Spinal Cord Structure and Function

Spinal Cord Structure

• The spinal cord is a long, cylindrical bundle of nerve tissue.
• It runs through the center of the spine.
• It connects the brain to the rest of the body.
• It is responsible for transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body.
• The spinal cord's structure includes various types of nerve cells and supporting tissues.
• It has a complex arrangement of white and gray matter.

Spinal Cord Function

• The primary function of the spinal cord is to relay information between the brain and the body.
• It carries sensory information from the body to the brain.
• It carries motor commands from the brain to muscles and glands.
• Reflexes are automatic responses to stimuli, and many of these are mediated through the spinal cord, without direct brain involvement.
• The spinal cord processes information from sensory neurons, integrating this with pre-programmed motor responses.
• It houses the neural circuits responsible for many fundamental body functions.

Spinal Cord Anatomy

• The spinal cord has a relatively simple and consistent structure across most of its length.
• It is organized into segments corresponding to different areas of the body.
• Each segment contains the sensory and motor neurons that send information to or from specific areas of the body, (e.g., arms, legs, torso).
• The spinal cord's exterior consists largely of white matter.
• White matter contains myelinated nerve fibers that transmit signals rapidly.
• The interior of the spinal cord is primarily gray matter.
• Gray matter contains nerve cell bodies, which integrate and process signals.
• The spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae of the spine.
• Meninges, protective membranes, also surround the spinal cord.
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cushions and nurtures the delicate spinal cord tissue.