Study Guide Spinal Cord

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1) In the spinal cord, white matter is organized into ascending and descending tracts grouping into
A) nuclei. B) nerves. C) columns. D) ganglia. E) horns.

2) Enlargements of the spinal cord occur
A) adjacent to the anterior median fissure.
B) in the filum terminale.
C) near the posterior median sulcus.
D) in segments of the spinal cord that control the limbs.
E) in the thoracic region of the spinal cord.

3) The ________ is a strand of fibrous tissue that provides longitudinal support as a component of the coccygeal ligament.
A) conus medularis
B) filum terminale
C) cauda equina
D) ventral root
E) dorsal root

4) The entire spinal cord is divided into ________ segments.
A) 25 B) 35 C) 5 D) 31 E) 12

5) The spinal cord continues to elongate and enlarge until about age
A) 4 years. B) 20 years. C) 2 months. D) 10 years. E) 6 months.

6) The adult spinal cord extends only to which vertebral level?
A) coccyx
B) last thoracic
C) third or fourth lumbar
D) sacral
E) first or second lumbar

7) The specialized membranes that protect the spinal cord are termed
A) cranial mater.
B) spinal meninges.
C) cranial meninges.
D) epidural membranes.
E) spinal mater.

8) Blood vessels directly supplying the spinal cord are found in the
A) subarachnoid space.
B) dura mater.
C) epidural space.
D) pia mater.
E) subdural space.

9) The projections of gray matter toward the outer surface of the spinal cord are called
A) fibers. B) wings. C) pyramids. D) horns. E) tracts.

10) Which of the following statements is false concerning the gray matter of the spinal cord?
A) The gray matter is divided into regions called horns.
B) The gray matter is located in the interior of the spinal cord around the central canal.
C) The gray matter is primarily involved in relaying information to the brain.
D) The gray matter functions in processing neural information.
E) The gray matter contains motor neurons.

11) Axons crossing from one side of the spinal cord to the other within the gray matter are found in the
A) lateral gray horns.
B) posterior gray horns.
C) gray commissures.
D) white commissures.
E) anterior gray horns.

12) The white matter of the spinal cord contains
A) bundles of axons that share common origins, destinations, and functions.
B) interneurons.
C) bundles of dendrites that share common origins, destinations, and functions.
D) both axons and dendrites.
E) sensory and motor nuclei.

13) The outermost connective tissue covering of spinal nerves is the
A) perineurium.
B) epineurium.
C) epimysium.
D) endomysium.
E) endoneurium.

14) The dorsal root ganglia contain
A) axons of sensory neurons.
B) interneurons.
C) cell bodies of sensory neurons.
D) axons of motor neurons.
E) cell bodies of motor neurons.

15) The dorsal root of a spinal nerve contains
A) cell bodies of sensory neurons.
B) cell bodies of motor neurons.
C) axons of sensory neurons.
D) axons of motor neurons.
E) interneurons.

16) The ventral root of a spinal nerve contains
A) cell bodies of sensory neurons.
B) axons of motor neurons.
C) axons of sensory neurons.
D) cell bodies of motor neurons.
E) interneurons.

17) Spinal nerves are ________ nerves.
A) mixed
B) purely sensory
C) purely motor
D) involuntary
E) interneuronal

18) The dorsal and ventral roots of each spinal segment unite to form a
A) lumbar enlargement.
B) cervical enlargement.
C) spinal meninge.
D) spinal nerve.
E) spinal ganglion.

19) The preganglionic fibers that connect a spinal nerve with an autonomic ganglion in the thoracic and lumbar region of the spinal cord are the
A) gray ramus communicantes.
B) ventral ramus.
C) white ramus communicantes.
D) dermatomes.
E) dorsal ramus.

20) The postganglionic fibers that connect an autonomic ganglion in the thoracic or lumbar region with the local spinal nerve are called the
A) dorsal ramus.
B) ventral ramus.
C) gray ramus communicantes.
D) white ramus communicantes.
E) dermatomes.

21) Postganglionic fibers of the autonomic nervous system that innervate internal organs do not rejoin the spinal nerve but form
A) gray rami.
B) doral rami.
C) autonomic nerves.
D) ventral rami.
E) white rami.

22) Which of the following pairs is not properly matched?
A) thoracic spinal nerves: 12
B) coccygeal spinal nerves: 1
C) sacral spinal nerves: 5
D) lumbar spinal nerves: 4
E) cervical spinal nerves: 8

23) The ________ of each spinal nerve provides sensory and motor innervation to the skin and muscles of the back.
A) gray ramus communicantes
B) dorsal ramus
C) white ramus communicantes
D) ventral ramus
E) dermatomes

24) Muscles of the neck and shoulder are innervated by spinal nerves from the ________ region.
A) sacral B) cervical C) thoracic D) lumbar E) coccygeal

25) Spinal nerves from the sacral region of the cord innervate the ________ muscles.
A) facial B) intercostal C) abdominal D) leg E) shoulder

26) Sensory and motor innervations of the skin of the sides and front of the body are provided by the
A) dermatomes.
B) dorsal ramus.
C) ventral ramus.
D) gray ramus communicantes.
E) white ramus communicantes.

27) The joining of the ventral rami of adjacent spinal nerves is termed a(n)
A) lateral nerve.
B) plexus.
C) autonomic nerve.
D) dermatome.
E) tract.

28) Each of the following nerves is found in the lumbar plexus, except the ________ nerve.
A) obturator
B) genitofemoral
C) saphenous
D) sciatic
E) femoral

29) A nerve of the cervical plexus that innervates the diaphragm is the ________ nerve.
A) ansa cervicalis
B) phrenic
C) radial
D) sciatic
E) lesser occipital

30) The ventral rami of spinal nerves C5 to T1 form the ________ plexus.
A) brachial B) lumbar C) thoracic D) sacral E) cervical

31) The ulnar nerve is found in which plexus?
A) brachial B) lumbar C) cervical D) cranial E) sacral

32) All of the following are true of neural reflexes, except:
A) are the simplest type of nervous response
B) are automatic motor responses
C) help preserve homeostasis
D) show wide variability in response
E) both B and D

33) The following are the steps involved in a reflex arc.
. activation of a sensory neuron
. activation of a motor neuron
. response by an effector
. arrival of a stimulus and activation of a receptor
. information processingproper sequence of these steps is
A) 4, 5, 3, 1, 2.
B) 4, 1, 5, 2, 3.
C) 3, 1, 4, 5, 2.
D) 4, 3, 1, 5, 2.
E) 1, 3, 4, 5, 2.

34) Reflexes can be classified according to all of the following, except
A) their development.
B) the complexity of the neural circuit involved.
C) the nature of the resulting motor response.
D) the site where information processing occurs.
E) whether they are sensory or motor.

35) Reflexes that result from the connections that form between neurons during development are ________ reflexes.
A) innate B) visceral C) somatic D) acquired E) autonomic

36) The stretch reflex
A) is an example of a polysynaptic reflex.
B) involves a receptor called the Golgi tendon organ.
C) is important in regulating posture.
D) is activated when a skeletal muscle shortens.
E) both C and D

37) All of the following are true of muscle spindles, except:
A) help prevent muscle damage that would result from overstretching
B) are found in skeletal muscle
C) are regulated by gamma motor neurons
D) consist of specialized fibers called intrafusal fibers
E) are found in skeletal muscles and their tendons

38) The reflex that prevents a muscle from exerting too much tension is the ________ reflex.
A) crossed extensor
B) reciprocal
C) tendon
D) stretch
E) flexor

39) The flexor reflex
A) prevents a muscle from overstretching.
B) is an example of a monosynaptic reflex.
C) makes adjustments in other parts of the body in response to a particular stimulus.
D) prevents a muscle from generating damaging tension.
E) moves a limb away from a painful stimulus.

40) The reflex that complements a withdrawal reflex by making compensatory adjustments on the opposite side of the body receiving the stimulus is the ________ reflex.
A) tendon
B) reciprocal
C) crossed extensor
D) flexor
E) stretch

41) Interneurons in the spinal cord prevent muscle antagonists from interfering with an intended movement by
A) reciprocal inhibition.
B) a crossed extensor reflex.
C) reverberating circuits.
D) a stretch reflex.
E) a tendon reflex.

42) All of the following are true of polysynaptic reflexes, except:
A) are intersegmental in distribution
B) have reverberating circuits that prolong the reflexive motor response
C) are arranged according to dermatomes
D) involve pools of interneurons
E) involve reciprocal innervation

43) Control of spinal reflexes by the brain involves all of the following, except
A) descending tracts of the spinal cord.
B) modulation by neurons of the brain.
C) the production of IPSPs at synapses with interneurons.
D) a pathway of 4 to 6 neurons.
E) the production of EPSPs at synapses with interneurons.

SHORT ANSWER. Write the word or phrase that best completes each statement or answers the question.
44) The specific region of the skin that is innervated by a specific spinal nerve is called a(n) ________.

45) A complex, interwoven network of nerves is called a(n) ________.

46) The neural pathway of a single reflex is called a(n) ________.

47) ________ reflexes involve skeletal muscles.

48) The most complicated spinal reflexes are called ________.

49) Reflexes that occur on the same side of the body as the stimulus that produces the reflex are said to be ________.

50) Reflexes that occur on the side of the body opposite the side that is stimulated are said to be ________.

51) In a ________ reflex, a sensory neuron synapses directly on a motor neuron.

52) A ________ reflex has at least one interneuron placed between the sensory and motor neuron.

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
53) The outermost covering of the spinal cord is the
A) denticulate ligament.
B) dura mater.
C) pia mater.
D) filum terminale.
E) arachnoid mater.

54) The epidural space contains
A) denticulate ligaments.
B) air.
C) lymph.
D) connective tissue and blood vessels.
E) cerebrospinal fluid.

55) The subdural space
A) separates the pia mater from the dura mater.
B) separates the arachnoid mater from the pia mater.
C) separates the dura mater from the arachnoid mater.
D) is between the vertebrae and the dura mater.
E) contains cerebrospinal fluid.

56) The subarachnoid space contains
A) air.
B) denticulate ligaments.
C) lymph.
D) cerebrospinal fluid.
E) connective tissue and blood vessels.

57) The layer of the meninges that is tightly bound to the surface of the neural tissue is the
A) pia mater.
B) arachnoid mater.
C) filum terminale.
D) dura mater.
E) denticulate ligament.

58) Side to side movements of the spinal cord are prevented by the
A) dura mater.
B) pia mater.
C) arachnoid mater.
D) denticulate ligaments.
E) filum terminale.

59) The horns of the spinal cord contain
A) nerve tracts.
B) funiculi.
C) nerve cell bodies.
D) columns.
E) meninges.

60) The posterior horns of the spinal cord contain
A) sensory nuclei.
B) somatic motor nuclei.
C) nerve tracts.
D) sympathetic nuclei.
E) autonomic motor nuclei.

61) The anterior horns of the spinal cord contain
A) somatic motor nuclei.
B) autonomic motor nuclei.
C) nerve tracts.
D) sympathetic nuclei.
E) sensory nuclei.

62) Ascending tracts
A) carry sensory information to the brain.
B) connect perceptive areas with the brain.
C) carry motor information from the brain.
D) carry motor information to the brain.
E) carry sensory information from the brain.

63) Nerve tracts, or fasciculi, would be found in the
A) posterior gray horns.
B) anterior white columns.
C) central canal.
D) gray commissures.
E) both B and C

64) If the dorsal root of a spinal nerve is severed
A) the brain would not be able to communicate with that level of the spinal cord.
B) motor control of skeletal muscles would be impaired.
C) incoming sensory information would be disrupted.
D) motor control of visceral organs would be impaired.
E) the spinal cord would not be able to process information at that level.

65) In diagnosing bacterial and viral infections of the nervous system, samples of cerebrospinal fluid are extracted for analysis. This procedure would logically withdraw fluid for analysis from the
A) epidural space.
B) dura mater.
C) cerebral ventricles.
D) arachnoid mater.
E) subarachnoid space.

66) In a procedure known as a myelogram
A) dye is injected into the filum terminale.
B) cerebrospinal fluid is withdrawn from the lumbar region of the spinal cord.
C) roots of lower spinal nerves are severed.
D) anesthetic is introduced into the epidural space.
E) a radiopaque dye is injected into the subarachnoid space.

67) A person suffering from spinal shock could exhibit all of the following symptoms, except
A) no perception of pain or temperature.
B) no somatic reflexes.
C) flaccid skeletal muscles.
D) dizziness.
E) no visceral reflexes.

68) In which of the following would the delay between stimulus and response be greater?
A) a polysynaptic reflex B) a monosynaptic reflex

69) Stretching the nuclear bag of an intrafusal fiber results in
A) a decrease in muscle tension.
B) decreased sensitivity to stretching.
C) an increase in action potentials along the associated sensory neuron.
D) a decrease in muscle tone.
E) both B and C

70) When there is a resistance to the movement produced by a given limb muscle,
A) gamma motor neurons are inhibited by higher brain centers.
B) there is a decrease in the amount of force generated by extrafusal muscle fibers.
C) intrafusal fibers receive fewer action potentials from the gamma motor neurons.
D) muscle tone is increased and more motor units are recruited to the contraction.
E) the muscle involved in the movement immediately shortens when stimulated.

SHORT ANSWER. Write the word or phrase that best completes each statement or answers the question.
71) Temporary damage to the spinal cord produced by violent jolts is known as a spinal ________.

72) A condition in which hemorrhages occur in the meninges is termed a spinal ________.

73) Tears in the spinal cord caused by fragments of vertebrae or foreign objects is termed a spinal ________.

74) A condition in which the spinal cord is squeezed is termed a spinal ________.

75) In a spinal ________ the spinal cord is completely severed.

76) The condition in which a person loses sensation and motor control of the arms and legs is termed ________.

77) The loss of motor control of the legs is termed ________.

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
78) Bill contracts a viral disease that destroys some of the cells in the anterior gray horns in the lumbar region of his spinal cord. As a result of the disease which of the following would you expect?
A) problems with walking
B) an inability to move his arm
C) inability to breathe
D) lack of feeling in his hands
E) lack of sensation from his right leg

79) Mary is in an automobile accident and injures her spinal cord. She has lost feeling in her right hand and her doctor tells her that it is the result of swelling compressing a portion of her spinal cord. Which part of her cord is likely to be compressed?
A) the gray commissure
B) the anterior gray horns
C) an ascending tract
D) a descending tract
E) the anterior white commissure

80) Injuries that cause edema (accumulation of fluid in the tissue space) in the carpal tunnel can impair the function of the flexors of the hand due to compression of a nerve. Which nerve would be affected?
A) median nerve
B) ulnar nerve
C) musculocutaneous nerve
D) radial nerve
E) axillary nerve

81) Ten-year-old Tina falls while climbing a tree and lands on her back. Her frightened parents take her to the local emergency room where she is examined. Her knee jerk reflex is normal and she exhibits a plantar reflex (negative Babinski reflex). These results suggest that
A) Tina has injured one of her descending nerve tracts.
B) Tina has a spinal injury in the lumbar region.
C) Tina has injured one of her ascending nerve tracts.
D) Tina suffered no damage to her spinal cord.
E) Tina has a spinal injury in the cervical region.

ESSAY. Write your answer in the space provided or on a separate sheet of paper.
82) While watching olympic weight lifters on the television, Carl notices that on several occasions an athlete would lift the weight to his chest and then suddenly drop it. Can you offer an explanation for what might be happening?

83) Bowel and bladder control involve spinal reflex arcs that are located in the sacral region of the spinal cord. In both instances two sphincter muscles, an inner sphincter of smooth muscle and an outer sphincter of skeletal muscle control the passageway out of the body. How would a transection of the spinal cord at the L1 level affect an individual's bowel and bladder control?

84) Karen falls down a flight of stairs and suffers spinal cord damage due to hyperextension of the cord during the fall. The injury results in edema of the central cord with resulting compression of the anterior horn cells of the lumbar region. What symptoms would you expect to observe as a result of this injury?

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1) C

2) D

3) B

4) D

5) A

6) E

7) B

8) D

9) D

10) C

11) C

12) A

13) B

14) C

15) C

16) B

17) A

18) D

19) C

20) C

21) C

22) D

23) B

24) B

25) D

26) C

27) B

28) D

29) B

30) A

31) A

32) D

33) B

34) E

35) A

36) C

37) E

38) C

39) E

40) C

41) A

42) C

43) D

SHORT ANSWER. Write the word or phrase that best completes each statement or answers the question.
44) dermatome

45) nerve plexus

46) reflex arc

47) Somatic

48) intersegmental reflexes

49) ipsilateral

50) contralateral

51) monosynaptic

52) polysynaptic

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
53) B

54) D

55) C

56) D

57) A

58) D

59) C

60) A

61) A

62) A

63) B

64) C

65) E

66) E

67) D

68) A

69) C

70) D

SHORT ANSWER. Write the word or phrase that best completes each statement or answers the question.
71) concussion

72) contusion

73) laceration

74) compression

75) transection

76) quadriplegia

77) paraplegia

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
78) A

79) C

80) A

81) D

ESSAY. Write your answer in the space provided or on a separate sheet of paper.
82) What Carl is observing is an example of the stretch reflex in action. As the weight lifter lifts the weight he is contracting the biceps and brachialis muscles and at the same time stretching the triceps muscle. If the mass is great, the amount of flexion necessary to move the mass could begin to overstretch the triceps that is being relaxed so as not to interfere with flexion. Stimulation of the muscle spindles in the triceps produces a reflex arc that brings about the relaxation of some of the motor units in the muscles involved in flexion, like the biceps. When the tension produced by the flexing muscles decreases to a point where they can no longer work against the resistance of the mass, the weight lifter will drop the weights involuntarily.

83) The person would still exhibit a defecation (bowel) and micturition (bladder) reflex because the spinal reflex is processed at the level of the spinal cord. Efferent impulses from the organs would stimulate specific interneurons in the sacral region that would synapse with the motor neurons controlling the sphincters, thus bringing about emptying when organs began to fill. This is the same situation that exists in a newborn infant who has not yet fully developed the descending tracts necessary for conscious control. The individual with the spinal cord transection would lose voluntary control of the bowel and bladder because these functions rely on impulses carried by motor neurons in the brain that must travel down the cord and synapse with the interneurons and motor neurons that are involved in the reflex.

84) The anterior horn cells of the spinal cord are somatic motor neurons that direct the activity of skeletal muscles. The lumbar region of the spinal cord controls the skeletal muscles that are involved with the control of the muscles of the hip, leg, and foot. As a result of the injury, Karen would have poor control of most leg muscles, a problem with walking if she could walk at all, and if she could stand, problems maintaining balance.