Spinal Cord Injury In The Body

Stem cells are basically the building blocks of life. Some type of these cells can be engineered into any type of cell in the human body. There are three types of stem cells currently. Adult or somatic stem “cells can generate replacements for bone and muscle cells that are lost through injury, disease or normal wear and tear.” Another type of stem cells are embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells “are “starter cells” that can be coaxed into becoming any of the specialized cells of the body, meaning they are “pluripotent.” The final type of stem cells are induced-pluripotent stem cells. Induced pluripotent stem cells “are adult stem cells that have been genetically altered to behave like embryonic stem cells”(National Institute of Health). Due to the advancement in medical technology scientists and doctors alike are now able to use stem cells for a variety of reasons like research and also in patient care. The benefits of this research can lead to the cure of diseases like diabetes, some cancers, and even neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s Disease and spinal cord injuries. The controversy behind stem cells lie from where these stem cells come from. The source of stem cells are plentiful. Some stem cells can come from human embryos that are a few days old. Stem cells can also be engineered in a laboratory setting using the cells from human embryos. Also there are certain stem cells that can be harvested from adults and

Now that I have shared a brief overview of the spinal cord and some statistics about spinal cord injuries, we will look at the past research that has led to the treatments most commonly used today. In 1990, a steroid called dexamethasone was discovered in human trials to preserve some motor and sensory function if administered at high doses within 8 hours of injury. Surgery used to remove fluid, tissue, or bone fragments, or to stabilize fractured vertebrae by fusing bones or inserting hardware has also proven to be one of the most thorough measures to prevent further harm. I received both of these treatments after my accident, and they are the same that have been used for the past decade. Until recently, doctors had no way of limiting such disabilities, aside from stabilizing the cord to prevent added destruction, treating infections, and prescribing rehabilitative therapy to maximize any remaining capabilities.

The central nervous system is what connects the brain to the muscles of the body. When a patient has an injury to the spinal cord, movements in certain parts of the body will be affected based on the location of the injury. If the injury affects hand motion then many day to day tasks are affected. This literature review seeks to understand how an injury to the spinal cord impacts movement, and what has been done so far to help those affected by spinal cord injuries.

The central nervous system is responsible for controlling involuntary actions such as respiratory rhythm and blinking as well as voluntary actions such as muscular movements like walking. The central nervous system is composed of neurons that send and receive chemical messages through the transmittance of neurotransmitters. The spinal cord connects the brain to the body and when the spinal cord is damaged it loses its function to communicate messages from the brain throughout the body. Depending on the location and severity of the injury different symptoms and pathologies occur. There are different ways in which the spinal cord can be injured. It is protected by the spinal column, which is also called the backbone or spine. The spinal column is composed of a chain of bones called vertebrae, which are interconnected by flexible ligaments and spinal discs. However, if the spinal cord in injured and it starts to swell it starts to create pressure because the spinal column is surrounding it. Fractured bones of the spinal column or herniated discs can also cause damage to the spinal cord. The most common type of injury to the spinal cord is spinal cord compression when it is compressed due to a force on the spinal column. All of these different types of injuries lead to cell degeneration and death of the different types of cells in the spinal cord (Badner et al.

Having a spinal cord injury can be a very life changing event in many ways. It can affect the ability to function in different daily activities. Spinal cord injury mostly affects people during their early adult 19 years old and an average age at the time of injury of 38 (National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center 2006). Since a spinal cord injury affects all systems of the human body, a lot of people who end up with a spinal injury have serious inquires about how their injuries will affect their performance in a sexual relationship. The way you feel about sex and the ability to have sex is important and is different for everyone. Having injury to the spinal cord will have some effect on sexual functions in the body. The level of which sexual

They are client- directed which means taking their direction from, and responding to the unique needs of the people they serve. In addition, they are culturally aware serving Alberta’s diverse population in all regions of the province. Leaders in spinal cord injury they are demonstrating excellence and impact by achieving positive outcomes for individuals and communities. They are also a dynamic organization integrating best practices in charitable and business governance models. They are also having a solid reputation among their organization with all staff and volunteers and good relationships with other community leaders and decision-makers.

There are many diseases that have the potential to affect every single person in the world. Some are curable and some are not. However, some cells called stem cells may impact and help many people. Stem cells are what are called undifferentiated cells, which means that they are not specialized cells. However, they can develop into all different kinds of cells within the body. So through this, stem cells control the development of the body by evolving into the cells the body needs to survive, or even replacing worn out or destroyed cells (Levine and Miller 294-297). These cells can reproduce to make more of themselves through cell division. In the long run, stem cells enable the body to continue functioning and to stay healthy (Stem Cell).

The limited space within the vertebrae actually plays an important roll in spinal cord injury. Once the initial injury occurs the body, as with every other part of the body, tries to protect the injured area with swelling. But the swelling occurs within the small confines of the spinal column and causes further damage to the surrounding tissue. It has only recently been discovered how much of an impact this secondary damage has. One of the areas of crucial ongoing research is on what kind of window of opportunity medicine has in treating these types of injuries and still attaining the best recovery.

Spinal cord injuries result from a fracture or dislocation of the vertebrae that is typically due to a sudden, forceful blow to the spine (“NINDS Spinal Cord Injury Information Page”, 2016). According to Early (2006), A traumatic accident, such as a shooting, stabbing, car accident, or diving accident, may result in a spinal cord injury (p. 535). According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2016), Damage to the spinal tissue results from displaced or shards of vertebral bone fragments, damaged ligaments, or discs that bruise or tear the delicate tissue and destroy axons. Destruction of axons result in the inability to carry signals from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body (“NINDS Spinal Cord Injury

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

There are many causes of the spinal cord injuries such as the vehicular accidents, falls, recreational activities and work place injuries. The spinal cord injury can also occur in medical negligence cases involving the surgical procedures in the neck and back.

Brain and spinal injuries are very serious conditions due to the ability to change or stop certain body functions permanently. One can be born with brain damage in which case the brain cells have been killed off. Spinal damage on the other hand can occur at any point in a lifetime. There are many different consequences to getting these injuries such as muscle failure.

Spinal shock occurs due to there being a sudden loss of conductivity of electrical signals in the spinal cord, since the potassium ions move from the intracellular space to the extracellular space. When this occurs the body cannot effectively send nerve signal impulses to control automatic reflexes below the site of the spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury is a damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves which often causes permanent changes. A spinal cord injury happens because of a sudden blow or cut to the spine. The causes of spinal cord injuries could be from a car accident, a sports injury, a fall or an assault such as a gunshot or knife wound. A spinal cord injury can also be caused by disease, such as arthritis or polio. Arthritis is inflammation

Spinal cord injuries are traumatic to people and do not just affect their physical body, but their mind and spirit. Using stem cells to help improve some of the physical functioning that the human body has after the initial spinal cord injury will also help improve their mental and emotional wellbeing. The discipline of psychology will look at the mental progress that patients make when undergoing stem cell therapy. By improving the mental health of a person who has undergone a spinal cord injury it will also have a cascade of effects because a person’s mental health impacts many different things in their body. This will allow me to relate the topic back using other disciplines outside of psychology, but disciplines that psychology can affect.