Spinal Cord

Spinal Cord
The spinal cord is continuous with the
brain and extends downward through the
vertebral canal.
The spinal cord begins at the foramen
magnum, and terminates between the
first and second lumbar vertebra.

Two regions of the spinal cord are thickened

1.Cervical Enlargement nerves to upper limbs
2.Lumbar enlargement nerves to lower limbs

Structure of the spinal

cord

31 pairs of spinal nerves arise from the

spinal cord.
8 cervical nerves
12 thoracic nerves
5 lumbar nerves
5 sacral nerves
1 coccygeal nerve

Figure 11.29 The thirty one pairs of spinal

nerves are grouped according to the level from
which they arise.

Terminal end of the spinal cord

The spinal cord tapers at its terminal
end into the conus medullaris

Filum terminale thin cord of connective

tissue arising from the conus medullaris

Cauda Equina Horses tail spinal nerves

at the conus medullaris fan outward, creating
a structure that resembles a horses tail.

Cross Section of the spinal

cord
The spinal cord consists of white matter
surrounding a core of grey matter.
Anterior Median Fissure & Posterior Median Sulcus
Grooves that divide the spinal cord into left and right halves
Central Canal continuous with the ventricles in the brain

structures of the spinal cord

Grey Matter unmyelinated tissue
Posterior horns located towards the dorsal surface
Anterior horns located towards the ventral surface
Lateral horns located in some regions of the spinal cord
Grey commissure connects the left and right grey matter

White Matter myelinated axons

The white matter can be separated into 3 columns
Posterior funiculus
Anterior funiculus
Lateral funiculus
The funiculi (sing. funiculus) are columns that
provide pathways for axons, called nerve tracts.

Spinal Nerves
Dorsal Root Branch of spinal
nerves that carry sensory impulses
towards spinal cord
Dorsal Root Ganglion Mass of
sensory neuron cell bodies in the
dorsal root of the spinal cord

Ventral Root Branch of spinal

nerves that carry motor impulses
away from the spinal cord

Functions of the spinal cord

Thespinalcordisaconduitfor
nerveimpulsestoandfromthe
brainandbrainstem
Thespinalcordisacenter
forspinalreflexes.
Mostreflexesoccuratthe
levelofthespinalcord.

Reflex Arcs
Reflexesareautomatic,subconsciousresponsesto
stimuliwithinoroutsidethebody
Reflexesarethesimplestresponsetoastimulus
Inasimplereflexarcasensoryneuronisdirectly
connectedtoamotorneuronwithinthespinalcord.
Mostreflexarcsalsoinvolveinterneuronsthat
connectthesensoryneurontoamotorneuron.

Figure 10.7a. A schematic of a reflex arch.

Reflex Arcs
Fivecomponentsofareflexarc.
1.Receptordetectschangesinenvironment
Areceptormaybethedendriticendofasensoryneuron,orit
maybeaspecializedcell
2.Sensoryneuronconveysstimulustospinalcord
sensoryneuronspassthroughthedorsalroot
3.Interneuronconnectsthesensoryneurontothemotorneuron
4.MotorNeurontransmitstheimpulsetotheeffector
motorneuronspassthroughtheventralroot
5.Effectormuscleorglandthatproducesthereflex

Reflex Arcs
Figure 10.7b the five components of a reflex arc.

Reflex Arcs
Table 11.2 summarizes the components of a reflex arc.

Tracts of the spinal cord

Ascendingtractsconductsensoryimpulsesupthe
spinalcordtothebrain
Descendingtractsconductmotorimpulsesfromthe
braindownthespinalcordtomotorneuronsreaching
musclesandglands

Figure 11.11 Major ascending

and descending tracts in a cross
section of the spinal cord.

Examples of ascending tracts

1.

Fasciculus gracilis & fasiculus cuneatus are located within the posterior
funiculus of the spinal cord.

They transmit sensory information from skin, muscles, and joints

Sense touch, pressure, and body movement

Fibers decussate (cross over) in medulla oblongata of brain

2.

Lateral Spinothalamic tract

Conducts sensations of pain and

temperature to thalamus of the brain

Fibers decussate in spinal cord

3.

Anterior Spinocerebellar tract

Conducts impulses from

muscles of lower limbs and
trunk to cerebellum

Coordinate muscle movements

Ascending Tracts
Figure 11.12
Sensory impulses originating touch receptors
of the skin ascend in the fasciculus
cuneatus tract and cross over in medulla
oblongata of the brain.
Pain and temperature information ascends in
the lateral spinothalamic tract, which
crosses over in the spinal cord.

Examples of descending tracts

1. Corticospinal tracts
Lateral and anterior tracts
Transmits motor impulses from the cerebral cortex to spinal
nerves and outward to various skeletal muscles
Fibers decussate in medulla oblongata
Corticospinal tracts are responsible for voluntary movement

2. Rubrospinal tract
Passes through the lateral funiculi
Transmits motor impusles that coordinate
muscles and controls posture.

Examples of descending tracts

3.

Reticulospinal tracts
transmits motor impulses responsible for sweat
glands and muscle tone.

Descending Tracts
Figure 11.13
Most fibers of the corticospinal tract originate
in the cerebral cortex.
They cross over in the medulla, and descend
in the spinal cord
Corticospinal tracts synapse with neurons
whose fibers lead to spinal nerves supplying
skeletal muscles.
Some fibers cross over in the spinal cord.