Spinal Cord

Spinal Cord

• 2 principle functions:

Structure

X-section

• gray matter - located centrally

• white matter - myelinated axons

 

Reflex Pathway

EX - patellar reflex - monosynaptic

EX 2 - crossed extensor

 

Clinical Considerations

1) Routine physical exam - testing reflexes

2) Spinal Cord Injury

Tracts

Spinal Nerves

--> nerve splits into 4 nerves

1) innervates back

2) innervates spinal cord/vertebrae

3) synapses with autonomic nervous system

4) main nerve - chest, head, neck, muscles, etc.

 

Nerves

- 5 dif plexuses depending on area of body

Brachial Plexus --> 5 major nerves

axillary,

ulnar (funny bone) Muscles of forearm,

median,

radial,

musculocutaneous - anterior arm muscles skin of forearms

 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Polio(myelitis)

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrigs Disease)

neurons in spinal cord, brainstem, cortex --> degenerate

 

Dermatomes

Meninges of the CNS

dura mater

arachnoid

pia mater

Meningitis

Ventricles and CSF

Functions

VIP Clinically