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SPINAL CORD
DISEASES
Paraparesis
Quadriparesis
1

2. 2
Where does the spinal cord
end?



Adult spinal cord - 45 cm long
Originates at the medulla
Ends at the conus medullaris
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3. Fetal life
3

Until the third month of fetal life
 Spinal

cord is as long as the vertebral canal
After the third month of fetal life
 Vertebral
column elongates faster than the
spinal cord
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4. Adults
4


Vertebral column is longer than the spinal cord
Common cause of spinal cord disease
 Diseases
of the vertebrae
 Fracture
 Infection
 Secondary
deposits
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5. 5
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6. 6
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7. 7
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8. 8
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9. 9
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10. 10
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11. Adults – L 1
11


Spinal cord ends at the lower level of first
lumbar vertebral body
Cervical enlargement
 Innervate

the upper extremities
Lumbar enlargement
 Innervate
the lower limbs
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12. Cauda equina (horse's tail)
12

Different growth rates of the cord and spine
 Vertebral


column is longer than the cord
Cord segments are above their
corresponding vertebrae
Lumbosacral region
 Nerve
roots descend almost vertically below
the cord to form the cauda equina
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13. 13
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14. 14
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15. 15
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16. Spinal cord has 31 segments
16

8 cervical
 Only



seven cervical vertebrae
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
 Sacrum

formed by fusion of 5 vertebrae
Few small coccygeal
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17. Each segment
17

Ventral (motor) root
 Exit
from the vertebral column through
intervertebral foramina

Dorsal (sensory) root
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18. 18
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19. Ventral (anterior) roots
19

Alpha motor neuron axons
 To

the extrafusal striated muscle fibers
Gamma motor neuron axons
 To
the intrafusal muscle fibers
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20. Dorsal (posterior) roots
20

Sensory
 Convey
sensory information from the skin,
joints, and muscles to the central nervous
system
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21. C1 to C7 spinal nerves
21

Exit above the same-numbered vertebral
bodies
 C2

spinal nerve root exits above C2 vertebra
C8 root
 Exits

between vertebral bodies C7 and T1
All the subsequent spinal nerves exit below
the same-numbered vertebral bodies.
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22. 22
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23. SPINAL CORD LEVELS RELATIVE TO THE
VERTEBRAL BODIES
23
Spinal Cord Level
Upper cervical
Lower cervical
Upper thoracic
Lower thoracic
Lumbar
Sacral
Corresponding
Vertebral Body
Same as cord level
1 level higher
2 levels higher
2 to 3 levels higher
T10-T12
T12-L1
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24. T4 SPINE
24


Level with the sixth CORD segment
T12
 S1cord
segment
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25. 25
Hallmark of spinal cord
disease


Loss of motor and sensory functions below
the level of the lesion
Loss of autonomic functions occurs below
the level of the lesion
 Loss
of urinary bladder tone
 Paralytic ileus
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26. Horizontal level in the body
26

Sensory level
 Damage

to the ascending spinothalamic tract
Motor level (i.e., paraplegia or quadriplegia)
 Damage
to the descending corticospinal and
other motor tracts………..
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