What is the structure of the spinal cord and its function?

What is the structure of the spinal cord and its function?

What is the structure of the spinal cord and its function?

Spinal cord and nerves: The spinal cord is a column of nerves that travels through the spinal canal. The cord extends from the skull to the lower back. Thirty-one pairs of nerves branch out through vertebral openings (the neural foramen). These nerves carry messages between the brain and muscles.

What are the major structures of the spinal cord?

According to its rostrocaudal location the spinal cord can be divided into four parts: cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral, two of these are marked by an upper (cervical) and a lower (lumbar) enlargement.

What is the role of spinal cord?

The spinal cord functions primarily in the transmission of nerve signals from the motor cortex to the body, and from the afferent fibers of the sensory neurons to the sensory cortex. It is also a center for coordinating many reflexes and contains reflex arcs that can independently control reflexes.

What are the roles of the spinal cord?

What do you mean by spinal cord?

A column of nerve tissue that runs from the base of the skull down the center of the back. The spinal cord and the brain make up the central nervous system (CNS). Spinal cord nerves carry messages between the brain and the rest of the body.

What is the basic structure of the spinal cord?

The spinal cord is a cylindrical structure of nervous tissue composed of white and gray matter, is uniformly organized and is divided into four regions: cervical (C), thoracic (T), lumbar (L) and sacral (S), (Figure 3.1), each of which is comprised of several segments.

What structure ends up as the spinal cord?

The spinal cord begins at the bottom of the brain stem (at the area called the medulla oblongata) and ends in the lower back, as it tapers to form a cone called the conus medullaris.

What are the important functions of spinal cord?

What are the different parts of the spinal cord?

The spinal cord is divided into five different parts. Sacral cord. Lumbar cord. Thoracic cord. Cervical cord. Coccygeal. Several spinal nerves emerge out of each segment of the spinal cord. There are 8 pairs of cervical, 5 lumbar, 12 thoracics, 5 sacral and 1 coccygeal pair of spinal nerves

Where are the nerve fibers located in the spinal cord?

Key Takeaways: Spinal Cord Anatomy The spinal cord is a bundle of nerve fibers that extend from the brain stem down the spinal column to the lower back. The spinal cord is composed of neurons that send and receive signals along tracts towards and away from the brain.

Where does the spinal cord travel through the body?

What is the relationship between spinal cord and vertebral column?

Spinal Cord and Vertebrae.png: Relationship between the spinal cord and vertebral column, delineating the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar sections. The spinal cord is protected by three layers of tissue called meninges and divided into three regions.

What is the structure that encloses the spinal cord?

The spine, alternately known as the vertebral column or backbone, is the structure that encloses and protects the spinal cord, which is the bundle of nerves that transmits signals from the brain to the rest of the body. It consists of a stack of bones — 33 vertebrae, the sacrum , and the coccyx — and…

What are the three areas of the spinal cord?

The spinal cord is divided into four major parts: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral nerves. Collectively, the entire spinal cord is divided into 31 segments; at every segment, there is a pair of right and left spinal nerves.

What is the inner portion of the spinal cord?

The spinal cord is contained in the center cavity of the vertebral column (back bone) which protects the spinal cord from injury. It has an inner mass of gray matter and an outer covering of white matter. It carries messages that coordinate movement and sensation.

What are the parts to the spinal cord?

The spinal cord, like the brain, has two major layers of protection. First are the vertebrae of the spine, and underneath those are three layers of tough membrane called the meninges. The meninges surround both brain and spinal cord and are filled with a liquid called cerebrospinal fluid.