Spinal Cord

and
Spinal Nerve
Gross
Anatomy
of the
Spinal
Cord

Figure 13-2
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells

that extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of

the vertebral column.

The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system (CNS).

The spinal cord begins at the occipital bone and extends down to the space

between the first and second lumbar vertebrae; it does not extend the entire length

of the vertebral column. It is around 45 cm (18 in) in men and around 43 cm (17 in)

long in women.
 The Adult Spinal Cord

• About 18 inches (45 cm) long

• 1/2 inch (14 mm) wide

• CNS tissue ends between vertebrae L1 and L2

– At birth, cord and vertebrae are about the same size but cord stops elongating
at around age 4

• 31 segments (31 pairs of spinal nerves)

• Each pair of nerves exits the vertebral column at the level it initially
lined up with at birth.
 Spinal Cord
during Growth of
body

• Runs from Medulla Oblongata to level of L1 (adults)

• Runs to level of L3-4 (infants)
Roots
Dorsal Root Ganglia
• 2 branches of spinal nerves:
– Ventral root:
• contains axons of motor neurons

– Dorsal root:
• contains axons of sensory neurons

• Dorsal root ganglia:

– contain cell bodies of sensory
neurons
Meninges of Brain and Spinal Cord
• Pia mater (deep)
– delicate
– highly vascular
– adheres to brain/sp cd tissue
• Arachnoid mater (middle)
– impermeable layer = barrier
– raised off pia mater by rootlets
• Spinal Dura Mater (most superficial)
– single dural sheath
• Subarachnoid Space
– between arachnoid and pia mater
– contains CSF
• Epidural Space
– Between dura mater and vertebra
– Contains fat and veins
 Spinal nerve
❖ A spinal nerve is a mixed nerve, which carries motor, sensory, and
autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the body.
❖ In the humans, there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, one on each side of
the vertebral column.
❖ These are grouped into the corresponding cervical, thoracic, lumbar,
sacral and coccygeal regions of the spine.

o 8 pairs of CERVICAL NERVES

o 12 pairs of THORACIC NERVES
o 5 pairs of LUMBAR NERVES
o 5 pairs of SACRAL NERVES
o 1 pair of COCCYGEAL NERVES
❖ The spinal cord is the continuation of the brainstem & it lies protected
within the vertebral column of the spine.
Spinal
Cord

and

Spinal
Nerves
 The formation of the spinal nerve from the posterior and
anterior roots

Each spinal nerve carries both sensory and motor information and thus are “mixed
nerves." Posterior (Dorsal) rami carry visceral motor, somatic motor and sensory
information to and from the skin and deep muscles of the back.
The anterior (ventral) rami supply the antero-lateral parts of the trunk and the limbs.
❖Each spinal nerve is
formed from the
combination of nerve fibers
from its posterior and
anterior roots.

Spinal Nerve
❖The anterior (ventral) root is the efferent motor root and carries motor information
from the brain.
❖The spinal nerve emerges from the spinal column through an opening
(intervertebral foramen) between adjacent vertebrae.
❖Cervical nerves are numbered by the vertebra below, except spinal nerve C8, which
exists below vertebra C7 and above vertebra T1. The thoracic, lumbar, and sacral
nerves are numbered by the vertebra above.
 Actions

of the

Spinal Nerves
 Cervical Nerves

❖The cervical nerves are the spinal nerves emanating from the cervical vertebrae.
❖ Although there are 7 cervical vertebrae (C1-C7), but there are 8 cervical nerves
C1–C8.
❖All cervical nerves except C8 emerge above their corresponding vertebrae, while
the C8 nerve emerges below the C7 vertebra.
❖The posterior distribution includes the suboccipital nerve (C1), the greater occipital
nerve (C2) and the third occipital nerve (C3). The anterior distribution includes the
cervical plexus (C1-C4) and brachial plexus (C5-T1).
❖The cervical nerves innervate the muscles of sternohyoid, sternothyroid and
omohyoid muscles.
 Thoracic Nerves

❖TN are the cluster of nerve fibers found

in the upper body, esp. in chest region.
These nerve fibers are considered spinal
nerves, which carry and transmit
information between the spinal cord and
parts of the body.
❖The thoracic nerves are the 12 spinal
nerves emerging from the thoracic
vertebrae.
❖Each thoracic nerve (T1-T12) emerges
out from below each corresponding
thoracic vertebra. Branches also exit the
spine and go directly to the paravertebral
ganglia of the ANS where they are
involved in the functions of organs and
glands in the head, neck, thorax and
abdomen.
Lumbar Nerves
❖"Lumbar“ (Latin, "lumbus,“ ie lion) and thus its
name. It is built for both power and flexibility;
lifting, twisting & bending.
❖The lumbar spine refers to the lower back, where
the spine curves inward toward the abdomen. It
starts about 5-6 inches below the shoulder blades,
and connects with the thoracic spine at the top
and extends downward to the sacral spine.

❖ The lumbar nerves are the 5 spinal nerves emerging from the lumbar
vertebrae. They are divided into posterior and anterior divisions.
❖ The lower the vertebra is in the spinal column, the more weight it must bear. The
L1-L5 are the biggest un-fused vertebrae in the spinal column, enabling them to
support the weight of the entire torso.
❖ L4-L5 & L5-S1, which include the vertebrae and discs, bear the most weight and
are therefore the most prone to degradation and injury.
 Sacral Nerves

❖In human anatomy, the sacral plexus

(nerve plexus) provides motor &
sensory nerves for the posterior thigh,
most of the lower leg, foot and part of
the pelvis.
❖It is part of the lumbosacral plexus
and emerges from the lumbar
vertebrae and sacral vertebrae.
❖ A sacral plexopathy is a disorder
affecting the nerves of the sacral
plexus, usually caused by trauma,
nerve compression, vascular disease,
or infection while symptoms include
pain, loss of motor control and sensory Lumbo-Sacral Spinal Nerves
deficits.

❖ The lumbar plexus and sacral plexus are considered to be one of large nerve
plexus, the lumbosacral plexus.
Coccygeal Nerve Coccyx meaning “tail”

❖The coccygeal nerve is the 31st pair of spinal

nerves.
❖It arises from the conus medullaris and its anterior
root helps to form the coccygeal plexus. It does not
divide into a medial and lateral branches.
❖Coccygeal plexus is formed by the 5th sacral nerve
and the coccygeal nerve. It gives rise to the
anococcygeal nerve.
❖The only nerve in this plexus is anococcygeal nerve
which serves the sensory innervation to the skin in
the coccygeal region.
 Spinal Cord Disorders
▪ The spinal cord is the main pathway of communication between the
brain & the rest of the body. It is a long, fragile, tube like structure
that extends downward from the base of the brain. The cord is
protected by the back bones (vertebrae) of the spine in the spinal
column. The vertebrae are separated and cushioned by disks made of
cartilage.

❖Causes of spinal cord disorders are infections, a blocked blood supply and
compression by a fractured bone or a tumor.
❖Typically, muscles become weak or paralyzed, sensation is abnormal or lost, and
controlling bladder and bowel function may be difficult.
❖Medicos analyze the diagnosis on symptoms and results of a physical
examination and imaging tests eg CT or MRI.
❖Rehabilitation or bed rest is needed to recover as much function as possible.
Levels of Injury
and extent of
Paralysis

Source: http://thebrightdirection.com/symptoms-of-spinal-cord-injury/

•Compressive Neuropathy occurs when

nerves in the spine are compressed.
This disorder often affects older people.
▪Foraminal stenosis is extremely painful
and debilitating.
▪A slipped, herniated, ruptured or bulging
disc may cause nerve compression and
thus pain.
Lumbar Puncture for CSF