Peripheral Nervous System: Somatic

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the peripheral nervous system and associated disorders, including definitions and explanations of various terms.

Somatic Nervous System

Voluntary branch of the peripheral nervous system consisting of sensory input and motor output.

Dermatomes

Segmental organization of the body that reflects innervation from a particular spinal nerve.

Upper Motor Neuron (UMN) Damage

Damage located in the brain or spinal cord causing spasticity and hyperreflexia.

Lower Motor Neuron (LMN) Damage

Damage located in the peripheral nerve or muscle leading to flaccidity, weakness, and atrophy.

Complete Spinal Cord Injury

Total loss of motor and sensory function below the level of injury.

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Partial preservation of motor and/or sensory function below the level of injury.

Tetraplegia

Paralysis affecting all four limbs, typically due to injury at the cervical level.

Paraplegia

Paralysis affecting the lower half of the body, typically due to injury below the cervical level.

Autonomic Dysreflexia

A medical emergency initiated by painful stimulus below the level of spinal cord injury causing systemic hypertension.

Degenerative Disc Disease

A condition where the intervertebral discs deteriorate, potentially leading to various spinal disorders.

Herniated Disc

A bulging or rupture of the disk material, which can compress spinal nerves and cause pain.

Radiculopathy

Pain due to compression of a nerve root, often resulting in motor and sensory loss.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Postinfective ascending polyneuropathy characterized by a segmental demyelination immune response.

Myasthenia Gravis

An autoimmune disorder leading to weakness at the neuromuscular junction due to antibodies against ACh receptors.

Spinal Shock

A condition following spinal cord injury characterized by flaccid paralysis and loss of reflexes.