Spinal Cord

Question 1

Spinal cord

Answer 1

Is an elongated rod of nervous tissue that extends from the medulla oblongata through the foramen magnum. Is situated in the vertebral canal of the vertebral column and is 45cm long

Question 2

The vertebral column

Answer 2

Is the backbone

Question 3

The vertebrae

Answer 3

Are 33 individual bones stacked on top of one another

Question 4

Vertebral canal

Answer 4

Hollow tube formed in the vertebral column by the 33 stacked vertebrae

Question 5

Discs of cartilage

Answer 5

Occur between successive vertebrae to stabilise the vertebrae and allow bending

Question 6

Spinal cord

Answer 6

Runs in the vertebral canal and is made up of nervous tissue

Question 7

Central canal

Answer 7

Runs through the spinal cord and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid

Question 8

Structure of the spinal cord

Answer 8

• has an H shaped area of grey matter, made up of nerve cell bodies, dendrites and synapses
• white matter surrounds the grey matter and is made up of axons with myelin sheaths
• central canal occurs in the centre of the grey matter, filled with cerebrospinal fluid
• cord is divided into right and left sides by two grooves
• a pair of spinal nerves enters and leaves the spinal cord between successive vertebrae. There are 31 pairs of spinal cords
• each spinal nerve has a dorsal root that enters the grey matter and a ventral root that leaves the grey matter
• a collection of neutron cell bodies form a ganglion in the dorsal root. A ganglion is a small max of neuron cell bodies, found mainly in the peripheral nervous system.

Question 9

Functions of the spinal cord

Answer 9

1. The spinal cord serves as a pathway for impulses from receptors to the brain and from the brain to effectors
2. It has an integrative function in that it is the seat of prismatic reflexes called spinal reflexes. They serve to protect the body