Spinal cord injuries:Paraplegia: paralysis

of both lower limbsQuadriplegia:

paralysis of all 4 limbsComplete transection:

loss of all sensations and voluntary movement below the level of transection

Hemisection: partially severed – paralysis on the side of cut

“Challenges are often a matter of our perception."

Part of CNSFound within vertebral foramina of all

vertebrae (for protection) extends to 3rd or 4th lumbar vertebrae

Location

Function

The pathway for sensory input to the brain and motor output from the brain

Reflex center

Spinal cord anatomy

Spinal nerves: path of communication between spinal cord and specific parts of body; come in pairsConnected to spinal cord by:

Posterior (dorsal) root – sensory neurons; contains a posterior root ganglion (containing cell bodies of neurons)

Anterior (ventral) root – motor neurons

In the back;In the back;Out the frontOut the front

Gray matterforms a butterfly shape in the white matter dendrites, cell bodies, unmyelinated axons

Anatomy of gray matter Central canal: center of

gray matter; filled with cerebrospinal fluid

Posterior (dorsal) horns: sensory neurons

Anterior (ventral) horns: somatic motor neurons

In the back;In the back;Out the frontOut the front

Anatomy of white matterColumns: contain

tracts – bundles of axons; to/from brain

Meninges

3 layers that surround brain and spinal cord for protectionDura mater: most superficial Arachnoid mater: middlePia mater: touches surface of spinal cord and

brain.Cerebrospinal fluid is between arachnoid and pia

mater. It cushions and carries nutrients (oxygen, glucose) to neurons