Definition of Spinal Cord

The Spinal cord is an important structure of the nervous system which is located within the spinal column, together with the Encephalon constitutes the Central Nervous System.

The Spinal Cord has a circular shape and is located within the spinal canal, which is a channel that is found within the vertebrae and has the function of providing protection, As in the case of the brain and the skull, like the latter, the Spinal Cord is lined by membranes known as Meninges that form layers between which circulate the Cerebrospinal fluid. In its central part it is constituted by a dark X-shaped part, which is known as gray matter and is formed by the bodies of the neurons, around it is located a layer of white matter that is formed by the extensions of neurons that are known as axons.

Like the vertebral column, the Spinal Cord is divided into regions or segments that from top to bottom are the cervical segment, dorsal segment and lumbar segment. Its lower end is called the terminal cone and is generally located at the level of the first lumbar vertebra, the rest of the space corresponding to the spinal canal. Lumbar gives place to the spinal nerves that travel a path before reaching the hole where they exit the spine, this final part is called Cauda Equina or Cola from

Throughout its course, the medulla gives rise to pairs of nerves called Spinal Nerves, which emerge from the vertebral canal through holes that are between the vertebrae known as conjunction holes. When there are problems with the intervertebral discs, such as a herniated disc, part of the disc material comes out of its normal location and is capable of obstructing these holes. compressing the spinal nerve that emerges at that level which results in intense pain that is accompanied by sensitivity disorders such as cramps, numbness, burning and numbness.

In the Spinal Cord, important nervous functions are carried out, among which the reflex act stands out, in this a stimulus activates a receptor of the skin that generates a nerve impulse that travels to the spinal cord where it can generate a response, in the case of trauma or a perceived burn the sensation painfully and immediately and unconsciously a movement to remove the segment of the body that has been injured to avoid further damage.

In the medulla there is also a transfer of information to the neurons that will transmit it to the higher centers located in the brain, the cerebellum and the brain stem through ascending pathways, in it are also the descending pathways that come from these structures and bring information that must arrive to the peripheral nervous system to be translated into actions such as the stain, muscle tone, voluntary and involuntary movement, coordination, the Balance and sensitivity.

Despite the protection mechanisms it has, this structure can be injured in accidents or after trauma that affects its bony lining due to displacement or fractures of the vertebrae. Spinal cord injury affects this flow of information and causes irreversible symptoms that depend on the height at which the injury occurs. Lesions low or in the last thoracic or first lumbar vertebrae can produce paralysis of the bladder and anal sphincters as well as paralysis of the legs or paraplegia, higher thoracic injuries will also involve the trunk muscles, cervical injuries may produce paralysis of the four limbs known as quadriplegia, upper cervical injuries are capable of affecting the function of the muscles of the breathing reason why they cause the death of immediate form by asphyxia.

The spinal cord can be the seat of infectious diseases, abscesses, tumors and degenerative diseases, in the elderly diseases as Osteoporosis cause the vertebrae to collapse and fracture which can injure both the spinal nerves and the spinal cord spinal. In people with diseases that are accompanied by pain, such as rheumatic diseases or trauma such as sprains or fractures, the spinal cord has been seen to undergo a series of changes that gives rise to a phenomenon known as Sensitization, which causes the painful signal to be magnified and perpetuated over time, which is one of the mechanisms that explains Pain Chronic.