1. The Nervous System Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves & Tracts
Anatomy – Chapters 14 & 15

2. The Spinal Cord
Begins at foramen magnum, runs through vertebral foramen (spinal canal), & ends at L2 vertebral level by forming conus medularis
The spinal cord (as well as the brain) is well protected by bones, CT membranes (meninges), and fluid (cerebrospinal fluid (CSF))

3. Meninges Meninges – membranes that surround and protect the CNS
Three layers:
Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater

4. Dura Mater – tough, fibrous CT outer membrane; one layer thick around spinal cord with epidural space external
Arachnoid mater – “spidery” web-like middle layer
Pia Mater – delicate, thin inner layer

5. Filum terminale - extension of pia mater extends from tip of cord to coccyx to anchor cord in place
Denticulate ligaments - anchor cord laterally

6. Subarachnoid space – between arachnoid & pia mater; contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Lumbar cistern – area of subarachnoid space below the conus medularis; site for lumbar puncture (“spinal tap”)
Lumbar cystern

7. Spinal Cord Anatomy
Begins at foramen magnum & ends at L2 vertebral level by forming conus medularis
Has 2 thickened areas-
cervical enlargement - supplies nerves to upper extremity
lumbar enlargement - supplies nerves to lower extremity
Made up of 31 spinal cord segments

8. Each spinal cord segment has a pair of
Dorsal root ganglion (DRG)
Dorsal root
Ventral root
Each spinal cord segment has a pair of
dorsal roots with their associated dorsal root ganglia (DRG)
ventral roots

9. Each dorsal root contains the axons of sensory neurons
Each dorsal root ganglion contains the cell bodies of these sensory neurons
Each ventral root contains the axons of motor neurons

10. The dorsal & ventral roots of each segment come together at the intervertebral foramen (IVF) to form a mixed spinal nerve

11. Spinal Nerves Part of the PNS Contain both motor & sensory fibers
31 pair of nerves – each nerve forms from union of dorsal/ventral root of spinal cord segment & exits between vertebra at IVF
8 pair cervical spinal nerves – 1st cervical nerve exits between occipital bone & C1, 8th cervical nerve exits the IVF between C7-T1
12 pair thoracic spinal nerves
5 pair lumbar nerves
5 pair sacral nerves
1 pair coccygeal nerves

12. Below the conus medularis, spinal nerves must angle downward (in the subarachnoid space) before exiting their IVF/sacral foramina. These spinal nerves make up the cauda equina
Cauda equina

13. Sectional Anatomy of the Spinal cord
Anterior median fissure
Posterior median sulcus
Anterior column
Lateral column
Posterior column
Posterior gray horn - sensory
Central canal
Lateral gray horn (T1-L2, S2-S4) - autonomic
Gray commissure
Anterior gray horn - motor

14. The spinal cord has a narrow central canal surrounded by “horns” of gray matter connected by commissures. Gray matter horns contain sensory & motor nuclei (groups of cell bodies) & glial cells.
Gray matter is surrounded by white matter “columns” (aka funiculi) which are made up of groups of myelinated axons creating organized ascending & descending tracts (aka fasciculi).

15. Tracts (Motor & Sensory Pathways) (Chap. 15)
Groups of axons found in the white matter columns of the spinal cord that carry specific information
Ascending tracts - carry sensory information up the spinal cord to areas of the brain (eventually terminating in cerebrum or cerebellum)
Descending tracts – carry motor information from the brain down to specific levels of the spinal cord (eventually terminating on skeletal muscles)

16. Ascending Tracts
Three major groups of pathways transmit somatic sensory information originating from receptors, up the spinal cord to the brain –
Spinothalamic tracts
Posterior column pathways
Spinocerebellar tracts

17. Spinothalamic tracts
Anterior spinothalamic tract (ASTT) – crude touch & pressure
Lateral spinothalamic tract (LSTT) – pain & temperature
THALAMUS

18. Posterior Column Pathways
Fasciculus cuneatus & fasciculus gracilis –
“conscious” proprioception (joint position)
discriminitive (fine) touch (2-point discrimination, stereognosis, graphism)
vibration
pressure

19. Spinocerebellar Tracts
Anterior spinocerebellar tract (ASCT) & Posterior spinocerebellar tract (PSCT) –
“unconscious” proprioception (from golgi tendon organs, muscle spindles & joint capsules)
muscle tone
balance

20. Descending Pathways
Carry motor signals from conscious & unconscious areas of the brain, down the spinal cord to control contraction of skeletal muscles
Corticospinal pathways (aka Pyramidal tracts)- include anterior & lateral corticospinal tracts, and corticobulbar tracts) – conscious motor control
Subconscious Motor Pathways – include medial and lateral pathways

21. Corticospinal (Pyramidal) Pathways
Corticobulbar tracts – voluntary control of skeletal muscles of head & neck through cranial nerves
Lateral corticospinal tracts (LCST) – voluntary control of skeletal muscles in neck & body; fibers cross in pyramidal decussation of M.O.
Anterior corticospinal tracts (ACST) - voluntary control of skeletal muscles in neck & body; fibers cross at spinal cord level in anterior commissure

22. Medial & Lateral Pathways
Originate from subconscious areas of the brain and are integrated with corticospinal pathways to allow for coordination of motor activity, maintenance of posture and muscle tone
Medial pathways – unconscious control over head, eyes, neck, trunk & proximal limb muscles for gross muscle movements; include vestibulospinal, tectospinal, & reticulospinal tracts
Lateral pathways – unconscious control over distal limb muscles for precise muscle movements;
include rubrospinal tracts

23. In order for sensory information to enter the spinal cord and ascend in a sensory tract, and for motor information to get from a descending tract to reach a skeletal muscle, impulses must travel through peripheral nerves (spinal nerves & cranial nerves)

24. Spinal Nerves 31 pair Part of PNS
Formed by union of ventral (motor) root and dorsal (sensory) root

25. Once formed, spinal nerves will branch into Rami
Dorsal ramus – transmits sensations from skin of back & neck; provides motor control of deep muscles of back; found at all spinal nerves

26. Ventral ramus – provides motor control to muscles of extremities, anterior & lateral trunk; transmits sensations from all but skin of back; found at all spinal nerves

27. Rami communicantes (white ramus & gray ramus) – carry autonomic motor fibers (ANS) to smooth muscles & glands in ventral body cavity; transmit visceral sensations; only found at T1-L2 spinal nerves

28. Nerve Plexuses
Adjacent ventral rami will form complex interwoven networks of nerve fibers (axons) known as a nerve plexus
Four plexuses – cervical, brachial, lumbar, & sacral
Emerging from each plexus will be specifically named peripheral nerves, which will contain fibers from multiple spinal cord levels

29. Cervical plexus (C1-C5) Phrenic nerve (C3-C5)
Motor control for muscles of neck region, levator scapulae, scalenes, SCM & trapezius (along with CN XI), and diaphragm
Sensory from upper chest, shoulder, neck & ear regions
Phrenic nerve (C3-C5)

30. Brachial plexus (C5-T1) Axillary nerve (C5-C6)
Motor to & sensory from pectoral girdle region & upper extremities
Axillary nerve (C5-C6)
Musculocutaneous nerve (C5-7)
Radial nerve (C5-T1)
Median nerve (C6-T1)
Ulnar nerve (C8-T1)

31. Lumbar plexus (T12-L4) Iliohypogastric nerve (T12-L1)
Motor to muscles of abdominal, pelvic and lower extremity (anterior & medial) regions
Sensory from skin of abdomen, pelvis & lower extremity
Iliohypogastric nerve (T12-L1)
Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (L2-L3)
Femoral nerve (L2-L4)
Obturator nerve (L2-L4)

32. Sacral plexus (L4-S4) Sciatic nerve (L4-S3) Tibial nerve
Motor to muscles of pelvis and lower extremity (gluteal, posterior femoral, lower leg & foot)
Sensory from posterior pelvis, posterior thigh, anterior, posterior & lateral leg
Sciatic nerve (L4-S3)
Tibial nerve
Common peroneal (fibular) nerve
Sural nerve

33. Ventral rami from T2-T11 do not participate in a plexus
Ventral rami from T2-T11 do not participate in a plexus. Instead they form individual intercostal nerves (aka thoracic nerves)
Motor supply to intercostal & abdominal muscles; sensory from anteriolateral thorax/abdomen