What is the basic structure of the spinal cord?

What is the basic structure of the spinal cord?

The spinal cord is a cylindrical structure of nervous tissue composed of white and gray matter, is uniformly organized and is divided into four regions: cervical (C), thoracic (T), lumbar (L) and sacral (S), (Figure 3.1), each of which is comprised of several segments.

What is the proper order of spinal cord structures?

What are the vertebral classifications, from superior to inferior? Explanation: The spinal cord and vertebrae is broken down into four regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. There are seven cervical vertebrae, twelve thoracic vertebrae, five lumbar vertebrae, and five sacral vertebrae.

What is spinal cord structure and function?

Your spinal cord is the long, cylindrical structure that connects your brain and lower back. It contains tissues, fluids and nerve cells. A bony column of vertebrae surrounds and protects your spinal cord. Your spinal cord helps carry electrical nerve signals throughout your body.

What are the names of the 31 spinal nerves?

In humans there are 31 pairs: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal. Each pair connects the spinal cord with a specific region of the body.

What are the major parts of the spinal cord?

Your spinal cord has three main parts:

• Cervical (neck).
• Thoracic (chest).
• Lumbar (lower back).

What are the 3 major functions of the spinal cord?

What does the spinal cord do?

• Motor Functions – directs your body’s voluntary muscle movements.
• Sensory Functions – monitors sensation of touch, pressure, temperature and pain.
• Autonomic Functions – regulates digestion, urination, body temperature, heart rate, and dilation/contraction of blood vessels (blood pressure).

Why there are 8 cervical nerves?

Because there are only seven cervical vertebrae, the first seven cervical nerves exit above the same numbered cervical vertebrae. The eighth cervical nerve exits above the T1 vertebrae, and the rest of the spinal nerves (T2 to L5) exit below their same numbered vertebrae.

What is the structure and function of the spinal cord?

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.