Brain and Spinal Cord: Longitudinal Neural Pathways

This course, covering the anatomy, development, and cytology of the central nervous system, including a detailed examination of the functional and clinical neuroanatomy of the spinal cord, prepares students to: - Compare and contrast the differences in how the neural tube and neural crest develop, and list their postnatal derivatives. - Compare the malformations that result in open versus closed neural tube defects, including the ability to distinguish the different forms of spina bifida. - List the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters used by neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system. - Compare the functions of Schwann cells and Oligodendrocytes in forming myelin and the differences in autoimmune diseases (MS and Guillain Barre) associated with each. - 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. - Contrast the two divisions of the ANS in terms of locations of pre and post ganglionic neuron cell bodies, neurotransmitters utilized and receptors that they bind to. - 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. - Recall the differences between the myotatic and inverse myotatic reflexes. - Describe how these two sensory systems utilize three neurons to process sensory information. - Draw out the three neurons that are components of the DC/ML System and label the modalities of their dorsal roots, their course and sites of termination. - Draw out the three neurons that are components of the Anterolateral System and label the modalities of their dorsal roots, their course and sites of termination. - 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, Brown Sequard Syndrome