Spinal Cord Injuries : All You Need To Know

0

Severe spinal cord injuries, are one of the most disastrous episodes of one’s life. Spinal cord being the centre at regulating different kinds of body functions, a person experiences a drastic change in his life with the experience of SPI. Spinal cord although enclosed and supported by the spinal column for protection, still is susceptible to severe accidental injuries. A spinal cord when tampered results in permanent changes in body function.

Nerves Associating the Spinal Cord :

The spinal cord serves multiple functions with the help of 31 pairs of spinal nerves that originate from the spinal cord, connecting various organs throughout the body. Out of the 31 pairs of spinal nerves, 8 of them are called ‘ cervical nerves ‘, since they are located in the cervical region, in the neck. Next 12 pairs are located in the chest and are called thoracic nerves. The 5 succeeding pairs are located in the abdominal region and are known as lumber nerves. There are also 5 pairs of sacral nerves located in the pelvic region. In the coccygeal region there is 1 single pair of coccygeal nerve.

Functions of Spinal Cord :

  • Aid in walking :The simplest motor function of walking is the cumulativefunction ofcomplex actions of brain muscles nerves etc. The spinal cord serves as the coordinator of these actions along with several other important factors. All these factors work together to generate a central pattern in the spinal cord, signalling different parts of the brain to co-ordinate the activities of the muscles in legs.Go to any top spine surgeons in India,for a complete check-up of the spinal cord after a severe injury.
  • Maintenance Electrical Communication : The spinal cord maintains fluent network of communication systemby sending electrical signals in different parts of the body. The electrical signal are basic electrical currents that travel all along the spinal cord, maintainingan effective communication with the brain and the various parts of the body.
  • Maintenance of Reflex Action : Spinal cord is known for various kinds of involuntary reflex actions. The knee jerk reflex is one such omnipotent example. Through the maintenance of the reflex action spinal cord along with the brain is connected to the nerves of the peripheral nervous system. Reflex action can be learned and also acquired from practice. Reflex actions have the major 5 constant constituents – the receptor, an afferent pathway, an integrating centre, an efferent pathway and an effector organ. All these components form a reflex pathway forming the reflex arc – initiating and completing the reflex action.

Spinal Cord Injuries :

A spinal cord injury can vary in its severity in many different ways. A preliminary injury would be when a pair of nerve at the base of the spinal cord are tampered. Check out the top 10 spine surgeons in India, for an early detection of the disease.However depending upon the intensity of the tamper or the damage, the injury can have moderate to severe effects on the body’s sensory, motor and reflex potentials. Mostly in the severe cases the brain is unable to send information or communicate in the affected region.

Leave A Reply