Spinal Cord: Anatomical Overview and Selected Pathologies

摘要: The brain and spinal cord work together to provide sensory perception motor function the body. These processes are accomplished by connections that occur between peripheral nervous system through cord. Injury can lead significant deficits. Traumatic events compression, ischemia or destruction of with consequential weakness, paralysis, disturbances urinary incontinence. injuries classified as either complete (complete loss function) incomplete (preservation some distal site injury). also be aberrant neoplastic growth (spinal tumours) immune-modulated pathologies damage (multiple sclerosis). Tumours, vascular diseases, infections, inflammatory demyelinating diseases nutritional all result in cord. Key concepts The vertebrae specifically arranged allow for protection well supporting permitting movement trunk limbs. is divided into distinct regions receive their blood supply from different branches off aorta innervation body. There ascending tracts descending connecting brain. located regionally according injury a particular region leads symptoms correlate respective damaged area. Spinal tumours primary (arise its surrounding meninges) secondary metastastic spread. Tumours location relative dura mater which surrounds cord. Vascular malformations abnormal flow within They often shunt directly arteries veins, bypassing capillary network. have propensity bleed. If an artery providing blocked occluded, infarct stroke ensues. Pathogens enter central (CNS; cord) infection, response cord. Inflammatory arise idiopathically (cause unknown); association exists viral infections autoimmune diseases. Demyelination nerves typically seen conditions such sarcoidosis, transverse myelitis, Guillain–Barre. Autoimmune when maladaptive immune recognizes host tissue foreign mounts inappropriate response. multiple sclerosis acute disseminated encephalomyelitis two disorders where one's attack against normal white matter CNS. Vitamin B12 obtained diet important formation maintenance myelin sheath neurons. Traumatic most commonly occurs due vehicle accidents paraplegia (lower extremity paralysis) quadriplegia (upper lower paralysis). An one preserved level injury. Treatment consists realignment stabilization vertebral column, decompression mass lesions prevention hypoxia hypotension (preventing being deprived oxygen nutrients). Keywords: spinal injury; spinal column anatomy; spinal diseases; spinal malformations; spinal