Anatomy of the Spinal Cord - Trinity College Dublin

The dorsal horn of the spinal cord serves as the primary site of termination for sensory information from afferent nerve fibers.

The ventral horn houses the cell bodies of motor neurons, which control the voluntary movement of skeletal muscles.

The ventral horn is particularly well-developed in the cervical and lumbar regions because these areas control the muscles of the limbs.

The dorsal horn receives sensory information from the body via afferent fibers.

The ventral horn contains alpha and gamma motor neurons, both of which are crucial for the innervation and control of skeletal muscles.

Ascending tracts are bundles of nerve fibers that relay sensory information from the periphery to the cerebral cortex.

The denticulate ligament is a delicate membrane that wraps around the spinal cord and its nerve roots, helping to stabilize the spinal cord within the vertebral canal.

The eighth cervical nerve (C8) exits below the seventh cervical vertebra (C7).

The cauda equina is a bundle of spinal nerve roots that extend from the end of the spinal cord downwards, resembling a horse's tail.

The arachnoid mater is a delicate membrane that encases the spinal cord, acting as a protective barrier between the spinal cord and the dura mater.

In the cervical region, the spinal cord segments align with the corresponding vertebral bodies. However, this alignment shifts in other spinal regions.

The denticulate ligament has lateral projections called shelves that anchor the spinal cord to the arachnoid and dura, providing additional stability.

The dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway carries sensory information about discriminative touch, such as the ability to distinguish between different textures.

The spinothalamic pathway transmits information related to nociception (pain) and non-discriminative touch, which is the ability to perceive touch without being able to identify the precise location or texture.

Proprioception is the sense of body position and joint movement.

The pyramidal tracts, also known as the corticospinal tracts, are responsible for the conscious, voluntary control of muscles throughout the body and face.

The corticospinal tract delivers motor commands from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord, influencing voluntary movement.

The corticospinal tract is named for its distinctive passage through the pyramids of the medulla, a region in the brainstem.

The spinothalamic pathway carries information related to pain and non-discriminative touch to the brain.

The spinocerebellar tracts play a critical role in proprioception, transmitting information about joint position and muscle force to the cerebellum.

The dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway is a major sensory pathway for discriminative touch, allowing us to perceive fine details about textures and shapes.

The ascending tracts, including the dorsal column-medial lemniscal, spinothalamic, and spinocerebellar pathways, convey sensory information from the body to the cerebral cortex.

The dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway is responsible for conveying information about pressure and vibration, helping us to understand how hard something is being applied to our skin.

The spinocerebellar tracts transmit information about proprioception, which is the sense of body position and joint movement, to the cerebellum.

The spinocerebellar tracts carry unconscious sensory information related to joint position and muscle force, helping to coordinate movement and maintain balance.

The spinothalamic pathway transmits information about pain and non-discriminative touch to the cerebral cortex.

The dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway is responsible for the ability to discriminate between different textures and shapes, known as discriminative touch.

The ascending tracts transmit sensory information from the periphery to the cerebral cortex, allowing us to perceive the world around us.

The pyramidal tracts are a major descending motor pathway responsible for controlling voluntary movements of the body and face.

The majority of fibers from the corticospinal tract, about 85%, cross over to the opposite side of the body in a region of the brainstem called the decussation of the pyramids.

The corticobulbar system, a part of the descending motor pathway, controls the muscles of the face, head, and neck, allowing us to express emotions and speak.

The remaining 15% of fibers from the corticospinal tract cross over at the spinal cord level where they terminate.

The corticobulbar tract is comprised of upper motor neurons, which are neurons in the brain that control lower motor neurons in the spinal cord.

The pyramidal tracts are responsible for the conscious, voluntary control of movement, allowing us to perform precise and purposeful motor tasks.

The pyramidal tracts primarily influence the spinal cord, the central nervous system structure responsible for carrying out motor commands and transmitting sensory information.