The Nervous system

Brain
CNS
Spinal
NS cord
Spinal
n.
PNS Cerebral
n.
Visceral
n.
Central Nervous System (CNS)

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

 Weihua Yu

Department of Anatomy
Chongqing Medical University
Contents

I. External features of the spinal cord

II.Internal structures of the spinal cord

III.Functions of the spinal cord

I. External features of the spinal cord
 Location: lies in the vertebral canal and invested by
meninges.
 2 ends:
-The upper end: at the level of foramen magnum, where it
continues with the medulla oblongata
-The lower end: to the lower border of the 1st LV in adult. (to the
3rd LV in Child)
 6 longitudinal grooves on its surface
●Ant. median fissure
● Post. median sulcus
● Anterolateral sulci (2)
● Posterolateral sulci(2)

 2 enlargements

i. The cervical enlargement( C5-T1) supplies n. to the upper limbs.

ii. The lumbosacral enlargement (L2-S3) supplies n. to the lower limbs.

 The segments of spinal cord
In terms of the nerve roots attached to the spinal
cord, a portion of the cord that gives rise to a
spinal nerve constitutes a segment. The spinal
cord can be divided into 31 segments: Cervical
8; Thoracical 12; Lumbar 5; Sacral 5;
Cocegeal 1
 2 roots:
Each segment has paired dorsal root and
ventral root. The dorsal and ventral roots fuse
to form spinal nerves and exit from the
vertebral canal via the intervertebral foramina.
(so there are 31 pairs of spinal n.)
On the post. root, there is a oval swelling,
called dorsal root ganglion
 Inferior
to the lumbar enlargement, the
spinal cord becomes tapered and
conical- conus medullaris.
 Thecord does not extend the entire
length of the vertebral column – so a
group of nerves leaves the inferior
spinal cord and extends downward. It
resembles a horses tail and is called the
cauda equina
 Filum terminale -slender strand of
fibrous tissue that extends from conus
medullaris to the posterior surface of
the coccyx to anchor the spinal cord.
 The levels of spinal cord do not match the vertebral level

In the fetus (within 3 months): Length of SC=length of vertebral canal

In the fetus (after 3 months) and newborn: Length of SC<length of
vertebral canal
In adult, SC only occupy the upper 2/3 of vertebral canal

conus
medullaris

cauda
equine

Filum
terminale
 The relationship between spinal cord and
vertebrae
Spinal Vertebral bodies
segments
C1-C4 The same number of vertebrae

C5-C8 The same number of vertebrae -1

T1-T4 The same number of vertebrae -1

T5-T8 The same number of vertebrae -2

T9-T12 The same number of vertebrae -3

L1-L5 At the level of T10 ~T12

S1-S5 、 C0 At the level of L1

※Clinical significance
The meninges of spinal cord
Spinal cord is surrounded by a
single layered dura mater,
arachnoid and pia mater

epidural space
spinal dura mater
subdural space
Arachnoid
subarachnoid space
spinal pia mater
denticulate ligament
 Between the dura mater and
periosteum of the vertebrae is the
epidural space that contains many
blood vessels and fat.
Anesthetics can be injected here
below the L3 vertebral level, from
which it ascends to act upon sensory
neurons to help dull pain. This
procedure is called caudal
block.(epidural block)
 Space between dura mater and
archnoid is the subdural space (no
CSF).
 Space between arachnoid and pia
mater is the subarchnoid space:
contains CSF, blood vessels, spinal
roots.
¶ Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

 This is a clear watery ultra filtrate solution primarily

derived from blood.
 The basic mechanism involves an active transport
system and passive diffusion into the four ventricles.
 The CSF provides a cushion that protects the delicate
tissues of the spinal cord.
 It is also involved in the exchange of nutrients
between the blood and neurons of the brain and
spinal cord.
II. Internal structure of the spinal cord
Cross Sectional Anatomy of the
Spinal Cord

 Anterior median fissure and posterior median

sulcus partially divide it into left and right halves.
 Gray matter is in the core of the cord and
surrounded by white matter.
 Gray matter resembles a butterfly.
 2 lateral gray masses connected by the gray
commissure.
 Posterior projections are the posterior or dorsal
horns.
 Anterior projections are the anterior or ventral horns.
 In the thoracic and lumbar cord, there also exist
 Gray
Matter
 The gray matter consists of nerve cell bodies, dendrites and
axon terminals (unmyelinated) and neuroglia. It is pinkish-
gray color because of a rich network of blood vessels.
 The posterior horns function in afferent input. The anterior
horns function in efferent somatic output. The lateral horns
function in efferent visceral output .

Posterior horn （ sensory ）

Lateral horn: C8 － L3 ( sympathetic

Gray matter
motor)
　
S2-4 ( parasympathetic
motor)
● posterior horn contains sensory interneurons and project
neurons
Nucleus posteromarginalis

　 Substantia gelatinosa

　 Nucleus proprius cornu posterior

　 Nucleus thoracicus (Clarke’s column)

●anterior horn 　 cell bodies of motor neurons
contains

 Types of motor neurons

▪α-motor neuron: its axon passes through the
white matter to contribute to the respective ant.
root of the spinal n., which innervates the
extrafusal fibers of the skeletal m. and
produces contractile tension within a m.
▪ γ-motor neuron: give rises to fibers to supply
the intrafusal muscle fibers of neuromuscular
spindles, which is responsible for regulating of
muscle tonus.
Ant. horn
▪ Renshaw cell: to form a negative feedback cell
pathway for alpha motor neurons 　

Renshaw cell
 The amount of ventral gray
matter at a given level of the
spinal cord is proportional to
the amount of skeletal
muscle innervated.
● Lateral horn (intermediate
zone) 　
Contains autonomic motor neurons serving
visceral organs. Their axons also exit via the
ventral root.

The lateral horn at the levels of C8(T1)-L3

contains the intermediolateral nucleus
which is the preganglionic sympathetic
neurons

The lateral horn at the levels of S2-4

contains sacral parasympathetic nucleus
which is the preganglionic parasympathetic
neurons
Rexed layers (study by students)
lamina Nucleus

I Posteromarginal Nu.
II Substantia gelatinosa
III 、 I Proper sensory Nu.
V
Intermediate gray
V
VI
Dorsal Nu.(of Clarke)
VII
Ventral horn
VIII
Anterior horn cells
IX
Commissural neurons
X
Substantia gelatinosa is the distinctive region which caps the posterior horn, it is
related to the transmission of pain and temperature
 White
Matter
 The white matter gets its name because it is mainly composed of
myelinated nerve fibers, and myelin has a whitish color.
 The white matter is divided into three pairs of columns or funiculi of
myelinated fibers: anterior, posterior and lateral funiculi.
 The bundles of fibers within each funiculus are divided into tracts called
fasciculi.
 Ascending tracts: carry sensory impulse up the spinal cord to the brain.
 Descending tracts: transmit motor impulse from the brain down the
spinal cord. Post. funiculi

lateral funiculi

Ascending tract
decending tract
Ant. funiculi
  Tracts in the white matter
Faciculus gracilis(*)
Long ascending Faciculus cuneatus (*)
tract
Spinothalamus tract

Lateral corticospinal tract (*)

White matter Long descending Anterior corticospinal tract (*)

　　 tract Rubrospinal tract
Reticulospinal tract

Short proprius

Many tracts are named after their nuclei

of origin, their termination as well as
their location in the spinal cord
● Ascending tract (Sensory conducting
tract)
i. Fasciculus gracilis (FG)& Fasciculus cuneatus(FC)
Function: convey the sensations of body posture, movement, vibration,
pressure and fine touch.
 Cell bodies (pseudounipolar sensory neurons ) lies in the dorsal
root ganglia (spinal ganglia)

 FG: the fibers derived from spinal segments below T4 form the
fasciculus gracilis

 FC: the fibers derived from spinal segments above T4 form the
fasciculus cuneatus
 Spinal ganglion
muscles,tendons,
joints and periosteum Central processes enter into
Peripheral ipsilateral posterior funiculus
Receptor for fine processes of spinal cord and ascends
touch in skin

Fasciculus gracilis
(below T5)
Fasciculus cuneatus
(above T4)

Fasciculus
Spinal ganglion cuneatus
T4
Fasciculus
T5 gracilis

T6
ii. spinothalamic tract (STT)
convey the sensations of pain, temperature, and rough touch.

 Cell bodies lies in the posterior horn of gray matter

 Send out fibers cross to the opposite side through the anterior
white commissures and form the spinothalamic tract
lateral spinothalamic tract (pain and temperature)
anterior spinothalamic tract (rough touch)
 Spinal ganglion

Central processes to form

Skin exteroceptor
Peripheral posterior root
processes

posterior horn
Ascending 1 - 2 segments and cross to the
contralateral side of spinal cord to form STT

posterior horn
spinothalamic tract

lateral spinothalamic tract (pain

spinal ganglia and temperature)
anterior spinothalamic tract
(rough touch)
 fasciculus
gracilis
fasciculus
cuneatus
posterior
spinocerebell
ar tract

lateral
spinothalamic
tract
anterior spinothalamic
tract
 ● Descending tract (Motor conducting tract)

 Pyramidal tract
Lat. corticospinal tract

Ant. corticospinal tract

 Extrapyramidal tract
Rubrospinal tract
Tectospinal tract
Vestibulospinal tract
Ant. Reticulospinal
corticospinal
tract tract
Tectospinal tract Reticulospinal tract
 Corticospinal
tract （ CST)
CST arises from the cerebral cortex, descends
though the internal capsule and brainstem, and
divides into 2 tracts at the pyramidal decussation
 Lateral corticospinal tract (lateral CST):
decussates in the medulla oblongata and
descends in the lateral funiculus of spinal cord on
the opposite side , and terminates in the anterior
horn. To innervate the muscle fibers of the limbs
on the opposite side.

 Anterior corticospinal tract (anterior. CST):

descends in the ant. funiculus of spinal cord on
the same side. This tract contains another 2
tracts, one tract never decussate, another tract
decussates before terminating in the ant. horn. To
innervate the muscle fibers of trunk on both side,
the muscle fibers of limbs on the opposite side.
 Lateral CST Anterior CST

s
m. of limobf trunk
m.

spinal cord
Questions
 Above the pyramidal decussation, what symptons and
signs will occur if the right corticospinal tract is
damaged?
 Below the pyramidal decussation, what symptons and
signs will occur if the right corticospinal tract is
damaged?

Injuries of the CST at the level of above the pyramidal decussation will cause
paralysis of the contralateral limbs.
Injures of the CST at the level of below pyramidal decussation will cause the
paralysis of the ipsilateral limbs
III. Functions of the spinal cord

The spinal cord with its 31 pairs of

spinal nerves serves two important
functions.
i. It is the connecting link between
the brain and most of the body.
ii. It is involved in spinal reflex
actions, both somatic and
visceral.
Questions

 What signs and symptoms will appear if the

complete hemisection of T6 on the right side
is occured?
Signs and symptoms:
1. Paralysis of ipsilateral muscles of trunk in the segment T6, due
to damage to the ant. horn of segment T6 on the right side.
2. Paralysis of ipsilateral lower limbs, due to the damage to the
lateral corticospinal tract on the right side.
3. Ipsilateral zone of cutaneous anesthesia in the segment T6 on the
right side, due to the damage to the afferent fibers that have
entered the cord and have not yet crossed.
4. Ipsilateral loss of deep sensation and fine touch sense below the
T6, due to the damage to the fasciculus of gracilis in the
segment T6 on the right side.
5. Contralateral loss of pain and temperature sense and rough
tough sense below 1 or 2 segments (namely, below segment T7
or T8) at the juried level, due to the damage to the
spinothalamic tract on the right side.