Spinal cord

• Share this article on Facebook • Share this article on Twitter • Share this article on Flipboard • Share this article on Pinit • + additional share options added • Share this article on Reddit • Share this article on Linkedin • Share this article on Whatsapp • Share this article on Email • Print this article • Share this article on Comment • Share this article on Tumblr “Lymphocytes(carried in the lymph) travel in and out of thecentral nervous system(CNS). It is thought that some of these lymphocytes become malignant and cause lymphoma to form in the CNS,” according to the government agency. “Primary CNS lymphomacan start in thebrain,spinal cord, the ormeninges(the layers that form the outer covering of the brain).” Signs of CNS Lymphoma can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, confusion, double vision, hearing loss or seizures, with tests of the eyes, brain and spinal cord used to diagnose the disorder. It is a rare disease, with around 1,500 new cases in the U.S. each year, according to the After a diagnosis of CNS Lymphoma, tests are typically done to find out if the cancer has spread within the brain and spinal cord or to the eyes. According to Cancer.gov, typical treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, steroid therapy, targeted therapy, high-dose chemo with stem cell transplant and immunotherapy, though surgery is not typically done to treat primary CNS. The “We are deeply sorry to share the bad news that a week ago Michael Bibi has been diagnosed with C...

Overview What is a spinal cord injury? The spinal cord relays messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Layers of tissue called meninges and a column of vertebrae (spinal bones) surround and protect the spinal cord. Most spinal cord injuries come from a sudden, traumatic blow to the vertebrae. The How does a spinal cord injury affect the body? The body loses many essential functions if an injury means nerves can’t communicate with the brain. A damaged spinal cord can affect: • Bladder and bowel (intestinal) function. • Breathing. • Heart rate. • Metabolism, or the body’s process of converting food into energy. • Muscle movement. • Reflexes. • Sensations. Is a spinal cord injury the same as a back injury? A spinal cord injury isn’t the same as a back injury. Back injuries may damage bones or soft tissues in the spine, but they don’t affect the spinal cord. What are the types of spinal cord injuries? Spinal cord injuries can be complete or incomplete (partial): • Complete: A complete injury causes total • Incomplete: After an incomplete injury, some function remains on one or both sides of the body. The body and brain can still communicate along certain pathways. Symptoms and Causes How do spinal cord injuries happen? Some possible causes of spinal cord injuries (from most to least common) include: • Motor vehicle accidents. • Falls. • Gunshot wounds. • Sports injuries. • Surgical complications. What are the symptoms of a spinal cord injury? Spinal cord injury sym...

The spinal cord is a long bundle of nerves and cells that extends from the lower portion of the brain to the lower back. It carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body. This article covers the key It also provides some information about spinal cord injuries. Below is a 3D model of the spinal cord, which is fully interactive. Explore the 3D model using your mouse pad or touchscreen to understand more about the spinal cord. The length of the spinal cord varies from person to person. According to The spinal cord comprises three parts: the cervical (neck), thoracic (chest), and lumbar (lower back) regions. Three layers of tissue protect the spinal cord: the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. Doctors call these layers “meninges.” The layers are as follows: • Dura mater: This is the outermost layer of the spinal cord’s meninges. It is a tough, protective coating. • Epidural space: Between the dura and arachnoid space is the epidural space. This is where doctors may insert local anesthetic to reduce pain during childbirth and some surgical procedures, such as those to operate on a lung or abdominal • Arachnoid mater: The arachnoid mater is the middle layer of spinal cord covering. • Subarachnoid space: This is located between the arachnoid mater and pia mater. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is located in this space. Sometimes, a doctor has to sample CSF to test for the presence of infection, such as • Pia mater: The pia mater is the layer that directly covers t...

Overview A spinal cord injury — damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal (cauda equina) — often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation and other body functions below the site of the injury. If you've recently injured your spinal cord, it might seem like every aspect of your life has been affected. You might feel the effects of your injury mentally, emotionally and socially. Spinal cord injuries Paralysis of the lower half of the body is called paraplegia. Paralysis below the neck, including both arms and legs, is called quadriplegia. Your ability to control your limbs after a spinal cord injury depends on two factors: where the injury occurred on your spinal cord and the severity of injury. The lowest part of your spinal cord that remains undamaged after an injury is referred to as the neurological level of your injury. The severity of the injury is often called "the completeness" and is classified as either of the following: • Complete. If all feeling (sensory) and all ability to control movement (motor function) are lost below the spinal cord injury, your injury is called complete. • Incomplete. If you have some motor or sensory function below the affected area, your injury is called incomplete. There are varying degrees of incomplete injury. Additionally, paralysis from a spinal cord injury can be referred to as: • Tetraplegia. Also known as quadriplegia, this means that your arms, hands, trunk, legs and pelvic organs are a...

Inside, the spinal cord consists of grey matter and white matter. • The grey matter takes on the shape of a butterfly, with four 'wings' called horns: The horns in the front contain • The spinal cord grey matter is surrounded by a column of white matter, containing Entry and Exit • Sensory Nerve Fibres enter the Spinal Cord via the Posterior (Dorsal) Root. The cell bodies for these neurons are situated in the Dorsal Root Ganglia. • Motor and Preganglionic Autonomic Fibres exit via the Anterior (Ventral) Root. Below is a good image of the Spinal cord,labelled The spinal cord is the major conduit and Its upper end is continuous with the medulla, the transition is defined to occur just above the level of exit of the first pair of cervical nerves. Its tapering lower end, the conus medullaris, terminates at the level of the L3 vertebra in neonates, and at the level of the L1-2 intervertebral disk in adults. It then becomes the cauda equina The cauda equina • Is the name given to the roots of the spinal nerves that extend beyond the termination of the spinal cord at the first lumbar vertebra in the form of a bundle of filaments within the spinal canal resembling a horse's tail • Has approximately 10 fiber pairs at its base: 3 to 5 lumbar fiber pairs; 5 sacral fiber pairs, and 1 coccygeal nerve. • Primary function of the cauda equina is to send and receive messages between the lower limbs and the pelvic organs, which consist of the bladder, the rectum, and the internal genital or...

Spinal Cord The spinal cord is a part of the central nervous system. It is a long pipe-like structure arising from the medulla oblongata, part of the brain consisting of a collection of nerve fibres, running through the vertebral column of the backbone. It is segmented with a pair of roots (dorsal and ventral roots) consisting of nerve fibres joining to form the spinal nerves. Table of Contents • • • • • Spinal Cord Anatomy In adults, the spinal cord is usually 40cm long and 2cm wide. It forms a vital link between the brain and the body. 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 It performs the primary processing of information as it carries sensory signals from all parts of the body to the Nerve tissue consists of the grey and white matter spread across uniformly. The smooth muscles and the skeletal system carrying nerve fibres liaise different reflexes when ventral horn projects axons which carry motor neurons. It also helps intercede autonomic control for visceral functions which consist of neurons with descending axons. It is a sensitive site, which is severely affected in case of a traumatic injury. Understanding the physiology of the spinal cord helps in detecting and determining the various methods to deal with dise...

Overview Spinal stenosis happens when the space inside the backbone is too small. This can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves that travel through the spine. Spinal stenosis occurs most often in the lower back and the neck. Some people with spinal stenosis have no symptoms. Others may experience pain, tingling, numbness and muscle weakness. Symptoms can get worse over time. The most common cause of spinal stenosis is wear-and-tear changes in the spine related to arthritis. People who have severe cases of spinal stenosis may need surgery. Surgery can create more space inside the spine. This can ease the symptoms caused by pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. But surgery can't cure arthritis, so arthritis pain in the spine may continue. Symptoms Spinal stenosis often causes no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they start slowly and get worse over time. Symptoms depend on which part of the spine is affected. In the lower back Spinal stenosis in the lower back can cause pain or cramping in one or both legs. This happens when you stand for a long time or when you walk. Symptoms get better when you bend forward or sit. Some people also have back pain. In the neck Spinal stenosis in the neck can cause: • Numbness • Tingling or weakness in a hand, leg, foot or arm • Problems with walking and balance • Neck pain • Problems with the bowel or bladder Herniated disk and bone spurs on spine As your spine ages, you're more likely to have bone spurs or herniated disks. These pro...

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The spine (backbone) encloses and protects the spinal cord. Damage to the spinal cord can occur as a result of problems such as traumatic injuries, infections, and disease. Treatment for conditions that affect the spinal cord often includes rehabilitation and may also involve medication and/or surgery. The deep, central area of the spinal cord is referred to as gray matter, and the portion that is located nearer to the outer edge of the spinal cord is referred to as white matter. A coating called myelin (a type of fat) insulates all nerves. The white matter tends to have more myelination than the grey matter, giving it a whiter appearance when viewed with a microscope. These motor signals travel down the internal capsule, and then cross over to the other side of the body in the brain stem. From there, these messages are sent to the anterior horn and the lateral and anterior tracts of the spinal cord. The motor message exits the spinal cord through the ventral root (the front portion) of the spinal nerves. Motor The motor messages sent through the corticospinal tract eventually reach the corresponding muscle as the spinal nerve branches into smaller peripheral motor nerves that extend to the target muscle. As a result of this nerve stimulation, you can voluntarily move your arms, legs, neck, back, and abdominal muscles. When the spinal cord is placed under physical pressure, weakness, sensory loss, and autonomic deficits can occur. Severe degenerative disease of the bone or...

Spinal cord (lateral-left view) You know that situation when you forget that you’ve put your phone in your back pocket and then you hear a crack when you sit down? You probably freeze for a moment and think, “Oh I hope that was my spine”. Well, even though a broken display may cost as much as a Key facts about the spinal cord Definition and function A part of the central nervous system located in the spinal canal that conveys the information between the brain and the periphery. Structure and segments - Composed of an outer layer of white matter and centrally located gray matter. - Along its length, it consists of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal segments. Spinal nerves 31 pair of nerves that emerge from the segments of the spinal cord to innervate the body structures; 8 pairs of cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal pair of spinal nerves. [Spinal cord(diagram)] The spinal cord is a continuation of the filum terminale extends from the tip of the conus medullaris all the way to the 1st coccygeal vertebra (Co1) and anchors the spinal cord in place. You can easy remember the extent of the spinal cord with a mnemonic ' SCULL', which stands for ' Spinal Cord Until L2 (LL)'. It's important to master the basics of the nervous system before delving into the details of specific structures like the spinal cord. Check if your knowledge is up to par with our nervous system anatomy practice quizzes. Throughout its length, the spinal cord...