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You've Got Some Nerve(s): Exploring the Spinal Nerves

At about 45 cm long, the human spinal cord is an information superhighway that connects the brain to the rest of the body. That may seem tiny compared to even the shortest interstate, but the best thing about the spinal cord is that electrical signals (hopefully) don’t get stuck in traffic! In a fraction of a second, pathways of sensory neurons can transmit information from the tip of your toe all the way to your brain.

Like most big highways, the spinal cord also has “exits” that lead to smaller, local pathways. These exits—the spinal nerves—are what we’re going to be focusing on here. Where are they? What do they connect to? What happens when one of them gets closed down?

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MRI Scans: Where Abnormal Findings Are Normal

Magnetic Resonance Imaging is an amazing tool that allows us to see deep inside the human body with a degree of clarity that is absolutely amazing. We can visualize the tiny details of normal and abnormal human anatomy. We can clearly see the intervertebral discs, spinal cord and nerve roots. In addition to normal anatomy, we have also learned to identify a number of findings that may cause neck and arm pain or back and leg pain.

Functions of the Spinal Cord: What You Need to Know

The spinal cord is split into grey matter (which is in the shape of a butterfly) and white matter (which is the material surrounding the grey). The white matter is made up of nerve fibers, called axons, which run up and down the length of the cord. Each group of axons carries a specific type of information it needs to communicate. Ascending tracts of axons communicate with the brain, while the descending carry signals from the brain to various muscles and glands throughout the body.

How the Spinal Cord Works

The spinal cord is the highway for communication between the body and the brain. When the spinal cord is injured, the exchange of information between the brain and other parts of the body is disrupted.

Recognizing Spinal Cord Emergencies

Spinal cord injuries are critical emergencies that must be recognized and treated early to increase the possibility of preventing permanent loss of function.1 The history and clinical presentation can provide the most important information in the assessment of a possible emergency.

Spinal cord

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 kidney on the black market, we guarantee you that nothing is worth as much as a complete and healthy spinal cord. The spinal cord’s function reflects its anatomy. It is essential for conducting impulses from the brain to the body and generating reflexes that make our daily functioning smooth.

Resources

Physiopedia

The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system and consists of a tightly packed column of nerve tissue that extends downwards from the brainstem through the central column of the spine. It is a relatively small bundle of tissue (weighing 35g and just about 1cm in diameter) but is crucial in facilitating our daily activities.