mc1 - anatomy and physiology

SPINAL CORD AND SPINAL NERVES

SPINAL CORD
The major communication link between the brain and the PNS inferior to the head.
It integrates incoming information and produces responses through reflex mechanisms.

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GENERAL STRUCTURE
The spinal cord extends from the foramen magnum to the level of
the second lumbar vertebra (L2)
Shorter than the vertebral column because it does not grow as
rapidly during development
Spinal cord is composed of:
Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacral
The spinal cord give rise to 31 pairs of spinal nerves, which exit the
vertebral column through intervertebral and sacral foramina.
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GENERAL STRUCTURE
The spinal cord is larger in diameter at its superior end, gradually
decreases in diameter towards its inferior end.
Two enlargement occur where nerve supplying the upper and lower
limbs enter and leave the spinal cord.
Cervical Enlargement - inferior cervical region corresponds to
the location where nerve fibers that supply the upper limbs enter
and leave the spinal cord
Supplies upper limbs
Lumbosacral Enlargement - inferior thoracic, lumbar, and
superior sacral regions is the site where the nerve fibers
supplying the lower limbs enter or leave the spinal cord.
Supplies lower limbs
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GENERAL STRUCTURE

Conus Medullaris - cone shaped terminal end of the spinal

cord.
Cauda Equina - numerous rots of spinal nerves extending
inferiorly from the lumboscral enlargement and conus
medullaris. These nerve roots provide the ability to move
and feel sensation in the legs and the bladder.
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MENINGES
Connective tissue membranes that
surrounds the spinal cord and brain
Coverings of the brain
Three meninges:
Dura Mater
Arachnoid
Pia Mater
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DURA MATER
outer brain covering, lines the inside of the
skull.
most superficial and thickest
forms a sac called - THECAL SAC
which surrounds the spinal cord
attaches the rim of the foramen magnum and
ends at the level of the second sacral vertebra.
EPIDURAL SPACE
– space between dura mater & arachnoid
mater, contains interstitial fluid
Epidural Anesthesia - injecting anesthetics
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ARACHNOID MATTER
Middle layer, spider-web like arrangement of
collagen and elastic fibers
Subarachnoid space
space between arachnoid mater & pia mater,
contains cerebrospinal fluid
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PIA MATER
Third, deepest layer
Thin transparent connective tissue
layer that adheres to surface of
spinal cord & brain
Contains many nerve and blood
vessels that aid in nourishing the
underlying cells of the spinal cord
and brain
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CROSS SECTION OF THE SPINAL CORD

reveals that the spinal cord consists of a superficial white portion and deep gray portion.
White Matter:
consists of myelinated axons - froms the nerve tracts
organized into columns
subdivided into nerve tracts or fasciculi
carries action potentials to and from the brain
Gray Matter
consists of neuron cell bodies, dendrites and axons.
divided into horns
dorsal horns contain sensory axons that synapse with interneurons
ventral horns contain the neuron cell bodies of somatic motor neurons
lateral horns contain the neuron cell bodies of autonomic motor neurons
REFLEXES
fast, involuntary, unplanned sequence of involuntary actions that
occurs in response to a particular stimulus or certain changes in the
environment
In times where we need to react to some stimulus very quickly & we
don’t have time for information to go up to the brain & back out
again, information relays directly through spinal cord
Can be inborn, learned or acquire
Spinal reflex – when integrating takes place in the spinal cord gray matter
Ex: patellar reflex (knee jerk)
Cranial reflex – when integration occurs in the brainstem rather than the
spinal cord
Ex: tracking movements of your eyes as you read
Somatic reflex – involve contraction of skeletal muscles
Autonomic (visceral) reflexes – not consciously perceived; involve
responses of smooth muscles, cardiac muscle & glands
Includes body functions controlled by the autonomic nervous system
through autonomic reflexes (e.g. heart rate, digestion, urination,
defecation
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REFLEX ARC
Neurons - basic structural unit of the nervous system
Reflex arc - basic funtional unit of the nervous system
smallest, simplest portion capable of receiving stimulus and producing a response
Five components:
i. Sensory receptor
ii. sensory neuron
iii. interneuron
iv. motor neuron
v. effector organ
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REFLEX ARC
1. SENSORY RECEPTOR
detects the stimuli
Description: the receptor end of a particular dendrite or a receptor cell in a sensory
organ.
Function: sensitive to a specific type of internal or external change.

2. SENSORY RECEPTOR
conveys the sensory info to brain or spinal cord.
Description: Dendrite, cell body, and axon of a sensory neuron.
Function: transmit nerve impulses from the receptor into the brain or spinal cord.
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REFLEX ARC
3. INTERNEURON
relay neurons.
Description: dendrite, cell body, and axon of a neuron within the brain or spinal cord.
Function: serves as processing center, conducts nerve impulses from the sensory neuron
to a motor neuron.

4. MOTOR NEURON
Conduct motor output to the periphery.
Description: Dendrite, cell body, and axon of a motor neuron.
Function: transmits nerve impulse from the brain or spinal cord out to an effecter.
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REFLEX ARC
5. EFFECTOR ORGAN
Description: a muscle or gland.
Function: Response to stimulation by the motor neuron and produces the reflex or
behavioral action.
 Stretch Reflex
DIVIDE THE CLASS INTO
Golgi Tendon Reflex
FIVE:
Withdrawal Reflex

Reciprocal Invervation
Crossed Extensor Reflex
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creative
SPINAL NERVES
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STRUCTURE OF NERVES
Endoneurium – innermost layer; wraps individual axons within a nerve (both myelinated
& unmyelinated)
Consists of mesh of collagen fibers, fibroblasts & macrophages
Perineurium—middle layer; thicker layer of connective tissue; wraps each fascicle -
bundle of axons with their endoneurium held together in bundles
Consists of up to 15 layers of fibroblasts within network of collagen fibers
Epineurium – outermost covering over entire nerve
Consists of fibroblasts & thick collagen fibers
Extensions of epineurium fill spaces between fascicles
Dura mater of spinal meninges fuses with epineurium as nerve passes through
intervertebral foramen

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STRUCTURE OF NERVES
Endoneurium. Each fiber is surrounded by a delicate connective tissue sheath, an
endoneurium.
Perimeurium. Groups of fibers are bound by a coarser connective tissue wrapping, the
perineurium, to form fiber bundles, or fascicles.
Epineurium. Finally, all the fascicles are bound together by a tough fibrous sheath, the
epineurium, to form the cordlike nerve.
Mixed nerves. Nerves carrying both sensory and motor fibers are called mixed nerves.
Sensory nerves. Nerves that carry impulses toward the CNS only are called sensory, or
afferent, nerves.
Motor nerves. Those that carry only motor fibers are motor, or efferent, nerves.
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ORGANIZATION OF SPINAL NERVES

All 31 spinal nerves except the first pair and those in the sacrum, exits the vertebral
column through intervertebral foramina located between adjacent vertebrae.
the first pair exits between the skull and the 1st vertebral column
sacrum nerves exit from the single bone of the sacrum through the sacral foramina.
Eight spinal nerve pairs exit the vertebral column in the CR
Twelve in the thoracic region
Five in the lumbar Region
Five in the sacral region
1 in the coccygeal region
Each spinal nerves is designated by a letter and a number.
EX: C1, T2, L5, S4, Co1
Number - indicates the location in each region
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ORGANIZATION OF SPINAL NERVES

DERMATOME
The sensory distribution of each nerve root
Are of the skin supplied by a single nerve root
bilateral region of skin supplied by a pair of spinal nerve
Present in all except in C1
R: C1 spinal nerve typically doesn't have a sensory root.
TORSO:
Dermatomes are regularly shaped and overlap
LIMBS:
Irregularly shaped and does not overlapped
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ORGANIZATION OF SPINAL NERVES

Each spinal nerve has a dorsal and ventral ramus/rami
Contain nerves that provide visceral motor, somatic motor, and sensory information,
dorsal ramus feeding the dorsal trunk (skin and muscles of the back),
ventral ramus feeding the ventral trunk and limbs through the ventrolateral
surface.
distributed in two ways
thoracic region = forms intercostal (between ribs) nerves which extend
along the inferior margin of each rib and supplies the intercostal muscles
and the skin over the thorax
remaining spinal nerves forms the five major plexuses.
 PLEXUSES
Network of intersecting nerves. Bundles
of nerves that form a plexus
communicate information to your brain
about pain, temperature, and pressure.
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CERVICAL PLEXUS
Small plexus originating from spinal nerves
C1-C4.
Formed by the ventral rami and upper four
cervical nerves
Serves the head, neck, and shoulder.
Phrenic nerve - derived from the cervical
plexus
It serves the diaphragm, and skin and
muscles of the shoulder and neck.
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BRACHIAL PLEXUS
Originated from spinal nerves C5-T1
Provides connections to the chest, shoulders, upper arms, forearms,
and hands.
The plexus extends toward the armpit (axilla).
Five major nerves:
Axillary
Radial
Musculocutaneous
Ulnar
Median
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BRACHIAL PLEXUS
Axillary Nerve
supplies the deltoid and teres minor
muscles
It causes movement and sensation in
your shoulder and the back of your
upper arm. Injuries to this nerve can
affect your ability to rotate your arm or
lift it.
Movements:
Laterally rotates arm (teres minor)
Abducts arm (deltoid)
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BRACHIAL PLEXUS
Radial Nerve
Helps you move your elbow, wrist,
hand and fingers. It runs down the
back of the arm from the armpit to
the hand.
Movements:
Extends and flexes elbow
Extends and abducts wrist
Supinates forearm and ha
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BRACHIAL PLEXUS
Musculocutaneous Nerve
It emerges at the inferior
border of Pectoralis minor
muscle.It passes lateral to the
axillary and upper part of
brachial artery.
Provides motor innervation to
the anterior muscles of the
arm, as well as cutaneous
sensory innervation to part of
the forearm.
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BRACHIAL PLEXUS
Ulnar Nerve
The ulnar nerve transmits
electrical signals to muscles
in the forearm and hand. The
ulnar nerve is also responsible
for sensation in the fourth and
fifth fingers (ring and little
fingers) of the hand, part of
the palm and the underside
of the forearm.
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BRACHIAL PLEXUS
Median Nerve
The median nerve helps you
move your forearm, wrist,
hand and fingers. It
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LUMBAR AND SACRAL PLEXUSES

The lumbar plexus is formed by the ventral rami of L1–L5 spinal nerves with
a contribution of T12 form the lumbar plexus. This plexus lies within the psoas
major muscle.
provides connections to the back, abdomen, groin, thighs, knees, and
calves.
The sacral plexus is formed by the ventral rami of L4-S3, with parts of the L4
and S4 spinal nerves. It is located on the posterior wall of the pelvic cavity.
provides connections to the pelvis, buttocks, genitals, thighs, calves, and
feet.
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LUMBAR AND SACRAL PLEXUSES

Four major nerves exit the lumbosacral plexus and enter the lower limb:
Obturator nerve
supplies the muscles that adduct the thigh
Femoral nerve
it controls the major hip flexor muscles, as well as knee extension
muscles.
Tibial nerve
Runs down the back of your leg and into your foot

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LUMBAR AND SACRAL PLEXUSES

Four major nerves exit the lumbosacral plexus and enter the lower limb:
Common fibular nerve
Sciatic nerve - largest peripheral nerve in the body
Motor function: Helps the muscles in your leg and feet move.
Sensory function: Helps you feel sensations in your legs.
Medial and Lateral Plantar nerve - supplies the plantar muscles of
the foot and the skin over the sole of the foot.
Deep and superficial fibular nerves - supplies the anterior and lateral
muscle of the foot.
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LUMBAR AND SACRAL PLEXUSES

Other Lumbosacral Plexus Nerves
Gluteal nerves - supplies the hip muscles that act on the femur
Pudendal nerves - supplies the muscle of the abdominal floor
plays a vital role in sexual stimulation and response
Anesthetized during childbirth for episiotomy.
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COCCYGEAL PLEXUS
very small plexus from from the ventral rami of spinal nerve S5 and the
coccygeal nerve.
supplies the muscles of the pelvic floor and the skin over the coccyx.