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( Spinal cord)
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nerves that is an extension of the central nervous system from the brain and is enclosed in and protected by the bony vertebral column. The main function of the spinal cord is transmission of neural inputs between the periphery and the brain. [1] The spinal cord is the main pathway for information connecting the brain and peripheral nervous system. The length of the spinal cord is much shorter than the length of the bony spinal column. The human spinal cord extends from the medulla oblongata and continues through the conus medullaris near the first or second lumbar vertebrae, terminating in a fibrous extension known as the filum terminale. It is about 45 cm long in men and 43 cm long in women, ovoid-shaped, and is enlarged in the cervical and lumbar regions. In cross-section, the peripheral region of the cord contains neuronal white matter tracts containing sensory and motor neurons. Internal to this peripheral region is the gray, butterfly shaped central region made up of nerve cell bodies. This central region surrounds the central canal, which is an anatomic extension of the spaces in the brain known as the ventricles and, like the ventricles, contains cerebrospinal fluid. The three meninges that cover the spinal cord -- the outer dura mater, the arachnoid mater, and the innermost pia mater -- are continuous with that in the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres. Similarly, cerebrospinal fluid is found in the subarachnoid space. The cord is stabilized within the dura mater by the connecting denticulate ligaments which extend from the enveloping pia mater laterally between the dorsal and ventral roots. The dural sac ends at the vertebral level of the second sacral vertebra.
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Spinal cord Subcategories
Spinal cord Articles
California Car Accidents Result in Brain Injuries by W haines
California is one of the most populated States and is known for its traffic problems. The number of auto accidents on the road can be overwhelming. The NHTSA reported that there were 5,987,000 non fatal car accidents in 2007; 2,491,000 of those car ...
Spinal Cord Injury by Patricia Woloch
The spinal cord is the pathway that processes impulses from the body to the brain and from the brain to the body. The impulses sent by the spinal cord are different signals our brain sends and receives from our bodies.
Spinal cord injuries (s...
Care and Feeding of your Brain by Vinay Choubey
Like every other part of your body, you brain needs regular exercise to stay healthy. Experience can modify brain structure at every stage of life. Challenging activities can cause new brain cells to grow or make existing brain cells form new ...
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