What is the spinal cord?
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A cylindrical structure that extends from the base of the skull to the lower back, transmitting signals between the brain and the body.
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What is the spinal cord?
A cylindrical structure that extends from the base of the skull to the lower back, transmitting signals between the brain and the body.
What is the difference between an upper motor neuron and a lower motor neuron?
Upper motor neurons originate in the brain and connect to lower motor neurons in the spinal cord, which directly innervate muscles.
What is the primary role of spinal nerves?
They are essential for communication between the brain and body, reflex actions, and maintaining bodily functions.
How can the spinal cord be injured?
Through trauma, disease, or congenital disorders.
What are the components of a spinal nerve?
Dorsal root (sensory) and ventral root (motor).
What is syringomyelia?
A disorder where a cyst forms within the spinal cord, leading to pain and weakness.
What are the primary functions of the spinal cord?
To conduct sensory information to the brain and motor commands from the brain to the body; also involved in reflex actions.
What is paraplegia?
Paralysis of the lower limbs resulting from spinal cord injury in the thoracic or lumbar regions.
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31 pairs.
What is the central canal?
A small channel in the center of the spinal cord that contains cerebrospinal fluid.
What is white matter in the spinal cord?
Myelinated axons that form ascending and descending tracts for signal transmission.
What are the signs of a spinal cord injury?
Loss of sensation, weakness, paralysis, and loss of bowel or bladder control.
What is a spinal cord injury?
Damage to the spinal cord that can result in loss of function, sensation, or mobility below the injury site.
What are spinal tracts?
Bundles of axons in the white matter that carry specific types of information to and from the brain.
What is the spinothalamic tract?
An ascending pathway that transmits pain and temperature sensations to the brain.
What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
A clear fluid that cushions the spinal cord and brain, providing protection and nutrient transport.
What is the role of the lumbar puncture?
A procedure to collect cerebrospinal fluid for diagnostic testing.
How many segments does the spinal cord have?
There are 31 segments: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal.
What is a reflex arc?
A neural pathway that controls a reflex action, involving sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons.
What is paralysis of all four limbs due to injury in the cervical region of the spinal cord called?
Quadriplegia.
What is the cauda equina?
A bundle of spinal nerves and nerve roots that extend below the conus medullaris.
How does the body respond to spinal cord injury?
With inflammation, followed by a healing process that may include neuroplasticity.
What is a spinal reflex?
An automatic response to a stimulus, processed in the spinal cord without direct involvement of the brain.
What are dermatomes?
Areas of skin that are mainly supplied by a single spinal nerve root.
What is spinal stenosis?
A narrowing of the spinal canal that can compress the spinal cord or nerves.
How is the spinal cord organized?
Into an H-shaped core of gray matter surrounded by white matter.
What are the meninges?
Three protective membranes (dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater) that surround the spinal cord and brain.
What is the conus medullaris?
The tapered end of the spinal cord, typically located around the L1-L2 vertebrae.
What is a herniated disc?
A condition where the intervertebral disc protrudes and compresses nearby nerves.
What is the function of the ventral root?
To carry motor commands from the spinal cord to the muscles.
What is the function of the dorsal root?
To carry sensory information from the body to the spinal cord.
What is the corticospinal tract?
A major descending pathway that carries motor commands from the brain to the spinal cord.
What protects the spinal cord?
The vertebral column, meninges, and cerebrospinal fluid.
What is the role of spinal nerves?
To transmit motor and sensory signals between the spinal cord and the body.
What is the filum terminale?
A fibrous extension of the pia mater that anchors the spinal cord to the coccyx.
What role does physical therapy play in spinal cord rehabilitation?
It helps improve mobility, strength, and function following injury.
What is the role of the sympathetic chain ganglia?
Part of the autonomic nervous system, involved in the 'fight or flight' response.
What is gray matter in the spinal cord?
Comprised of neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, and unmyelinated axons, involved in processing information.
What is a spinal tap?
A procedure to collect CSF for testing or to relieve pressure.
How do spinal nerves contribute to the autonomic nervous system?
Some spinal nerves contain autonomic fibers that regulate involuntary functions like heart rate and digestion.
What is quadriplegia?
Paralysis of all four limbs resulting from spinal cord injury in the cervical region.