2401 : Anatomy/Physiology Homework 1
Fall 2015
Dr. C. Doumen
Instructions.
This is an Anatomy/Physiology homework. Therefore, you are expected to answer
everything at the level of College Anatomy/Physiology. You will type all your answers in
complete sentences. Only on a few places will you be instructed to draw things.
Read what is expected for each question. Since this is a word document, things will shift
as you type things in. Part of your job is to create a nice finished work. At all times, it is
your responsibility to align things properly and provide me with a nice looking result that
is easy to read and well organized. You have all the resources available to answer
questions correctly. This is homework and it requires for you to do the work by reading
and doing the research. I cannot help you.
I will assign 20% of this particular grade to presentation and order. The rest will be
dependent on your correctness, scientific logic and completeness of the assignment.
Assume that this presentation is part of a job application. The way you present this will
reflect on how well you want the job. Your input and effort will be graded similarly and
compared with the home-works from other students.
Note : 1. The font type to use is font 12, single spaced.
2. Each question is followed by name. Type your name in there and keep this at
the top of each page. Each major question needs to start at a new page.
3. Anything penciled in or not typed is not acceptable (except for drawing aspect).
It is a sign of last minute corrections. You work needs to be finished and
polished two nights before you turn it in. That way you can and read it over
again the night before it is due. Any corrections can thus be made 12 hrs before
it is due, not 5 minutes before.
Turn this homework in stapled or with a paperclip.
DUE DATE : October 29, 2015
Sign Your name : ____________________________________
Question 1
Name :
What is the difference between a nerve and a tract ? ( start on the next line and use a few
sentences to explain this).
In the figure below, DRAW the important spinal tracts that run up and down within the
spinal cord. Make this CLEAN and clearly visible. Put the ascending tracts on the left
side and the descending tract on the right side of the spinal cord. You can use different
colors to indicate the ascending and descending tracts.
In your finished figure above, number the different ascending tracts from 1,2… and so
on. Mark the descending tracts with A, B,C,.. and so on.
On the following page you will provide in clean sentences, and next to the corresponding
number or letter, the name of each tract and the function of that specific tract. In other
words, what information is being carried in these tracts ! Information for all of this can be
found in your textbook (Chapter 15). There is no reason for this to be not complete.
All of the following needs to fit onto this page. Adjust the spacing and add more tract
numbers or letters where required ( and there are more than 3 for each). Use complete
constructed sentences for your answers. No texting allowed !
Ascending tracts
1.
2.
3.
Descending tracts
A.
B.
C.
Question 2
Name :
You are sitting at your desk and working on this assignment. You are frustrated with the work that
Dr. Doumen is giving you to do. You are tired and about to fall asleep. Your cat (just assume you
have one) happens to be under your desk and licks your right big toe. The sensation obviously
wakes you up and you voluntarily flex your big toe.
Write a one to one and a half ( 1 to 1.5) page assay on the physiological events that occur with
respect to the neurological activities that follow the moment your cat licks your big toe. THUS, I do
NOT want an essay about your cat. It needs to incorporate anatomical correct terminology and
synthesis. In other words, what kind of receptors are activated, what is generated, by what kind of
spinal nerve does this information travel into the spinal cord, by what structure does it enter your
spinal cord, at what specific segment, does the information cross over right away or not, what tract
does the information travel inside your spinal cord (see and apply information from previous
question), and how does it get to your brain cortex and where ? How many total synapses, and
where are those located ? Maybe you can tell me also what neurotransmitters are involved.
Additionally, since you obviously become aware of the sensation, where specifically in your cortex
does this information of touch inform your conscious aspect of your brain ?
After you are aware of the touch, you voluntarily flex your big toe. What region in your brain will
become activated via what connections, and how does this command information travel through the
spinal cord to flex your big toe ? What specific muscle will in the end become activated ?
Assumptions to be made :
a. the lick creates a definite localized sensation of light touch.
b. the movement of your big toe is a voluntary reaction, NOT a reflex.
You need to read and educate yourself and synthesize this information together. We have seen
many aspects and for some, and to add to this, you have to read / study the textbook. In the end, you
should be able to provide me with an anatomical description of the specific nerves and specific
tracts involved. Keep your assay to the point but be as specific you can with all the necessary
information. Obviously, what you write should all make sense ; thus re-read what you write often !
Start your assay below, using font 12.
Note : ALL of this information is available by analyzing spinal nerves and tracts information in your
textbook (more specifically, chapter 15; open book and discover…). Additional info can be obtained by
using the internet. There is nothing available to purely paste and copy. YOU have to analyze, understand,
think and apply….. just like your future employer wants you to do.
Start Assay Here:
Question 3 : A Case Presentation on Spinal Cord Injuries
Name :
Introduction
The spinal cord carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Traumatic injury to the
spinal cord can result in a condition called acute spinal cord injury (SCI), resulting in motor, sensory,
or autonomic dysfunction which may be temporary or permanent. SCI is a common cause of
permanent disability and death in both children and adults. Bike accidents and diving into
unexplored shallow waters are the typical reasons why the average person ends up with SCI.
Before attempting to answer the questions associated with this case, students should review the
functional anatomy of the spinal cord as well as the normal physiology of spinal reflexes. The
questions following this case study can be researched properly and decent answers using complete
sentences are expected. The more effort you put into this, the more you will learn about spinal cord
injuries and the better your score will be. Use this as an opportunity to educate yourself about these
accidents.
The Case
Jason Hendrix is a 21-year-old senior at the University of Texas, majoring in economics. While on
spring break in Florida, Jason was involved in a one-vehicle motorcycle accident. In the accident,
Jason was thrown from his bike to the pavement, landing on his back. A police officer witnessed the
accident and immediately called for medical assistance. Emergency personnel arrived within minutes,
and upon recognizing the seriousness of Jason’s back injury, immobilized his neck and secured him to
a rigid board prior to transporting him to the emergency room of the nearest hospital.
When he arrived at the hospital, Jason was conscious and complained of pain in his lower back. Upon
examination by the emergency room personnel, Jason was found to have numerous abrasions and
contusions, and loss of both sensation and motor control of his legs. After he was stabilized, a
complete neurological exam was performed to assess and localize Jason’s injury. The neurological
exam revealed the following:
Jason demonstrated normal or near normal strength in flexing and extending his elbows, extending his
wrists, and when flexing his middle finger and abducting his little finger on both hands. However, he
exhibited no movement when medical personnel tested his ability to flex his hips, extend his knees,
and dorsiflex his ankles. Stretch reflexes involving the biceps, brachioradialis, and triceps muscles
were found to be normal, while those involving the patella and ankle were absent. In addition, Jason
was found to have normal sensitivity to pin prick and light touch in areas of his body above the level
of his inguinal (groin) region, but not below that region of the body.
The Questions
Name :
Provide answer using complete sentences. Don’t provide listings, bulleted answers, or
fragments of sentences. Start your answers under each question. You should have at least
two pages when finished with these questions.
1) Define the terms reflex and identify the components of a reflex arc.
2) What is the difference between a reflex and a reaction and explain which one would occur
faster than the other.
3) What is the difference between a somatic reflex and a visceral reflex ?
2) Define the term spinal cord injury (SCI), neurological level of injury, tetraplegia, and
paraplegia.
3) What is the state of prevalence of SCI. In other words, what are the medical statistics for
people suffering SCI per year ( I want several sentences with real data here… look it up ! The
internet is a wonderful tool.)
4) Define the terms dermatome and myotome and explain how each relates to SCI or how it can
be used to diagnose SCI.
5) Explain how a stretch reflex works and describe how such reflexes are used to anatomically
localize SCI.
6) Based upon the results of Jason’s neurological exam, what is the neurological level of his SCI?
In other words, where specifically in the spinal cord is his damage located ?
For this last question, I want to see a discussion on why you excluded each region of the spinal
cord according to the neurological exam. For example, if you decide that the cervical spinal
segments are not the problem, why did you decide this ? Clinical examinations are like court
cases; statements without evidence to back up your statements are of no use.
Please show some effort in your approach. Answer the questions completely and with full
sentences. Use your textbook or Google for the information requested.
4. Disease discussions.
Name :
1. CNS/PNS Disease 1
Discuss (1) the definition and explanation of the term Palsy.
(2) Following this, provide a discussion of a specific palsy that relates to the arm or leg
movement.
I like to see the cause and the symptoms that relate to the specific palsy that you picked. (Usually,
a palsy has a certain name associated with it).
2. CNS/PNS Disease 2
Explain what the term ‘channelopathies’ means and provide me with enough details to discuss a
typical channelopathy disease ( this should be at last one page).
These two discussions should be, together, at least 1.5 pages.