How the Spinal Cord Works

This tutorial is designed as an introduction for the lay person to spinal cord injury and repair. It includes information on what happens to the spinal cord as a result of traumatic injury and some of the latest developments in the search for effective treatments.

This glossary of spinal cord terminology will come in handy!

The Central Nervous System
	What is the Central Nervous System? The central nervous system (CNS) controls most functions of the body and mind. It consists of two parts: the brain and the spinal cord. more...
	How is the Central Nervous System Different from Other Systems of the Body? Most systems and organs of the body control just one function, but the central nervous system does many jobs at the same time. more...
	How Does the Central Nervous System Protect Itself from Injury? The central nervous system is better protected than any other system or organ in the body. more...
	Why Can't the Central Nervous System Repair Itself Following Injury? Some cells of the central nervous system are so specialized that they cannot divide and create new cells. more...

Cells of the Central Nervous System
	Neurons Cells called neurons connect with one another to send and receive messages in the brain and spinal cord. more...
	Astrocytes A kind of glial cell, are the primary support cells of the brain and spinal cord. more...
	Microglia Immune cells for the brain. more...
	Oligodendrocytes Glial cells that produce a fatty substance called myelin which wraps around axons in layers. more...

How We Control Movement and Sense the World
	Synapses and Neurotransmission Messages are passed from neuron to neuron through synapses, small gaps between the cells, with the help of chemicals called neurotransmitters. more...
	What Causes Paralysis? There is a logical and physical topographical organization to the anatomy of the central nervous system, which is an elaborate web of closely connected neural pathways. more...
	The Information Pathways Specialized neurons carry messages from the skin, muscles, joints, and internal organs to the spinal cord about pain, temperature, touch, vibration, and proprioception. more...
	Voluntary and Involuntary Movement Over one million axons travel through the spinal cord, including the longest axons in the central nervous system. more...
	The Spinal Cord and Muscles Working Together The spinal cord is divided into five sections: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal regions. more...
	The Spinal Cord and Internal Organs Working Together In addition to the control of voluntary movement, the central nervous system contains the sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways that control the "fight or flight" response to danger and regulation of bodily functions. more...

The Major Challenges Facing Spinal Cord Research
	What Happens Following a Spinal Cord Injury A common set of biological events take place following spinal cord injury. more...
	Intervention Strategies Research points to a multiplicity of possible interventions to promote recovery from a spinal injury. more...