13. The Spinal Cord & Spinal Nerves

These flashcards cover vocabulary and key concepts from the lecture on the spinal cord and spinal nerves.

CNS

Central Nervous System, consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

A clear fluid that cushions and protects the spinal cord.

Meninges

Three protective coverings around the brain and spinal cord.

Dura Mater

The tough outermost layer of the meninges.

Arachnoid Mater

The middle layer of the meninges, resembling a spider web.

Pia Mater

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

Vertebrae

Bones that encase and protect the spinal cord.

Epidural Space

Space filled with fat that surrounds the spinal cord.

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges.

Spinal Tap

Procedure to remove cerebrospinal fluid for diagnostic purposes.

Conus Medullaris

The cone-shaped end of the spinal cord.

Filum Terminale

A thread-like extension of the pia mater that stabilizes the spinal cord.

Cauda Equina

A bundle of spinal nerves and spinal nerve rootlets at the inferior end of the spinal cord.

Dorsal Root

Incoming sensory fibers of spinal nerves.

Ventral Root

Outgoing motor fibers of spinal nerves.

Gray Matter

Contains neuron cell bodies and dendrites within the spinal cord.

Anterior Median Fissure

A deep groove that divides the spinal cord's left and right sides.

Posterior Median Sulcus

A shallow groove on the back of the spinal cord separating the right and left sides.

Dorsal Horns

The part of gray matter that receives sensory information.

Ventral Horns

The part of gray matter that contains motor neuron cell bodies.

Lateral Horns

Horns only found in the thoracic spinal cord containing sympathetic neurons.

Central Canal

A small channel running through the center of the spinal cord, containing CSF.

White Matter

Regions of the spinal cord that contain myelinated axons.

Ascending Tracts

Nerve bundles that carry sensory information upward to the brain.

Descending Tracts

Nerve bundles that carry motor commands downward from the brain.

Proprioception

Awareness of body position and movement.

Stretch Reflex

A reflex that maintains muscle tone and prevents injury from overstretching.

Reflex Arc

The pathway that a reflex impulse takes.

Monosynaptic Reflex

A reflex involving a single synapse between a sensory and a motor neuron.

Ipsilateral Reflex

A reflex that occurs on the same side of the body as the stimulus.

Babinski Sign

An abnormal plantar reflex response in adults, indicating neurological damage.

Dermatome

A specific skin area innervated by a single spinal nerve.

Nerve Plexus

A network of intersecting spinal nerves.

Cervical Plexus

The network of nerves formed from C1 to C5, supplying the neck and diaphragm.

Phrenic Nerve

The nerve that controls the diaphragm, important for breathing.

Sciatic Nerve

The largest nerve in the body, arising from the sacral plexus.

Shingles

A viral infection that can occur in a dermatome region.

Plantar Flexion Reflex

Reflex action assessed by stimulating the sole of the foot.

Interstitium

Fluid-filled space between tissues.

Epineurium

The outermost layer that surrounds a nerve.

Perineurium

The sheath that surrounds a bundle of nerve fibers.

Endoneurium

The innermost layer that surrounds an individual nerve fiber.

Lumbar Puncture

A procedure to collect CSF for diagnostic testing.

Epidural Anesthesia

Anesthesia administered into the epidural space.

Lumbar Region

The lower back area of the spinal column.

Thoracic Region

The upper and middle back area of the spinal column.

Key Reflexes

Reflexes that assess spinal cord activity and damage.

Neuroplasticity

The ability of the nervous system to adapt or change.

Integrating Center

The part of the spinal cord where signals are processed.

Somatic Nervous System

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movements.

Autonomic Nervous System

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary functions.

Stimulus

An event or change that creates a response in the nervous system.

Effector

The muscle or gland that responds to a nerve impulse.

Motoneuron

A neuron that conveys impulses to muscles.

Sensory Neuron

A neuron that transmits sensory information to the CNS.

Neurological Examination

A series of tests that assess the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Hyperreflexia

Exaggerated reflex response, which may indicate a nervous system disorder.

Hyporeflexia

Reduced reflex response, which may indicate nerve damage.

Neural Pathway

The route through which nerves communicate.

Afferent Nerves

Nerves that carry sensory signals to the central nervous system.

Efferent Nerves

Nerves that carry motor signals from the central nervous system.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across a synapse.

Inequality of Reflexes

Variability in reflex responses among individuals.