What are the enlargements of the spinal cord?

What are the enlargements of the spinal cord?

Two enlargements of the spinal cord can be visualized: The cervical enlargement, which extends between C3 to T1; and the lumbar enlargements which extends between L1 to S2 (Figure 3.1). The cord is segmentally organized. There are 31 segments, defined by 31 pairs of nerves exiting the cord.

What is the significance of the cervical and lumbar enlargements of the spinal cord?

The cervical and lumbar regions of the spinal cord show a larger diameter compared to the rest of the regions. The cervical enlargement and lumbar enlargement represent an increased amount of neurons in the gray matter and axons in the white matter that serve the upper limbs and lower limbs, respectively.

What is the important function of spinal cord?

The spinal cord is a complex organization of nerve cells responsible for movement and sensation. It carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body.

What is the strongest part of the spine?

Lumbar Spine: In your low back, you have 5 vertebrae that are labeled L1 to L5 (the ‘L’ means lumbar). Some people have 6 lumbar vertebrae. These vertebrae are your largest and strongest vertebrae, responsible for carrying a lot of your body’s weight.

What are the two main commonly injured areas of the spine?

The Areas Most Prone to Damage: Cervical and Lumbar Portions. While the spine is comprised of multiple regions, the ones most susceptible to damage are the cervical and lumbar regions.

What are two main functions of the spinal cord?

Functions

• Carrying signals from the brain: The spinal cord receives signals from the brain that control movement and autonomic functions.
• Carrying information to the brain: The spinal cord nerves also transmit messages to the brain from the body, such as sensations of touch, pressure, and pain.

Where are the two spinal cord enlargements located?

Enlargements of Spinal Cord. The 2 enlargements are as follows: Cervical enlargement: In the region of C5 T1 spinal sections. The nerves originating from these sections create brachial plexus. Lumbar enlargement: In the region of L2 S3 spinal sections. The nerves originating from these sections create the lumbar plexus.

What causes the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord?

Typically, the cervical and the lumbar regions of the spinal cord show a larger diameter than the rest of the areas. The spinal cord has two areas of enlargement: Cervical Enlargement and Lumbosacral Enlargement. It is one of the two symmetrical enlargements that are occupying the segments of the plexuses of the limb.

What are the external features of the spinal cord?

External Features. The spinal cord is cylindrical structure, somewhat flattened anteroposteriorly. Its lower end tapers into a cone creating the conus medullaris. The spinal cord supplies origin to 31 pairs of spinal nerves. The girth of spinal cord increases substantially in the regions that supply origin to large nerves of the limbs.

Why is the spinal cord important to the human body?

It is essential for conducting impulses from the brain to the body and generating reflexes that make our daily functioning smooth. This page will focus on spinal cord anatomy and provide you with an insight into why this yellow cable-like structure is an essential conduit for normal functioning of the body.

What is the significance of the spinal cord enlargement?

[edit on Wikidata] The lumbar enlargement (or lumbosacral enlargement) is a widened area of the spinal cord that gives attachment to the nerves which supply the lower limbs. It commences about the level of T11 and ends at S2, and reaches its maximum circumference, of about 33 mm.

Where do enlargements of the spinal cord occur?

The spinal cord is not uniform in diameter along its length. In the neck region, a thickening in the spinal cord, called the cervical enlargement, occurs in the region associated with the origins of spinal nerves from the cervical spines to thoracic spine T1 giving rise to nerves to the upper limbs.

Do the spinal nerves branch off of the spinal cord?

Two spinal nerves branch off from the right and left sides of the spinal cord or the cauda equina at each spinal segment. These spinal nerves are formed by 2 types of fibers-sensory fibers that send messages to the brain (feeling pain when the leg is hurt) and motor fibers that receive messages from the brain (lifting the leg to get out of a car).

Is the spinal cord a bone muscle or nerve?

Your spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that carries messages back and forth from your brain to your muscles and other soft tissues. As your spinal cord travels down your back, it is protected by a stack of backbones called vertebrae. They also hold your body upright.