Front | Back |
Spinal cord is a component of the _____ system
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Central nervous system
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Spinal nerves are part of the ______ system
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Peripheral nervous system
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3 functions of the spinal cord
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Conduction, locomotion, and reflexes
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Function of conduction of the spinal cord
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Bundles of fibers passing information up and down spinal cord
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Function of locomotion of the spinal cord
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Repetitive, coordinated actions of several muscle groups; central pattern generators are pools of neurons providing control of flexors and extensors (walking)
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Function of reflexes of spinal cord
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Involuntary, stereotyped responses to stimuli; involves the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves
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____ pairs of spinal nerves arise from the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions of the cord
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31
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Medullary cone
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Conus medullaris; tapered tip of the cord
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Cauda equinae
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L2 to S5 nerve roots that resemble horses tail
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3 Fibrous layers enclosing the spinal cord
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Dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater
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Dura mater
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Tough collagenous membrane surrounded by epidural space filled with fat and blood vessels
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Arachnoid mater
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Layer of simple squamous epithelium lining dura mater and loose mesh of fibers filled with CSF (creates subarachnoid space)
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Pia mater
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Delicate membrane adherent to spinal cord, filium terminale and denticulate ligaments anchor the cord
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Spina bifida
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Congenital defect in 1 baby out of 1,000; failure of vertebral arch to close covering spinal cord; folic acid (B vit) as part of a healthy diet for all women of childbearing age reduces risk
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Gray matter
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Neuron cell bodies with little myelin; pair of dorsal (posterior) horns and ventral (anterior) horns connected by gray commissure punctured by a central canal continuous above with 4th ventricle
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