Chapter 13:

The Spinal Cord and

Spinal Cord Anatomy

 Protective structures:
Vertebral column and the
meninges provide protect the spinal
cord and provide physical stability.
a. Dura mater, b. Arachnoid, c. Pia
mater
 Epidural space, subdural space and
subarachnoid space
Spinal Cord Anatomy
External Anatomy of the
Spinal Cord
 Two enlargements: cervical and
lumbar
 Conus medullaris
 Filum terminale
 Cauda equina
 Posterior (dorsal root) &
anterior(ventral) root
 Posterior (dorsal root) ganglion
 Spinal nerve
External Anatomy of
Spinal Cord
Internal Anatomy of the
Spinal Cord
 Anterior median fissure
 Posterior median sulcus
 Gray and white commissures
 Central canal
 Anterior, posterior & lateral gray
horns
 Anterior, posterior & lateral white
columns
Internal Anatomy of
Spinal Cord
Internal Anatomy of
Spinal Cord
Spinal Nerves
 31 pairs; mixed nerves.
 Cervical (C1-C8), thoracic
(T1-T12),
lumbar (L1-L5), sacral (S1-S5) and
coccygeal.

Connective tissue coverings of spinal

nerves:
 Epineurium, perineurium and
endoneurium:
 Fascicles
Spinal Nerves
Spinal Nerves
Distribution of Spinal
Nerves
 Spinalnerves branch and their
braches are called rami:
Posterior (dorsal) ramus
Anterior (ventral) ramus
 Plexuses: a network of axons
Anterior rami except T2-T12 form
plexuses.
 Cervical Plexus

 Formed by the
anterior rami of C1-
C5.
 Phrenic nerves-
important nerves
from the cervical
plexuses.
Brachial plexus
 Formed by the
anterior rami of C5-
C8 & T1.
 Supplies the
shoulders and upper
limbs.
 Roots → trunks →
divisions → cords →
nerves.
 Brachial plexus
continued
Important nerves that
arise from the
brachial plexuses are
 Axillary nerve
 Musculocutaneous
nerve
 Radial nerve
 Median nerve
 Ulnar nerve
 Injuries to the Brachial
Plexus
 Erb-Duchenne palsy
(waiter’s tip)- loss of
sensation along the
lateral side of the
arm.
 Wrist drop- inability
to extend the wrist
and fingers.
Injuries to the Brachial
Plexus
 Median nerve palsy- numbness,
tingling and pain in the palm and
fingers.
 Ulnar nerve palsy- inability to abduct
or adduct fingers
 Winged scapula- the arm cannot be
abducted beyond the horizontal
position.
Injuries to the Brachial
Plexus
 Lumbar Plexus
 Formed by the
anterior rami of
L1-L4.
 Supplies the
anterolateral
abdominal wall,
external genitals,
and part of the
lower limbs.
 Femoral nerves,
obturator nerves.
 Sacral Plexus
 Formed by the
anterior rami of
L4-L5 and S1-S4.
 Supplies the
buttocks,
perineum, and
lower limbs.
 Gives rise to the
largest nerve in
the body- the
sciatic nerve.
Distribution of Nerves from
the Lumbar and Sacral
Plexuses
 Coccygeal Plexus

 Formed by the
anterior rami of
S4-S5 and the
coccygeal nerves.
 Supplies a small
area of skin in the
coccygeal region.
Dermatome

 Dermatome is the
area of the skin
that provides
sensory input to
the CNS via one
pair of spinal
nerves or the
trigeminal nerve.
 Sensory and Motor
Tracts
 The name of
the tract often
indicates its
location in the
white matter
and where it
begins and
ends.
 The white
matter
contains both
sensory and
motor tracts.
Reflex Arc
 The pathway followed by nerve
impulses that produce a reflex is a
reflex arc.
 A reflex arc includes:
a. sensory receptor
b. sensory neuron
c. integrating center
d. motor neuron
e. effector
Reflex Arc
The Stretch Reflex

 Causes contraction of a skeletal

muscle in response to stretching of
the muscle.
 Monosynaptic reflex.
 Patellar or knee-jerk reflex:
Stretching of a muscle →activation of
muscle spindles →sensory neuron
→spinal cord→motor neuron →
muscle contraction.
 Ipsilateral.
Stretch Reflex
The Tendon Reflex

 Polysynaptic reflex.
 Control muscle tension by causing
muscle relaxation when muscle
tension is great.
 Sensory receptors- Golgi tendon
organs.
 ↑ Tension applied to the tendon →
tendon organ stimulation → nerve
impulse → spinal cord →motor neuron
causes muscle relaxation and
Tendon Reflex
 Flexor (Withdrawal)
Reflex
 Polysynaptic reflex
 Ipsilateral.
 Stepping on a tack(stimulus) →
nerve impulse → activation of the
interneuron → activation of the motor
neuron →muscle contraction
→withdrawal of the leg.
Flexor (Withdrawal)
Reflex
Crossed Extensor Reflex
 Polysynaptic reflex.
 Contralateral reflex.
 Contraction of muscles that extend
joints in the opposite limb in response
to a painful stimulus.
 Stepping on a tack (stimulus) → nerve
impulse →activation of several
interneurons → activation of the motor
neurons → muscle contraction causing
flexion of the leg stepping on a tack &
extension on the opposite side.
Crossed Extensor Reflex
End of Chapter 13