stimulus

List the five parts of a reflex arc.

Receptor, sensory neuron, integration center, motor neuron, effector

Where does a spinal reflex integrate?

Gray matter of spinal cord

Example of a monosynaptic reflex?

Patellar (knee-jerk) reflex

What is reciprocal inhibition?

Relaxation of antagonist muscles during reflex