Anatomy and Cell Biology 3319 Chapter Notes -Dura Mater, Intervertebral Foramina, Anterior Grey Column
Document Summary
Through the spinal nerves that attach to it, the spinal cord is involved in the sensory and motor innervation of the entire body inferior to the head. Provides a two-way conduction pathway for signals between the body and the brain. Runs through the vertebral canal of vertebral column. Spinal cord extends from foramen magnum at the base of the skull"s occipital bone. At inferior end it tapers into the conus medullaris (cone of the spinal cord) This cone in turn tapers into a long filament of connective tissue, the filum terminale (end terminal) which attaches to the coccyx inferiorly. 31 pairs of spinal nerves (pns structures) attach to the spinal cord. Spinal nerves lie in the intervertebral foramina, from which they send lateral branches throughout the body. In cervical and lumbar regions, nerves to upper and lower limbs arise, the spinal cord shows enlargements called cervical and lumbar enlargements.