Front | Back |
Describe the structure and function of the spinal meninges.
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•The Spinal Meninges
•Specialized membranes isolate spinal cord from surroundings
•Functions of the spinal meninges include:
•Protecting spinal cord
•Carrying blood supply
•Continuous with cranial meninges
•Meningitis
•Viral or bacterial infection of meninges
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Explain the location and function of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the spinal cord.
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The subarchnoid space is filled with cerbrospinal fliud (area between the archnoid space and pia mater)
Carries dissolved gases, nutrients, and wastes Pia mater |
Conus medullaris
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Ending of spinal cord
Thin, conical spinal cord below lumbar enlargement
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Filum Terminale
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Thin thread of fibrous tissue at end of conus medullaris
Attaches to coccygeal ligament
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Cauda equina
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Nerve roots extending below conus medullaris
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Denticulate ligaments
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Extend from pia mater to dura mater
Stabilize side-to-side movement
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Central Canal
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A passageway along the longitudinal axis of the spinal cord
Contains CSF (Cerebrospinal Fluid)
Surrounded by gray matter
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Gray matter
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Surrounds central canal of spinal cord
Contains neuron cell bodies, neuroglia, unmyelinated axons
Has projections (gray horns)
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Gray horns
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Posterior gray horns
Contain somatic and visceral sensory nuclei; back
Anterior gray horns
Contain somatic motor nuclei; front
Lateral gray horns
Are in thoracic and lumbar segments; contain visceral motor nuclei; middle
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Gray commissures
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Axons that cross from one side of cord to the other before reaching gray matter
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White matter
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Is superficial
Contains myelinated and unmyelinated axons
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Orginzation of white matter
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Posterior white columns
Lie between posterior gray horns and posterior median sulcus
Anterior white columns
Lie between anterior gray horns and anterior median fissure
Lateral white columns
Located on each side of spinal cord between anterior and posterior columns
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Anterior white commissure
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Area where axons cross from one side of spinal cord to the other
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What are nuclei? Explain the structure, function and location of nuclei in the spinal cord. |
-Cell bodies of neurons formed into functional groups
-Masses of gray matter within the CNS
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Somatic vs Viscereal
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Somatic
Receive information from outside Skin Visceral Recieves information from inside the body Organs |