Spinal Cord (Human Anatomy): Image, Function, Diseases, and Treatments

• The cylindrical spinal cord runs from the brain to the lower back. Tissues, fluids, and neurons can all be found therein. The spinal cord itself is encased in a bony column of vertebrae for protection.
• One of the most critical components of the neurological system is the spinal cord. The spinal cord develops from the medulla oblongata, located near the base of the brainstem. The spinal cord creates a cone in the lower back, known as the conus medullaris.
• There are three primary divisions of the spinal cord. The upper back (cervical), middle back (thoracic), and lower back (lumbar) make up your spine. The spinal cord is shielded by a protective covering of tissue called meninges.
• The dura mater is the tough covering that safeguards the spinal cord. Between the epidural and subarachnoid spaces lies a layer of tissue called arachnoid mater, and the pia mater is the innermost layer, protecting the spinal cord.
• There are 31 pairs of nerves and nerve roots present in the spinal cord among which 8 pairs are of cervical nerves, 12 pairs are of thoracic nerve, 5 pairs are of lumbar nerve and 5 pairs are of sacral nerve.

It's useful for regulating the body's actions. The spinal cord is responsible for regulating the transmission of brain signals to the rest of the body. It also controls the automatic processes of the body, such as breathing, heart rate, and bowel and bladder control. Senses are also relayed to the brain. The signals it receives from the rest of the body help the brain keep track of and make sense of experiences like pressure and discomfort. It controls reflexes even when the brain isn't involved.

• Acute Transverse Myelitis: This condition involves inflammation in one or more spinal cord segments.
• Myelopathy: It includes compression of the spinal cord in the cervical spine known as cervical myelopathy. It results in two different symptoms. The first set of symptoms includes those that a person may experience in the neck as well as those that may manifest elsewhere in the body at or below the compressed portion of the spinal cord. Other symptoms include neck discomfort, stiffness, and decreased range of motion.
• Lumbar Myelopathy: When the spinal cord is squeezed, lumbar myelopathy results. Coordination problems, problems with fine motor skills, such as holding a pen to write or using a zipper, neck, arm, leg, or lower back pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness, problems keeping one's balance and having trouble walking, as well as urinary or faecal incontinence, are all signs of lumbar myelopathy.
• Thoracic Myelopathy: A nervous system condition known as thoracic myelopathy affects the spinal cord in the centre of the spine. A disorder of the neurological system, spinal cord tumours, or spinal cord compression may all result in thoracic myelopathy.
• Herniated Discs: Herniated discs are when a spinal disc slides out of position and into the area surrounding your spinal cord, pushing on neighbouring nerves.
• Spinal fractures: A spinal fracture occurs when one or more vertebrae are crushed, compressed, fractured, shattered, or ruptured, placing pressure on the spinal cord.
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy: It is a rare hereditary disorder that results in the loss of motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, weakening and wasting away muscles.
• Spinal stenosis: It is a narrowing of the spinal column that causes pinched nerves and irritation of the spinal cord.
• Spinal Tumours: These growths, which may or may not be malignant, begin in the spinal column and may squeez the spinal cord.
• Spinal infections: These conditions occur when the spinal cord is placed under strain by an increasing abscess, the collapse of an infected vertebrae or disc, or both.
• Arachnoiditis: The disorder known as arachnoiditis results in inflammation of the membrane that surrounds the spinal cord.
• Slipped Disk: To prevent the vertebrae from rubbing against one another, a disc serves as a cushion between each one. The discs begin to dry out as they age. A disc may rupture or tear if the back is overworked. It's possible for the arms or legs to pain, feel numb, or tingle. Painkillers and exercise are often helpful.
• Cervical Spondylosis: As people age, their necks gradually start to break down. There is a danger of developing a slipped disc, and the vertebrae may attempt to increase strength by growing spurs, which are protruding growths of additional bone. The ligaments holding the vertebrae together might become tight and rigid. Whatever the reason, the neck could pain or be more difficult to move. If nerves and nerve roots are severely compressed by discs or vertebrae, there may be irreversible damage.
• Osteoarthritis: The vertebrae's slick tissue on either end enables friction-free back flexion. The vertebrae begin to rub against each other if that cartilage becomes rough or worn out, which causes back discomfort or stiffness. Back osteoarthritis is more common in women than in males, and it often worsens with time.
• Sciatica: A sciatic nerve disease is present when lower back pain travels down the lower leg and into the foot. It may be compressed by a herniated disc, a bone spur, or another issue with the spine. Usually, just 1 side of the body is affected. Stretching, hot and cold packs, medications, and hot and cold packs may all help you feel better, but a doctor may be required to address the underlying issue.
• Scoliosis: One of the disorders that may cause the spine to twist out of form is scoliosis. The most typical form causes the spine to bend laterally in youngsters during their pre-puberty development spurt. A person with scoliosis may have unequal shoulders or one shoulder blade that protrudes more than the other. Nobody is aware of the reason for this. A brace may help prevent complications from developing as a result of scoliosis and the need for surgery to treat it.
• Kyphosis: When the spine bends forward if there is kyphosis. It often occurs when the vertebrae break or collide. The majority of cases are in older women, although it may also afflict kids whose spines grow incorrectly. In extreme circumstances, it may bend the whole body out of shape and cause discomfort in addition to other issues. Treatment options might include medications, exercise, or surgery, depending on how curved the spine is.
• Ankylosing spondylitis: Your low back and hips may first become tight and painful from ankylosing spondylitis, particularly in the morning. It may eventually go to the spine as well as other joints and other organs. The rib cage's bones and vertebrae might merge, leaving the person bent over. It affects young males more often than women, and it could run in families.
• Spinal cord injuries: They are most often caused by accidents including falls, automobile crashes, sports injuries, or gunshot wounds. The spinal cord often sustains bruising or has a portion of its blood supply cut off. It might be quite dangerous if that prevents the brain from managing a portion of the body. More of the body is impacted the higher on the spine it is. The likelihood of recovery relies on how severe the damage is.
• Spondylolisthesis: Vertebrae may slide sideways, causing them to misalign with the ones above and below them, a condition known as spondylolisthesis. Lower back discomfort is often caused by spondylolisthesis. It occurs as the body ages, but it may also affect young athletes who participate in lower back-stressing activities like football, gymnastics, and weightlifting.
• Cauda Equina Syndrome: The lower back's spine branching nerves assist the brain in controlling the legs and the organs in the pelvis. This uncommon but serious sickness may be brought on by pressure on the cauda equina caused by a herniated disc, fracture, or other problem.
• Syringomyelia: In very rare circumstances, the spinal cord may develop a tiny cyst- like sac filled with fluid. It may occur as a result of an accident, a tumour, or brain tissue pressing onto the spinal cord from the top of the skull. Syringomyelia may not cause any issues, but the spinal cord might be harmed if the cyst continues expanding.
• Quadriplegia: Quadriplegia is the inability to move one's arms, legs, intestines, or bladder as a result of a cervical spinal cord infection.

• MRI: An abnormality in the bone, such as a tumour, a fracture, or cervical spondylosis, as well as abnormalities in the soft tissues around the spinal cord, such as abscesses, hematomas, tumours, and ruptured discs, are all visible on an MRI.
• X-rays: These may be taken to look for fractures or tumours that might affect the spine. Any section of the spine, such as the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, or coccygeal, may be evaluated using X-rays.
• CSF Analysis: Cerebrospinal fluid works as a cushion to cushion the brain and spinal cord from trauma or rapid impact. Additionally, the fluid aids in the correct functioning of the central nervous system and eliminates waste from the brain.
• Myelography: This imaging test uses fluoroscopy, a real-time version of x-rays, to inject contrast material into the subarachnoid space, the region surrounding the spinal cord and nerve roots, after inserting a spinal needle into the spinal canal.
• CT Scan: To detect any kind of spinal damage or tumours, a CT scan that combines a number of x-ray pictures collected from various angles throughout the body is performed.
• Neurological test: A neurological examination looks for conditions of the central nervous system. The brain, spinal cord, and nerves that originate in these structures make up the central nervous system. The exams look at the balance, muscular strength, and other functions of the central nervous system. It regulates and controls everything we do, including muscle movement, organ function, and even complicated thinking and planning.
• Biopsy: A biopsy is a procedure when tissue from a tumour is removed to help evaluate whether it is benign or malignant.

• Surgery: To remove bone fragments, foreign objects, herniated discs, or broken vertebrae that seem to be crushing the spine, surgery is required. Additionally, surgery may be required to fix the spine in order to stop future discomfort or deformity.
• Chemotherapy: A common treatment for many cancer types, chemotherapy employs drugs to either kill cancer cells or stop them from proliferating. Depending on the patient's condition, radiation treatment alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy may be useful.
• Radiosurgery: Stereotactic radiosurgery is a non-invasive, non-surgical technique that uses focused, narrow radiation beams to target tumours while minimising radiation exposure to surrounding tissue.

• Steroids for reducing inflammation of Spinal Cord: In order to prevent major side effects such muscular weakness, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, and an increased susceptibility to infection, corticosteroids are often only taken for brief periods of time to decrease inflammation.
• Analgesics for Pain in Spinal Cord: NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, are widely available drugs that may help treat pain after spinal cord injury. They do this by inhibiting the formation of prostaglandins, which are crucial in lowering pain perception.
• Antibiotics for infection in Spinal Cord: Due to paralysis or weakness of the main breathing muscles like the diaphragm, intercostals, and abdominals, many higher level spinal cord infection patients have low lung capacity and weak coughs. Antibiotics kill bacteria to stop the spread of infection and can help clear the lungs of mucus buildup so that it is easier to breathe and cough.