Spinal Cord Injuries

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The key function of the cervical spine is to support the weight of the head which is approximately 10-12 pounds. The spinal cord is the key path for information between the brain and the peripheral nervous system. It transmits signals back and forth between the body and brain. The length of the spinal cord is about 45 cm in men and 43 cm in women. Within this spinal link, there are thirty one pairs of spinal. Each spinal nerve splits into two roots before connecting to the spinal cord.

The human body is a weight-bearing exterior and an addition for the disc. The vertebral arch systems the spinal canal through which the spinal cord runs. The developments arise from the vertebral arch to form the facet joints and processes for muscle and ligament attachments.

The spinal column is made up of bones called vertebrae which are to a certain degree flexible while some of the vertebrae in the lower parts of the spinal column are fused. The spinal cord is enclosed by the spinal column which consists of 33 vertebrae
 Cervical – Upper seven vertebrae located in the neck (C1-C7)
 Thoracic – Twelve vertebrae that extend through the chest area (T1 – T12)
 Lumbar – Five vertebrae in the lower back (L1 – L5)
 Sacral – Five vertebrae located in the pelvic area (S1 –S5)
 Coccygeal – Four fused vertebrae (tailbone)

The cervical spine has the highest range of motion because of two particular vertebras that move with the skull while cervical vertebrae are the smallest. The first cervical vertebra is called the atlas and is dissimilar from the further vertebrae. It is ring-like in shape with two large lumps on the sides to sustain the weight of the head. The second cervical vertebra is called the axis. The axis is a bony peg-like bulge, call...

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Works Cited

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"Spinal Cord Injury." Definition. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Dec. 2013. .
"Understanding Spinal Cord Injury." Understanding Spinal Cord Injury. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Dec. 2013. .
Walker, Richard. "14,21, 36, 38-40." Human Body. New York, NY: DK Pub., 2005. N. pag. Print.
Walker, Richard. "19,21 47, 60, 62, 111." Human Body. New York, NY: Dorling Kindersley, 2010. N. pag. Print.
"What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?" What Is a Spinal Cord Injury. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2013. .

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