Anatomy of the Spinal Cord

Anatomy

• The spinal cord is a long, thin, tube-like structure extending from the base of the brain down to the lower back
• Protected by the vertebral column and meninges (three layers of protective membranes)
• Divided into 31 segments, each corresponding to a specific region of the body
• Length: approximately 45 cm (18 inches) in adults
• Diameter: approximately 1-1.5 cm (0.4-0.6 inches)

Injuries

• Traumatic injuries: caused by physical trauma, such as car accidents, falls, or sports injuries
• Non-traumatic injuries: caused by non-physical factors, such as infection, cancer, or inflammation
• Types of spinal cord injuries:
  • Complete injury: complete loss of motor and sensory function below the level of injury
  • Incomplete injury: partial loss of motor and sensory function below the level of injury
• Effects of spinal cord injury:
  • Paralysis or weakness
  • Loss of sensation
  • Bladder and bowel dysfunction
  • Respiratory problems

Diseases

• Infections:
  • Meningitis: inflammation of the meninges
  • Abscesses: pockets of infected material that can compress the spinal cord
• Degenerative conditions:
  • Spinal stenosis: narrowing of the spinal canal
  • Spondylosis: degeneration of the spine
• Autoimmune disorders:
  • Multiple sclerosis: demyelination of nerve fibers
  • Transverse myelitis: inflammation of the spinal cord
• Tumors:
  • Primary tumors: originate in the spinal cord
  • Metastatic tumors: spread from other parts of the body

Function

• Transmits messages between the brain and the rest of the body
• Interprets and integrates sensory information from the body
• Controls reflexes and automatic functions, such as:
  • Heart rate
  • Blood pressure
  • Breathing
  • Bladder and bowel function
• Enables voluntary movements, such as:
  • Walking
  • Running
  • Writing

Nerve Roots

• 31 pairs of nerve roots emerge from the spinal cord, each corresponding to a specific segment
• Divided into:
  • Dorsal roots: transmit sensory information from the body to the spinal cord
  • Ventral roots: transmit motor signals from the spinal cord to the body
• Nerve roots can be damaged by injury or disease, leading to numbness, weakness, or paralysis in specific areas of the body

Anatomy

• Spinal cord is a long, thin, tube-like structure extending from the base of the brain down to the lower back, protected by the vertebral column and meninges
• Meninges consist of three layers of protective membranes
• Divided into 31 segments, each corresponding to a specific region of the body
• Measures approximately 45 cm (18 inches) in length and 1-1.5 cm (0.4-0.6 inches) in diameter in adults

Injuries

• Traumatic injuries occur due to physical trauma, such as car accidents, falls, or sports injuries
• Non-traumatic injuries occur due to non-physical factors, such as infection, cancer, or inflammation
• Complete injury results in complete loss of motor and sensory function below the level of injury
• Incomplete injury results in partial loss of motor and sensory function below the level of injury
• Spinal cord injury may cause paralysis or weakness, loss of sensation, bladder and bowel dysfunction, and respiratory problems

Diseases

• Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the meninges
• Abscesses are pockets of infected material that can compress the spinal cord
• Spinal stenosis is a degenerative condition that causes narrowing of the spinal canal
• Spondylosis is a degenerative condition that causes degeneration of the spine
• Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that causes demyelination of nerve fibers
• Transverse myelitis is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of the spinal cord
• Primary tumors originate in the spinal cord, while metastatic tumors spread from other parts of the body

Function

• Spinal cord transmits messages between the brain and the rest of the body
• Interprets and integrates sensory information from the body
• Controls reflexes and automatic functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and bladder and bowel function
• Enables voluntary movements, such as walking, running, and writing

Nerve Roots

• 31 pairs of nerve roots emerge from the spinal cord, each corresponding to a specific segment
• Dorsal roots transmit sensory information from the body to the spinal cord
• Ventral roots transmit motor signals from the spinal cord to the body
• Nerve roots can be damaged by injury or disease, leading to numbness, weakness, or paralysis in specific areas of the body

Learn about the structure and function of the spinal cord, including its protection, segments, and dimensions. Also, explore the different types of injuries that can affect it.