Brain and Spinal Cord: Longitudinal Neural Pathways

This 1.0 CU human anatomy course will cover the anatomy, development, and cytology of the central nervous system, including a detailed examination of the neuroanatomy of the spinal cord. The objectives are to: 1) compare and contrast the differences in how the neural tube and neural crest develop, and list their postnatal derivatives; 2) list the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters used by neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system; 3) recall the basic anatomy of the spinal cord including the vertebral level where the cord end and meninges end, what makes up the conus medullaris and cauda equina, and which cord segments innervate the upper and lower limbs; 4) describe the names and locations of the two neurons that generate voluntary versus reflex contractions of skeletal muscle, and be able to draw and label a cord section with these neurons; 5) describe how two sensory systems utilize three neurons to process sensory information; and 6) summarize the major signs and symptoms of the 7 common spinal cord diseases and clinical conditions including Polio, Tabes dorsalis, ALS, Subacute Combined Degeneration, Syringomyelia, Anterior cord syndrome, and Brown Sequard Syndrome. This course is open to LPS Post-Baccalaureate students only. Please contact Kimberley Halscheid (battillo@upenn.edu) if you have questions.