Basic anatomy of the spinal cord:

Introduction:- The spine works as the main support for the spinal cord and the nerve
pathways that carry information from the arms, legs, and rest of the body, and carries signals
from the brain to the body.

Your back is composed of 33 bones called vertebrae, 31 pairs of nerves, 40 muscles and
numerous connecting tendons and ligaments running from the base of your skull to your
tailbone. Between your vertebrae are fibrous, elastic cartilage called discs. These "shock
Home absorbers" keep your spine flexible and cushion the hard vertebrae as you move.
Spinal cord
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There are seven cervical bones or
vertebrae. The cervical bones are
designed to allow flexion, extension,
bending, and turning of the head. They
are smaller than the other vertebrae,
which allows a greater amount of
Please consider making movement.
a donation to help keep Each cervical vertebra consists of
this website online two parts, a body and a protective arch
for the spinal cord called the neural
arch. Fractures or injuries can occur to
the body, lim pedicles, or processes.
Each vertebra articulates with the one
above it and the one below it.
Thoracic Spine
In the chest region the thoracic spine
attaches to the ribs. There are 12
 vertebrae in the thoracic region. The spinal canal in the thoracic region is relatively smaller
than the cervical or lumbar areas. This makes the thoracic spinal cord at greater risk if there
is a fracture.
The motion that occurs in the thoracic spine is mostly rotation. The ribs prevent bending
to the side. A small amount of movement occurs in bending forward and backward.
Lumbosacral Spine
The lumbar vertebrae are large, wide, and thick. There are five vertebrae in the lumbar
spine. The lowest lumbar vertebra, L5, articulates with the sacrum. The sacrum attaches to
the pelvis. The main motions of the lumbar area are bending forward and extending
backwards. Bending to the side also occurs....

Neuroanatomy: Just like the spinal column is divided into

cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions, so is the spinal cord.
Each portion of the spinal cord is divided into specific
neurological segments.The cervical spinal cord is divided
into eight levels. Each level contributes to different
functions in the neck and the arms (see diagram). Sensations
from the body are similarly transported from the skin and
other areas of the body from the neck, shoulders, and arms
up to the brain.In the thoracic region the nerves of the spinal
cord supply muscles of the chest that help in breathing and
coughing. This region also contains nerves in the
sympathetic nervous system.
The lumbosacral spinal cord and nerve supply legs, pelvis,
and bowel and bladder. Sensations from the feet, legs,
pelvis, and lower abdomen are transmitted through the
lumbosacral nerves and spinal cord to higher segments and
eventually the brain
Nerve Pathways- There are many nerve pathways that
transmit signals up and down the spinal cord. Some supply
sensation from the skin and outer portions of the body.
Others supply sensation from deeper structures such as the
organs in the belly, the pelvis, or other areas. Other nerves
transmit signals from the brain to the body. Still others work
at the level of the spinal cord and act as "go betweens" in the signal transmission process.
The Motor Neuron- The upper motor neuron refers to injuries that are above the level of the
anterior horn cell. This results in a spastic type of paralysis. Conversely, the lower motor neuron
injury refers to an injury at or below the anterior horn cell that results in the flaccid type
paralysis. This is usually seen in nerve root injuries or in the cauda equina syndrome that was
mentioned previously. The terms neurogenic bowel and neurogenic bladder are used to describe
abnormal bowel and bladder function and can be classified as either an upper motor neuron or
lower motor neuron type of problem. In general, those patients with an upper motor neuron
paralysis will have an upper motor neuron bowel and bladder, and those with lower motor
neuron injuries will have a lower motor neuron picture of the bowel and bladder. Adequate
bowel and bladder management is critical for adequate reintegration of the patient/client into the
community and hopefully into the work place.
Sensory Pathways: Feelings from the body such as hot, cold, pain, and touch, are transmitted to
the skin and other parts of the body to the brain where sensations are "felt." These pathways are
called the sensory pathways.
Once signals enter the spinal cord, they are sent up to the brain. Different types of sensation are
sent in different pathways, called "tracts." The tracts that carry sensations of pain and
temperature to the brain are in the middle part of the spinal cord. These tracts are called the
"spinothalamic." Other tracts carry sensation of position and light touch. These nerve impulses
are carried along the back part of the spinal cord in what are called "dorsal columns" of the
spinal cord.
Autonomic Nerve Pathways: Another type of special nerves are the autonomic nerves. In
spinal cord injuries, they are very important. The autonomic nerves are divided into two types:
the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves.
The autonomic nervous system influences the activities of involuntary (also known as smooth)
muscles, the heart muscle, and glands that release certain hormones. It controls cardiovascular,
digestive, and respiratory systems. These systems work in a generally "involuntary" fashion. The
primary role of the autonomic nervous system is to maintain a stable internal environment within
the body. The heart and blood vessels are controlled by the autonomic nervous system. The
sympathetic nerves help to control blood pressure based on the physical demands placed on the
body. It also helps to control heart rate. The sympathetic nerves, when stimulated, cause the heart
to beat faster.
Sympathetic Nerves: The sympathetic nerves also cause constriction of the blood vessels
throughout the body. When this happens, the amount of blood that is returned to the heart
increases. These effects will increase blood pressure. Other effects include an increase in
sweating and increased irritability or a sensation of anxiety.
When spinal cord injury is at or above the T6 level the sympathetic nerves below the injury
become disconnected from the nerves above. They continue to operate automatically once the
period of spinal shock is over. Anything that simulates the sympathetic nerves can cause them to
become overactive. This overactivity of the sympathetic nerves is what is called autonomic
dysreflexia.
Parasympathetic Nerves: The parasympathetic nerves act in an opposite manner to the
sympathetic nerves. These nerves tend to dilate blood vessels and slow down the heart. The most
important nerve that carries sympathetic fibers is the vagus nerve. This nerve carries
parasympathetic signals to the heart to decrease heart rate. Other nerves supply the blood vessels
to the organs of the abdomen and skin.
The parasympathetic nerves arise from two areas. The fibers that supply the organs of the
abdomen, heart, lungs, and skin above the waist begin at the level of the brain and very high
spinal cord. The nerves that supply the reproductive organs, pelvis, and leg begin at the sacral
level, or lowest part of the spinal cord. After a spinal cord injury, the parasympathetic nerves that
begin at the brain continue to work, even during the phase of spinal shock. When dysreflexia
occurs, the parasympathetic nerves attempt to control rapidly increasing blood pressure by
slowing down the heart.