16 Back Spinal Cord
16 Back Spinal Cord
16 Back Spinal Cord
d, spinal nerves, and relations to the vertebral column Describe the structure and function of the vertebrae, associated ligaments, and muscles that move the spine Describe the internal anatomy of the spinal cord Summarise the function and anatomy of muscle stretch and withdrawal reflexes
Vertebral column (backbone, spine) Part of axial skeleton 33 vertebrae: 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral (fused), 4 or so coccygeal Support head and trunk, transmit body weight to lower limbs through pelvic girdle Protects spinal cord and nerve roots (in vertebral canal)
Moore & Agur 11 Netter 18
Thoracic and sacral - concave anteriorly (primary curvatures) Cervical and lumbar - convex anteriorly (secondary curvatures) Abnormal curvatures: Kyphosis Lordosis Scoliosis
Curvatures of spine
Vertebrae
In mini-exploration, revise structure of typical vertebrae, including Vertebral body, pedicles, lamina, spinous process, transverse processes, superior and inferior articular processes, vertebral foramen; intervertebral foramen between adjacent vertebrae for spinal nerves Unique features of cervical vertebrae: lateral mass, transverse foramen for vertebral artery Special structures of C1=atlas (arches), C2=axis (dens)
Netter 12, 142,143,144
Zygapophyseal: between superior and inferior articular facets (synovial) Cervical, lumbar regions: flexion/extension, lateral flexion (abduction/adduction) Thoracic region, atlantoaxial joint: rotation Joints innervated by dorsal rami of spinal nerves
Extensors of spine
Erector spinae Iliocostalis, longissimus, spinalis Transversospinalis Semispinalis, multifidus, rotatores Splenius cervicis and capitis Suboccipital mm Act against gravity to maintain upright posture, extend spine, lateral flexion, control rate of flexion and lateral flexion Innervated by dorsal rami of spinal nerves Netter 161, 162
Neck: longus colli, scalenes, SCM Lumbar flexion : rectus abdominis, external and internal obliques (also rotation) Lumbar lateral flexion: quadratus lumborum, psoas major
Spinal nerves exit below respective pedicle, except cervical, which exit above (C8 n between C7, T1 v) Nerve roots increase in length inferiorly, with cauda equina inferior to termination of cord L
Netter 149, 155
L S
Netter 156
Lumbar puncture
Lumbar cistern with CSF and cauda equina between L1/2 to S2/3 Usually accessed between L3, L4 or L4, L5 spinous processes Sample CSF, measure CSF pressure, deliver drugs or radiological contrast (myelography) Layers traversed
Formed by anterior (motor) and posterior (sensory) root Divide into posterior and anterior ramus Posterior rami to extensors and skin of back Anterior rami:
C1-C4 - cervical plexus C5-T1 - brachial plexus T1-L1 intercostal, etc nerves L2-S3 - lumbosacral plexus
Spinal nerves
Netter 150
Occasionally an indicator of more serious disease: cancer, infection, referred pain from pelvis or abdomen, AAA, vertebral fracture
Fix 18
Fix 18
T1-L2 Clarkes nucleus (VII) proprioceptive afferents, axons form the posterior spinocerebellar tract
Netter 151
White matter
Posterior, lateral, anterior funiculi (columns) of white matter Ascending tracts (to brainstem, thalamus, cerebellum) Descending tracts (from cerebral cortex, brainstem) Between segments of spinal cord (fasciculus proprius) surrounds gray matter All tracts on R and L sides of cord
Fix 18
Fix 18
Spinothalamic tract: anterolateral, axons from contralateral dorsal horn to thalamus (pain, temperature, coarse touch) Spinocerebellar tracts: afferents to cerebellum
Fix 18
2 neuron reflex: primary sensory neuron, LMN Monosynaptic reflex - one synapse within CNS Sensory receptor, peripheral nerve, sensory neuron, spinal cord segment, motor neuron (LMN), peripheral nerve, NMJ, muscle Modulated by descending UMN input to LMNs Commonly tested muscle stretch reflexes: Calcaneal (Achilles) tendon: S1-2 Patellar ligament: L3-4 Biceps brachii and brachioradialis tendons: C5-6 Triceps brachii tendon: C7-8
Several neurons:
LMNs
Nolte 10-13
Netter 159