Cervical spinal cord

Cervical Spinal Cord

The cervical spinal cord is a segment of the spinal cord located in the neck region. It is responsible for sending signals between the brain and some parts of the body. The cervical spinal cord is made up of eight pairs of spinal nerves, labeled C1 to C8, which control different parts of the body.

Anatomy

The cervical spinal cord is the uppermost part of the spinal cord, extending from the medulla oblongata of the brainstem to the body of the first thoracic vertebra. It is located within the vertebral column and is surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid for protection.

Function

The cervical spinal cord has a significant role in the body's nervous system. Each pair of cervical spinal nerves controls different parts of the body. For example, the C1 and C2 nerves control head and neck movements, while the C3 to C5 nerves control the diaphragm for breathing. The C6 to C8 nerves control the arm and hand movements.

Clinical significance

Injuries to the cervical spinal cord can lead to serious conditions such as quadriplegia, where there is partial or total loss of use of all four limbs and torso. Other conditions include cervical spondylosis, a general term for age-related wear and tear affecting the spinal disks in the neck, and cervical spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck area.

See also

• Spinal cord injury
• Spinal nerve
• Vertebral column