Spinal Cord - Functionality to be learned!

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord is a framework that keeps running down the center of your back. The spine (or spinal cord) begins from the base of the skull and ends up with pelvis. It serves as a column to support the body's weight. There are three characteristic bends in the spine that give it "S" shape, when seen from the side. These curvatures help the spine withstand incredible measures of stress and pressures by giving an all the more even dispersion of body weight. 

It is a key connection between the cerebrum and the body, and from the body to the mind. The spinal cord length is 40 to 50 cm long and diameter measures 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Two successive columns of nerve roots develop on each of its sides. These nerve roots join distally to frame 31 sets of spinal nerves. The shape of spinal cord is cylindrical structure of sensory tissue made out of white and gray matter, is consistently sorted out. The spine is partitioned into four divisions; cervical (C), thoracic (T), lumbar (L) and sacral (S). The spinal cord is connected to and from the body by motor and sensory nerves. Every spinal cord section innervates a dermatome. 

Spinal Cord Working

Spinal cord is master machine of body. The working of spinal cord combines with brain. Say, spinal cord, brain and nerves; control every single function and movement of body. It allows your body to move, feel sensations, vibrations, it helps recognize positions, every thing you do is with the signals and messages sent and received by nerves connected to our brain and cord.  The cardiac functions like blood pressure control, temperature of body, heart rate are managed by signals. 

Four divisions of the Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is divided into cervical (C), thoracic (T), lumbar (L) and sacral (S) sections. These sections includes 31 different segments are distributed according to the functionality of nerve cells, in four divisions connected to various parts of body. 

• Cervical division – forms with 8 segments that are 8 sets of cervical nerves from C1 – C8.  These pairs of nerve cells are responsible for functioning with muscles. C1- C3 neck muscles, C4- Diaphragm, C5- shoulder, C6- Wrist, C7- triceps, C7-C8 fingers. 
• Thoracic section 12 segments comprises of 12 pairs of thoracic nerves. They are divided as T1- hand, t2 -T12 – trunk, T7- L1- abdominals t11- L2- ejaculations.
• Lumbar - 5 pairs of lumbar nerves. L2- hips, L3- quadriceps, L4-L5- knees , L4- S1- foot 
• Sacral -5 sets of sacral nerves.S2- penile erection, S2-S3- bowel and bladder control.
• The last one is 1 coccygeal segment.

Spinal Cord's Role in the Central Nervous System

The brain, spinal cord and nerves comprise of more than 100 billion nerve cells, called neurons. Neurons accumulate and transmit electrochemical signs. They have the same attributes and parts as different cells, yet the electrochemical perspective gives them a chance to transmit motions over long separations (up to a few feet or a couple meters) and pass messages to one another. 

Neurons completes with three basic parts, they are cell body, axons, and dendrites. They are of different sizes. To explain, a single sensory neuron from at the tip of your finger has an axon that amplifies the length of your arm, while neurons inside of the brain may develop just a couple of millimeters. Neurons have diverse shapes relying upon what they do. Motor neurons that control muscle compressions have a cell body toward one side, a long axon in the center and dendrites on the flip side; sensory neurons have dendrites on both finishes, joined by a long axon with a cell body in the center.

The Central Nervous System- Introduction

Neurons likewise change as for their functionality 

Sensory neurons convey signals from the external parts of your body (fringe) into the central nervous system.

Motor neurons (Moto neurons) convey signals from the central nervous system to the external parts (muscles, skin, and organs) of your body. 

Receptors sense nature (chemicals, light, stable, touch) and encode this data into electrochemical messages that are transmitted by sensory neurons. 

Interneuron interface different neurons inside of the cerebrum and spinal cord. 

In short we can conclude the spinal cord is in-charge of transporting signals (messages) from the brain to all parts of the body, and from the body to the cerebrum. We have the capacity to see and move our parts of body, on account of messages transmitted through the spinal cord. It is necessary to take proper care of spinal cord as minor disturbance can also lead to spinal cord injury. 

Reference:

• Maton, Anthea; Jean Hopkins; Charles William McLaughlin; Susan Johnson; Maryanna Quon Warner; David LaHart; Jill D. Wright (1993). Human Biology and Health. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA: Prentice Hall. pp. 132–144. ISBN 0-13-981176-1.
• Jump up to: a b c Moore, Keith; Anne Agur (2007). Essential Clinical Anatomy, Third Edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 298. ISBN 0-7817-6274-X.http://www.uab.edu/medicine/sci/faqs-about-spinal-cord-injury-sci/what-does-the-spinal-cord-do