THE SPINAL CORD

(Nervous System)
The important function of the spinal cord is to serve as a two-way
conducting tracts, carrying sensory impulses from the nerve cell to the
brain and bringing motor impulses from the brain to the muscle and glands
of the body. It acts also as a center of reflex action.

The spinal cord helps us to do things or act automatically. The

body often makes the same involuntary responses whenever a
certain stimulus arouses it. This fixed pattern of behavior is
known as a reflex action.
 REFLEX ACTION
 Reflex comes from the word reflect which means to turn back. Reflex action happens in a second. Reflexes are
involuntary and usually unconscious. In reflex action more than one sensory neuron is stimulated and more
than one motor neuron is activated.

When the hand touches a hot object, an

impulse is carried to the cell body in the
central nervous system. The axon of the cell
body affects the connector neuron in the spinal
cord. A motor neuron is contacted which sends
an impulse to the axon then to the muscles that
take off the burned hand from the object.
PARTS OF THE SPINAL CORD’S NERVOUS
SYSTEM
The spinal cord is continuous with the brain and cones out from the cranial opening at the base
of the skull, the foramen magnum. It is protected by the spinal column

CERVICAL
THORACIC
LUMBAR
SACRUM
COCCYX
 3 TYPES OF NERVES
There are 3 types of nerves - sensory, motor, and connector
nerves. The brain and spinal cord recieve nerve impulses from
the different parts of the body through the sensory nerves. Then
the brain and spinal cord send instructions of appropriate action
to the involved body parts through the motor nerves. Connector
nerves connect the sensory nerves and motor nerves and carry
impluses between them.

Fill in the blank; choose your answer in the box.

1) Sensory
In reflex action, more than one ______ neuron
______ is stimulated and more than one ______
____ is activated.
Motor neuron • act automatically
• brain
2) Lumbar
______ is underneath of Thoracic. • Lumbar
• 3 types
3) The spinal cord helps us to do things or ___
• ___________.
act automatically • sensory neuron, motor neuron

4) There are• _ _____

3 types of nerves.

5) brain
Carrying sensory impulses from the nerve cell to the _____ and bringing motor impulses
from the brain to the muscle and glands of the body