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Spinal Cord

Learning Outcomes:
1. Describe the general structure of the spinal cord.
2. Name the meninges and their related spaces surrounding the spinal cord.
3. Identify the parts of the spinal cord cross-section (dorsal and ventral
roots, dorsal root ganglia, white matter columns, gray matter horns).
Describe the function of each of these parts.
4. Define reflex. List and describe the parts of a reflex arc.
5. List and describe the different ways a reflex can be classified.
6. Compare and contrast the features of a stretch reflex, a withdrawal reflex,
and a crossed extensor reflex.
7. Describe the connective tissue components of a nerve.
8. Explain the branching of the spinal nerve into rami and plexuses.
9. List and describe the four major spinal plexuses, including the areas of
the body innervated by each.
Divided into 31 segments (based on nerve origin); associated with vertebrae
Spinal segment Anatomy:

Dorsal root ganglion: mass of cell bodies of sensory neurons in PNS

Dorsal root: band of tissue that contains axon of sensory neurons

Ventral root: carries axons of motor neurons

Sensory and motor roots are bound together to form a spinal nerve (mixed nerve).

There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves

Spinal Meninges:

specialized membranes that separate the spinal cord from the bony spinal column

provide stability and shock absorption

Three meningeal layers:

1. Dura Mater:

outer most covering

tough membrane material

protective shield

epidural space: above dura mater, filled with adipose tissue that cushions

2. Arachnoid:

middle layer

thinner than dura mater

looks like a wet spider web

subarachnoid space: filled with Cerebrospinal fluid that protects and cushions

below arachnoid mater

3. Pia Mater:

innermost layer

adheres to surface of spine

contains nerves that service tissue

bound to the neural tissue

Sectional Anatomy of the Spinal Column

Grooves along the dorsal and ventral surfaces: dorsal (posterior median sulcus) and
ventral (anterior median fissure )

Each section of the spinal cord is composed of white and gray matter:

White matter is the axons of myelinated and unmyelinated axons

Gray matter is the soma of neurons, glial cells and unmyelinated axons

Gray Matter:

cell bodies organized into groups: nuclei

sensory nuclei are separated from the motor nuclei

posterior gray horn: somatic and visceral sensory nuclei

anterior and lateral gray horn: somatic and visceral motor nuclei

anterior-somatic nuclei

lateral-visceral; autonomic

White Matter:

organized into columns: posterior, anterior and lateral

each column has tracts (axons) that are either ascending (carry info to brain) or
descending (motor commands)

ascending: info carried to brain

descending: motor

Spinal Nerve Anatomy:


I.

Mixed nerve:
A. bundles of sensory and motor axons extending from each spinal cord section

1. contains both sensory and motor axons


2. Covered by layers of connective tissue
a) epineurium: outer layer of connective tissue that covers entire nerve; isolates and
holds nerve in place
b) perineurium: surrounds and isolates fascicles (bundles of neurons)
c) endoneurium: surrounds individual neurons
Branches of Spinal Nerve

First branch: AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM; contains the visceral motor fibers
that extend to the sympathetic ganglion

Dorsal Ramus: contain sensory and motor neurons that service the skin and muscle of the
back; monitors and controls structures at the back of the body

Ventral Ramus: contain sensory and motor neurons that service the skeletal muscles of
body wall and limbs;

radial=medial
ramus=lateral
Nerve plexus

Blending of ventral ramus of several spinal nerves, each innervating regions of


compound muscles

Examples include the cervical, brachial and lumbrosacral.

cervical: associated with neck region; includes phrenic nerve (which controls diaphragm)

brachial: associated with arms

lumbrosacral: associated with legs

Reflex: rapid, automatic response to a specific stimulus


Components of a Reflex Arc include:

receptor:

site of stimulus

structure that is sensitive to a stimulus

collects info from environment

when stimulated it fires an action potential

sensory neuron: carries impulse to CNS

integration center: within the CNS, may be a simple synapse between sensory and motor
neurons or may involve multiple synapses with interneurons; DETERMINES
RESPONSE IN CNS

motor neuron: carries action potential to the effector

effector: muscle or gland that responds to stimulus

Classification of Reflex:
1. Development:

innate reflexes: connection between neurons occurs during development, genetically or


developmentally determined

acquired reflex: conditioning, learned

2. Processing site

spinal reflex:

cranial reflex:

3. Nature of Response

somatic reflex: involuntary control of skeletal muscle

visceral reflex: involuntary control of other tissue types

4. Complexity of Circuit

monosynaptic: single synapse, fast response

polysynaptic: involve one or more interneurons, more complicated response

Reflex: an automatic response to a stimulus produced by a reflex arc


REFLEX ARC (Figure 12.5)
5 basic components:
1.

a sensory receptor detects a stimulus

2.

a sensory neuron conducts actions potentials through the nerve and dorsal root to the
spinal cord

3.

in the spinal cord, the sensory neuron synapses with an interneuron (interneuron is not
involved in a monosynaptic reflex arc)

4.
5.

the interneuron synapses with a motor neuron


a motor neuron axon conducts action potentials through the ventral root and spinal nerve
to an effector organ

Monosynptic Spinal Reflex:


Stretch Reflex

regulates the length of skeletal muscles

stimulation: stretching of the muscle

response: contraction of the muscle

receptor (muscle spindle): bundle of specialized cells innervated by both sensory and
motor neurons

when the muscle fibers of a muscle stretch, distorts the receptor causing an AP

example: patellar reflex (knee jerk reflex)

postural reflex: helps maintain body posture

Polysynaptic Spinal Reflex:


Withdrawal Reflex

moves parts of body away from painful stimulus

actually consists of several reflexes that coordinate the two sides of the body

flexor reflex:

muscles of the limb contract to move body part away

function is to remove a limb or another body part from a painful stimulus

simultaneously the extensor muscles will relax (ipsilateral reflex arc)

crossed extensor reflex:

is a contralateral reflex that causes the muscles in the other limb to adjust for
changes in posture and maintain balance

helps prevent falls by shifting the wight of the body from the affected to the
unaffected limb

Processing centers of the brain can alter motor responses of spinal reflexes
Superficial reflexes: elicited by gentle cutaneous stimulation:

Babinski Reflex: occurs in infants; a reflex action in which the big toe remains extended
or extends itself when the sole of the foot is stimulated

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