Guest guest Posted March 13, 2003 Report Share Posted March 13, 2003 The spinal cord, located within the vertebral column, is a soft cylindrical structure made up of highly organised nervous tissue. Extending downward, as a continuation of the brain, the spinal cord is the main pathway of communication between the brain and the rest of the body. It is a delicate structure protected by the vertebrae and their associated ligaments and muscles, the spinal meninges and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In adults the spinal cord is approximately 42-45cm in length and extends from the foramen magnum in the occipital bone to the second lumbar vertebral level (L2). However, the tapering end of the cord may terminate as high as the 12th thoracic vertebral level (T12) or as low as the third lumbar vertebral level (L3). Thirty-one (31) pairs of spinal nerves enter and exit from the spinal cord throughout its length passing through small openings between each vertebra. There are eight (8) pairs of cervical nerves, twelve (12) pairs of thoracic nerves, five (5) pairs of lumbar nerves, five (5) pairs of sacral nerves and one (1) pair of coccygeal nerves. Nerves of the spinal cord are grouped or bundled so that related types of nerve fibre run together. Motor nerves, nerves that transmit information to muscles and stimulate movement, are anatomically positioned toward the front of the body. Sensory nerves , nerves that transmit information to the brain about sensations such as touch, position, pain, heat and cold are located toward the rear or posterior of the body. http://www.paraquad.asn.au/introduction/spinal/spinal.html#Whatis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2003 Report Share Posted March 13, 2003 and I think the circumference is about like a dime or a nickel? oh--on the PBS pledge drive thing last night an author/doctor/speaker guy was giving a seminar on his book on living with chronic pain. I did not catch his name. It was captioned, though. Really freaky to have someone saying what you lived through without having seen it in a book. I don't know, though. He presented it like everybody's capable of some stuff if they focus enough (read " really want it enough " ), but I didn't see all of it. Obviously he's trying to help people, but I'd really like to know his bio and whether he has a chronic and progressively debilitating condition. Mind stuff is good for survival. While I may have been wrong thinking my pain control techniques were rare, I think it's even more dangerous to assume that just because something works for me (or anyone else) during one period of time, that it should work for everyone most of the time. I know how desperate we are sometimes, though, and maybe breathing focusing our minds in certain ways will work for more people than what it won't. Not necessarily to the point of being pain-free, but living well with even severe pain. " Some Days are Better than Others. " ~U2 8~) with an old-fashioned tangent! CarenAnn1977@... wrote: > The spinal cord, located within the vertebral column, is a soft > cylindrical structure made up of highly organised nervous tissue. > Extending downward, as a continuation of the brain, the spinal cord is > the main pathway of communication between the brain and the rest of > the body. It is a delicate structure protected by the vertebrae and > their associated ligaments and muscles, the spinal meninges and the > cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In adults the spinal cord is approximately > 42-45cm in length and extends from the foramen magnum in the occipital > bone to the second lumbar vertebral level (L2). However, the tapering > end of the cord may terminate as high as the 12th thoracic vertebral > level (T12) or as low as the third lumbar vertebral level (L3). > > Thirty-one (31) pairs of spinal nerves enter and exit from the spinal > cord throughout its length passing through small openings between each > vertebra. There are eight (8) pairs of cervical nerves, twelve (12) > pairs of thoracic nerves, five (5) pairs of lumbar nerves, five (5) > pairs of sacral nerves and one (1) pair of coccygeal nerves. Nerves of > the spinal cord are grouped or bundled so that related types of nerve > fibre run together. Motor nerves, nerves that transmit information to > muscles and stimulate movement, are anatomically positioned toward the > front of the body. Sensory nerves , nerves that transmit information > to the brain about sensations such as touch, position, pain, heat and > cold are located toward the rear or posterior of the body. > > > http://www.paraquad.asn.au/introduction/spinal/spinal.html#Whatis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2003 Report Share Posted March 13, 2003 About 3mm -- spinal cord size Does anybody know the size of the spinal cord? Thanks, Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2003 Report Share Posted March 13, 2003 http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/spinal_stenosis.html The spinal canal is usually more than 0.5 in (12 mm) in diameter. A smaller diameter indicates stenosis. The diameter of the cervical spine ranges is 0.6-1 in (15-12 mm). Any opening under 0.5 in (13 mm)in diameter is considered evidence of stenosis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2003 Report Share Posted March 13, 2003 Different sizes Smaller closer to brain The spinal canal is usually more than 0.5 in (12 mm) in diameter The diameter of the cervical spine ranges is 0.6-1 in (15-12 mm). -- spinal cord size Does anybody know the size of the spinal cord? Thanks, Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 14, 2003 Report Share Posted March 14, 2003 I have no size data but I'm told that 85% of the canal in one area is blocked and there are tumors in two more areas that block more. I'm still walking and funchning so it must not realy matter the size. The thing is on what nerve rhe tumors are growing and pushing. BEANS spinal cord size Does anybody know the size of the spinal cord? Thanks, Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 14, 2003 Report Share Posted March 14, 2003 I sure agree Beans:) I was nearly decapitated by my C-Spine tumors but had no paralysis or weakness. I have balance probs but they attribute that to ANs. The Drs were shocked:) Makes me wonder if 'something' kicks in, if we let it. Weird huh?? There are several here that shouldnt be (medically tongue-in-cheek speaking) , and i think we are a very amazing group. lphibbs@... .. spinal cord size Does anybody know the size of the spinal cord? Thanks, Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 14, 2003 Report Share Posted March 14, 2003 Thank-you everyone for responding to my question. The reason I ask is because my last spinal report actually measured the size of a tumor at C5 for the first time, even though it has been there for awhile. I wanted to know how this tumor is taking up space in my spinal cord. I am a little spooked. Though it wasn't said to me, I am concerned it is growing, slowly I hope. Quote from records: "At the C5 level, within the left aspect of the intramedullary portion of the spinal cord, is an 8 x 6 x 6 mm (craniocaudad x transverse x anteroposterior) lesion which is increased in signal intensity on T2-weighted sequences and mildly enhances. This lesion appears to minimally expand the spinal cord in this location, less so than one would expect given the lesion's dimensions. The lesion is unchanged in appearance in comparison with the August 2002 examination." Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.