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Spinal Cord
The spinal cord is the main nerve conduit between the brain and the rest of the body.
Nerve roots
exit the spine at every vertebral level and go on to form the main neurological structures in the body. These main nerves then branch out to become all the smaller peripheral nerves which carry sensory, motor and autonomic signals throughout the body.
Spinal Cord NervesThe nerves at the upper part of the spine connect to the head, arms and areas in the upper body. The nerves in the middle of the spine connect to the abdominals and areas in the middle of our body. The nerves in the lower spine connect to the legs and lower parts of our body. This is the reason we experience symptoms in other anatomical regions when the spine is injured.Nerves that connect to the spine come in 3 varieties, motor nerves, sensory nerves, and autonomic nerves. Motor nerves supply signals that create movement in a muscle. Sensory nerves transmit signals of “feeling” such as temperature, texture and pain. Autonomic nerves transmit signals that control involuntary reactions, such as heart rate and digestion. Spinal InjuryA spinal cord injury is a very serious occurrence. Any type of nerve damage might become permanent and trauma to the actual cord will almost always enact considerable symptoms in affected patients. Paralysis is the all too frequent result of serious cord injury and may lead to a paraplegic or quadriplegic condition, depending on the location and severity of the spinal trauma. Cord injuries have few treatment options available and the most promising has been limited by political and religious pressures. Let's hope that all warring factions can come together and make stem cell research an effective therapy option for people suffering from cord damage.
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