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SPINAL CORD INJURY CAUSES |
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The spinal cord is about as big around
as the index finger. It descends from the brain down the back
through hollow channels of the backbone. The spinal cord is made of
nerve cells (neurons). The nerve cells carry sensory data from the
areas outside the spinal cord (periphery) to the brain, and they
carry motor commands from brain to periphery. Peripheral neurons are
bundled together to make up the 31 pairs of peripheral nerve roots.
The peripheral nerve roots enter and exit the spinal cord by passing
through the spaces between the stacked vertebrae. Each pair of
nerves is named for the vertebra from which it exits. These are
known as: C1-8. These nerves enter from the eight cervical or neck vertebrae. T1-12. These nerves enter from the thoracic or chest vertebrae. L1-5. These nerves enter from the lumbar vertebrae of the lower back. S1-5. These nerves enter through the sacral or pelvic vertebrae. Coccygeal. These nerves enter through the coccyx or tailbone. Peripheral nerves carry motor commands to the muscles and internal organs, and they carry sensations from these areas and from the body's surface. (Sensory data from the head, including sight, sound, smell, and taste, do not pass through the spinal cord and are not affected by most SCIs.) Damage to the spinal cord interrupts these signals. The interruption damages motor functions that allow the muscles to move, sensory functions such as feeling heat and cold, and autonomic functions such as urination, sexual function, sweating, and blood pressure. Spinal cord injuries most often occur where the spine is most flexible, in the regions of C5-C7 of the neck, and T10-L2 at the base of the rib cage. Several physically distinct types of damage are recognized. Sudden and violent jolts to nearby tissues can jar the cord. This jarring causes a temporary spinal concussion. Concussion symptoms usually disappear completely within several hours. A spinal contusion or bruise is bleeding within the spinal column. The pressure from the excess fluid may kill spinal cord neurons. Spinal compression is caused by some object, such as a tumor, pressing on the cord. Lacerations or tears cause direct damage to cord neurons. Lacerations can be caused by bone fragments or missiles such as bullets. Spinal transection describes the complete severing of the cord. Most spinal cord injuries involve two or more of these types of damage. |
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| SPINAL CORD INJURY RELATED ITEMS | ||
