Spinal Cord Function

1. Describe the functional anatomy of the spinal cord using the following terms: white matter, gray matter, tracts, roots, and spinal nerves.

The stimuli will cause a specific reaction within the body depending on the signals – these allow the body to perform its functions smoothly and aid in quick reflexes. Different nerves and cells implement their own distinct actions, each which serve their own purpose in the total body operation.

The spinal cord is the final common pathway from the brain to the muscles. It controls all the sensory inputs received from different locations throughout the body. The spinal cord also controls voluntary muscle responses. Some elementary reflexes are local to the spinal cord, but voluntary muscle

We have a series of reflexes throughout the body that support us and naturally co-ordinate our movements, yet we interfere with these

Among various types of organ systems, the nervous system is one of the most important one in human body. It is responsible for producing, controlling and guiding our thoughts and responses to the world around us according to James W. Pennebaker (2012). During embryological development, the cells that form nervous system are incredibly specialised and work complexly than the cells that form skin or other body parts. Neurosecretory cells are one of the examples of specialised nervous system cells that produce neurosecretions. Neurosecretions are hormones which carry information from sensor cells to target cells and they can be released directly into the bloodstream

1. Neurons is a basic building block of the nervous system. The sensory nerves carry the message from body tissues to the brain and spinal chord to be processed. The motor neurons are then used to send instructions to the body tissue from the brain and spinal cord. Dendrites, which are connected to the body cell (soma) receive information and pass it through the axon. Myelin sheath covers the axon and helps speed the process. When triggered by a signals from our senses or other neurons, the neuron fires an impulse called the action potential. The resting potential is the neuron’s visual charge of positive

The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. The brain takes information from the senses and processes it and it also makes decision sand sends commands to the body. The spinal cord carries information to and from away the brain. The peripheral system, on the other hand, is the system that allows communication between the central nervous system with the sensory systems. It also makes it possible for the brain and spinal cord to control muscles and

The spinal cord and the brain are the main parts of the central nervous system. The spinal cord is aligned from the base of the brain, through the back, which allows the body to move and have sensation. The spinal cord contains dendrites, supporting cells, and axons, long nerve fibers, that attach to the brain to carry out messages. The axons have sheaths of insulation called myelin and the dendrites receive signals from other dendrites. Dendrites actually make

Spinal cord injuries are characterized by two distinct injury phases. The primary injury phase is represented by all the tissue directly damaged at the time of injury. The damage seen in this phase is primarily shearing of cells, destruction of local vasculature, and severe disruption of spinal cord function. The secondary injury phase is characterized by inflammation of the injury site, immune-mediated tissue destruction, and edema formation at the lesion site. The nature of spinal cord injuries makes the damage done by the primary injury irreversible. The majority of therapeutic research is done with the intention of lessening the damage done during the secondary injury phase. One major complication faced by researchers trying to control the secondary injury phase is the localized destruction of vasculature. Without a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients, many of the cells in the spinal cord will begin to die rapidly, oftentimes releasing biological signals that encourage other cells to die as well. The uncontrolled movement of fluid into the lesion site causes the tissue to swell, further complicating the processes of rebuilding vasculature. The movement of immune

The CNS contains the brain and spinal cord. Its main functions include: processing, integrating, and coordinating sensory information and motor instructions. The sensory data conducts information that is being processed from internal and external conditions the body is experiencing. Motor commands regulate and control peripheral organs (skeletal muscles). The brain functions under memory, emotions, learning, and intelligence. The PNS consist of the neural tissue found outside of the CNS. It functions in sending data to the CNS which motor commands are than carried out to the peripheral tissues/systems. Multiple nerve fibers send sensory data and motor commands in the PNS. The nerves that assist with transmitting data include the cranial nerves and spinal nerve. However, the PNS can be divided into afferent (to bring in) and efferent (to bring out) divisions of transferring data. The afferent division functions in bringing in sensory data to the CNS. Sensory structures are receptors that detect internal/external environmental change and adjusting accordingly. The efferent division functions in carrying out motor commands from the CNS to glands, muscles, and adipose tissue. The efferent division contains somatic

Whereas the spinal cord (often referred to as the brainstem) is the pathways that enables nerve impulses to reach their various destinations in the body. The central nervous system main function is to receive information from the different parts of the body, in which must be analysed and stored in order for it to send out instructions based on those pieces of information. The central nervous system’s main function is to coordinate the numerous organs and muscles required to perform the individual’s desired action(s) (Walker, 2005).

Even though the brain is the major control center if the body, its job would not be possible without the spinal cord. The spinal cord is the major organ that helps information travel between the body and the brain. Nerves branch in the peripheral system from, either the brain stem or spinal cord, each nerve attaches to a specific area of the torso and limbs it 's responsible for communication to and from those regions. There are three very important

The two components of the central nervous system (CNS) are the brain and the spinal cord. Communication between the brain and the spinal cord happens through motor neurons, which are nerve cells that enable motor movement. Each motor neuron is made up of a cell body, which holds all the cell components, dendrites which send information it receives to the cell body, and an axon which sends nerve impulses to the muscle (Porth & Matfin, 2009). As electrical impulses are sent through the motor neuron, it stimulates the muscle fibers in the body to move. This is the process in which motor function happens. Therefore, the basic abilities to breathe, speak, swallow, walk and button a shirt are

     One of the most complex and fascinating things in the human body is the brain. The body is “capable of almost everything, but it would not be possible, without the brain receiving information, and analyzing the information.”

head, and this apparatus sends a signal to the brain so that your reflex action