Hello everyone, and welcome to my fourth blog post. Today we will be talking in-depth about the anatomy of the spinal cord!
The Spinal Cord
Between the body and the brain, the spinal cord is the most significant structure. The spinal cord extends from the foramen magnum, where it is continuous with the medulla to the level of the first or second lumbar vertebrae, which are located in your lower back. The foramen magnum is a large, oval-shaped opening in the skull’s occipital bone that connects the spine to the brain. The spinal cord is generally 40 to 50 cm long and one to1.5 cm in diameter. It is a cylinder-shaped neural tissue structure made up of white and gray matter that is arranged consistently and separated into four regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral.
Anatomy of the Spinal Cord
-The Cervical Spine performs many crucial roles, including protecting the spinal cord, supporting the head and its movement, and facilitating the flow of blood to the brain. The seven cervical vertebrae are numbered C1 to C7.
The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that goes from the brain to the lumbar spine, passing via the cervical spine and thoracic spine. The spinal cord passes through a big opening (vertebral foramen) in each vertebra. The spinal cord is protected inside a bone tube called the spinal canal by these vertebrae working together.
The cervical spine bears a significant weight, as the head weighs between 10 and 13 pounds on average. The cervical spine not only supports the head, but it also provides for neck flexibility and the scope of the head’s motion.
The cervical spine has small openings that allow vertebral arteries to deliver blood to the brain. Only the vertebrae of the cervical spine have these apertures for blood vessels.
-The Thoracic Spine’s primary job is to support the rib cage and protect the heart and lungs. T1 through T12 are the twelve thoracic vertebrae.
-The lumbar spine’s primary role is to support the body’s weight. L1 through L5 are the five lumbar vertebrae. The stress of lifting and carrying big things is absorbed by these vertebrae, which are substantially greater in size.
-The Sacral Spine consists of 5 sacral vertebrae bones that fuse together to form the sacrum, the shield-shaped bony structure located at the base of the lumbar vertebrae. The Sacral vertebrae are shown by the segments numbered S1-S5. The sacral vertebrae’s five segments influence nerve connectivity to the lower body. In imaging examinations of the spine, numerical levels are frequently referenced. The first sacral bone is referred to as S1, the second sacral bone is referred to as S2, and so on. S1 is at the top of the list, while S5 is at the bottom. Each number relates to a certain section of the spinal cord’s nerves.
S1 nerves influence the hips and groin.
S2 nerves influence the back of the thighs.
S3 nerves influence the medial buttock area.
S4 and S5 nerves impact the perineal area. The perineum is between the legs.
-Just under the sacrum lies the coccyx or tailbone. Despite being considerably smaller than the sacrum, it plays a crucial function in weight-bearing. When you sit, the coccyx supports your weight. The strain on your coccyx rises whenever you lean back while sitting, such as while reclining on a chair.
Works Cited:
“The Importance of the Sacral Vertebrae.” Verywell Health, 17 Jan. 2020, www.verywellhealth.com/sacral-vertebrae-anatomy-function-and-treatment-4769390.
“What You Should Know About the Peripheral Nervous System.” Verywell Mind, 4 June 2020, www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-peripheral-nervous-system-2795465.
That is it for today's blog, thank you all so much for having the passion and willingness to learn the basics of the anatomy of the spinal cord and nervous system, as understanding these basics can help you comprehend neuroscience easier. As always, please reach out if there are any questions, and let me know in what ways I can improve my blogs to bring the most fun in neuroscience.
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