Spinal cord facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spinal cord |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| The spinal cord (in yellow) connects the brain to nerves throughout the body. | |
| Latin | medulla spinalis |
| Artery | spinal artery |
The spinal cord is like a super-highway of nerves. It connects your brain to almost every part of your body. It helps your brain send messages out and receive messages back. Your spinal cord is safely protected inside your backbone, which is made of many small bones called vertebrae. Its main job is to carry signals between your brain and the rest of your body.
Spinal Cord Sections
Your spinal cord is divided into different sections. These sections match up with parts of your backbone. Humans have 31 pairs of spinal nerves. Each pair comes out from the spinal cord, usually between two bones of your backbone.
These nerves then split into smaller branches. Some nerves carry information about what you feel, like touch or pain. Other nerves carry instructions from your brain to your muscles, telling them to move. This system also helps control things you don't think about, like your heartbeat or breathing.
Images for kids
-
Spinal cord seen in a midsection of a five-week-old embryo
-
Spinal cord seen in a midsection of a 3 month old fetus
-
Diagrams of the spinal cord.
-
Cross-section through the spinal cord at the mid-thoracic level.
-
Cross-sections of the spinal cord at varying levels.
-
Cervical vertebra
-
A portion of the spinal cord, showing its right lateral surface. The dura is opened and arranged to show the nerve roots.
-
The spinal cord with dura cut open, showing the exits of the spinal nerves.
-
The spinal cord showing how the anterior and posterior roots join in the spinal nerves.
-
The spinal cord showing how the anterior and posterior roots join in the spinal nerves.
-
A longer view of the spinal cord.
-
Projections of the spinal cord into the nerves (red motor, blue sensory).
-
Projections of the spinal cord into the nerves (red motor, blue sensory).
-
Cross-section of rabbit spinal cord.
-
Cross section of adult rat spinal cord stained using Cajal method.
-
Sagittal section of pig vertebrae showing a section of the spinal cord.
See also
In Spanish: Médula espinal para niños
