spinal cord laboratory
TRANSCRIPT
Anatomy 113
(1) Examine the meninges covering the spinal cord. Identify the dura, arachnoid, and pia mater. Gently place a probe under the arachnoid mater. What is normally located in this space? Remember that these coverings also surround the brain.
(2) What are the characteristics of the following?
a. Dura-
b. Arachnoid-
c. Pia-
(3) Locate the conus medullaris. Notice a thin cord attached to it. What is this cord?
(4) Identify the cauda equina. What is it composed of?
(5) Look at the cut edge of the spinal cord. Differentiate the gray from the white matter. What does each contain?
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Neuroanatomy Lab I: Spinal Cord
THE SPINAL CORD
Locate and label the following:
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Brachial plexusCauda equinaCervical plexusConus medullarisFilum terminaleLumbar plexusSacral plexusSpinal nerve
SPINAL COLUMN CROSS-SECTION
Locate and label the following:
Dura mater Ventral Horn (Gray matter)Arachnoid mater Ventral rootPia mater Dorsal rootSubarachnoid space Dorsal root ganglionEpidural space Ventral ramusVertebral body Dorsal ramusSpinal nerve White matter
1. State the type of fiber (motor, sensory or both) found in the following:
Dorsal root Ventral Root
Dorsal Ramus Ventral Ramus
Spinal Nerve
2. What is located in the ventral gray horn?
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3. What is located in the dorsal root ganglia?ANATOMY OF A SPINAL CORD SEGMENT
Locate and label the following:
Arachnoid mater Pia materDorsal root Spinal nerveDura mater Ventral rootGray matter of dorsal horn White matterGray matter of ventral horn
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1. Name the vertebral levels where a lumbar puncture can be safely performed?
2. Why can a lumbar puncture be safely performed at these levels?
3. CSF is found in which space?
4. Name the layers of the meninges that are pierced in performing this procedure.
LUMBAR PUNCTURE (SPINAL TAP)
Monosynaptic Patellar Stretch Reflex
Response
Contraction
Stimulus
Stretch Spinal cord
REFLEXARC
Afferent nerve fiber
Efferent nerve fiber
Label the following components of this reflex and state where they are located:
Sensory receptor
Cell body of the sensory neuron
Cell body of the motor neuron
Effector
1. How many neurons are in this reflex arc?
2. How many synapses are in this reflex arc?
3. What is the purpose of testing a stretch reflex?
4. Is a neuron in the brain involved in this type of reflex?
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Stimulus
Ventralroot
Arrival ofstimulus andactivation ofreceptor
Activation of asensory neuron
Responseby effector
Informationprocessingin CNS
Activation of amotor neuron
REFLEXARC
Dorsalroot
Sensationrelayed to
the brain bycollateral
Afferent nerve fiber
Efferent nerve fiber
Nerve fiber
Polysynaptic Withdrawal Reflex
Label the following components of this reflex and state where they are located:
Sensory receptor
Cell body of the sensory neuron
Interneuron
Cell body of the motor neuron
Effector
1. How many neurons are in this reflex arc?
2. How many synapses are in this reflex arc?
3. In the withdrawal reflex what is the advantage of having an interneuron?
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