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What are the divisions of the spinal cord and what are their functions?

Author

James Craig

Updated on February 26, 2026

What are the divisions of the spinal cord and what are their functions?

The spinal cord is divided into cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions. The cervical region is divided into eight levels that are related to different motor and sensory functions in the neck and the arms. The spinal nerves of the thoracic region supply the thorax and abdomen.

Thereof, what are the divisions of the spinal cord?

The spine is composed of 33 bones, called vertebrae, divided into five sections: the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine sections, and the sacrum and coccyx bones. The cervical section of the spine is made up of the top seven vertebrae in the spine, C1 to C7, and is connected to the base of the skull.

Furthermore, what are the 5 divisions of the spine? The vertebrae are numbered and divided into regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx (Fig. 2). Only the top 24 bones are moveable; the vertebrae of the sacrum and coccyx are fused. The vertebrae in each region have unique features that help them perform their main functions.

Also know, what are the parts of the spinal cord and their functions?

The spinal cord is divided into four different regions: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions (Figure 3.1). The different cord regions can be visually distinguished from one another.

What are the 4 divisions of a spinal nerve?

The four divisions of the spinal cord (cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral)

What part of the spine controls the legs?

The lumbar spinal cord is the lower area of the back. Nerve roots coming from the spinal cord in the lumbar spine control the legs. The lumbar region is where the spinal cord ends (the spinal cord is shorter than the spine).

What is spinal cord enlargement and role?

The lumbar enlargement (or lumbosacral enlargement) is a widened area of the spinal cord that gives attachment to the nerves which supply the lower limbs. It commences about the level of T11 and ends at L2, and reaches its maximum circumference, of about 33 mm.

What cells make up the spinal cord?

Astrocytes, a kind of glial cell, are the primary support cells of the brain and spinal cord. They make and secrete proteins called neurotrophic factors.

What protects the spinal cord?

The spinal cord is protected by bones, discs, ligaments, and muscles. The spine is made of 33 bones called vertebrae. The spinal cord passes through a hole in the center (called the spinal canal) of each vertebra. Between the vertebrae there are discs that act as cushions, or shock absorbers for the spine.

What are the vertebrae right under the skull referred to as?

It is named for Atlas of Greek mythology because, just as Atlas supported the globe, it supports the entire head. The atlas is the topmost vertebra and, with the axis (the vertebra below it), forms the joint connecting the skull and spine.

What is the main function of the intervertebral discs?

It provides cushioning for the vertebrae and reduce the stress caused by impact. They act shock absorber for the spine. They help protect the nerves that run down the spine and between the vertebrae.

What are the 3 major functions of the spinal cord?

What does the spinal cord do?
  • Motor Functions - directs your body's voluntary muscle movements.
  • Sensory Functions – monitors sensation of touch, pressure, temperature and pain.
  • Autonomic Functions – regulates digestion, urination, body temperature, heart rate, and dilation/contraction of blood vessels (blood pressure).

What are the two main functions of the spinal cord?

The spinal cord functions primarily in the transmission of nerve signals from the motor cortex to the body, and from the afferent fibers of the sensory neurons to the sensory cortex.

What is GREY matter in spinal cord?

Grey matter refers to unmyelinated neurons and other cells of the central nervous system. It is present in the brain, brainstem and cerebellum, and present throughout the spinal cord. The grey matter in the spinal cord consists of interneurons, as well as the cell bodies of projection neurons.

What best describes the function of the spinal cord?

The spinal cord functions primarily in the transmission of neural signals between the brain and the rest of the body, but it also contains neural circuits that can independently control numerous reflexes and central pattern generators.

What are the functions of spinal cord Class 10?

The spinal cord's major functions include:
  • Electrochemical communication. Electrical currents travel up and down the spinal cord and across nerves, sending signals which allow different segments of the body to communicate with the brain.
  • Walking.
  • Reflexes.

What is the function of nerve?

Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

A nerve is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of fibers (called axons) in the peripheral nervous system. A nerve transmits electrical impulses. It is the basic unit of the peripheral nervous system.

What is the importance of spinal cord?

The spinal cord and the brain together constitute the Central Nervous System. It is an incredibly complex and intricate mesh of nerves. Functioning as the body's main relay station, the CNS is responsible for all the basic functions of the body, such as breathing, walking, talking, movement, and reflexes.

What is meant by spinal cord?

A column of nerve tissue that runs from the base of the skull down the center of the back. It is covered by three thin layers of protective tissue called membranes. The spinal cord and the brain make up the central nervous system (CNS). Spinal cord nerves carry messages between the brain and the rest of the body.

What are the four functions of the spine?

Your spine, or backbone, is your body's central support structure. It connects different parts of your musculoskeletal system. Your spine helps you sit, stand, walk, twist and bend. Back injuries, spinal cord conditions and other problems can damage the spine and cause back pain.

What are the three areas of the spine?

The spine has three normal curves: cervical, thoracic and lumbar. There are seven cervical vertebrae in the neck, 12 thoracic vertebrae in the torso and five lumbar vertebrae in the lower back.

What is the most inferior spinal nerve?

The most inferior of the spinal nerves, the coccygeal nerve leaves the spinal cord at the level of the conus medullaris via respective vertebrae through their intervertebral foramina, superior to the filum terminale.

What is the lower part of your spine called?

The bottom of the spine is called the sacrum. It is made up of several vertebral bodies usually fused together as one.

What are the names of back problems?

Chronic spine and back pain. Kyphosis. Myelopathy. Neck pain.

Degenerative spine and disc conditions:

  • Arthritis.
  • Degenerative disc disease.
  • Herniated disc.
  • Spinal stenosis.
  • Spondylosis.

What absorbs shock in the spine?

The intervertebral discs are soft structures which act as shock absorbers between each of the vertebrae (bones) in the spine. A single disc sits between each vertebra. Each intervertebral disc has a strong outer ring of fibres ('annulus'), and a soft, jelly-like centre (nucleus).

Which portions of the spine are the most vulnerable to injury?

The lower part of your back is the most prone to injury, though they are often less severe injuries than when the cervical spine is involved. The lower back is composed of bones, muscles, and tissues that begin at the cervical spine and stretch down to your pelvic bone.

What does spinal mean in English?

(Entry 1 of 2) 1 : of, relating to, or situated near the spinal column. 2a : of, relating to, or affecting the spinal cord spinal reflexes. b : having the spinal cord functionally isolated (as by surgical section) from the brain experiments on spinal animals.

Which spinal nerves affect which parts of the body?

The nerves of the cervical spine go to the upper chest and arms. The nerves in your thoracic spine go to your chest and abdomen. The nerves of the lumbar spine then reach to your legs, bowel, and bladder. These nerves coordinate and control all the body's organs and parts, and let you control your muscles.

Which part of the spine has the most vertebrae?

The five lumbar vertebrae are the largest vertebral bones and increase in size when moving inferiorly. The lumbar vertebrae play a key role in supporting the body and facilitating locomotion. Lumbar vertebra: Image of typical lumbar vertebra.

What is typical spinal nerve?

Thus, all the spinal nerves are composed of both sensory and motor fibers (mixed nerves). There are eight cervical, twelve thoracic, five lumbar, five sacral nerves and one coccygeal nerve (all in pairs), each one emerging out of their corresponding intervertebral foramina (bony openings) of the vertebral canal.

What are the 4 major nerve plexuses?

Of the four major nerve plexuses (cervical, brachial, lumbar, and sacral), only the brachial plexus and sacral plexus can be assessed satisfactorily in the EDX laboratory.

What is GREY commissure?

a bundle of nerve fibers that surrounds the central canal of the spinal cord and connects the anterior and dorsal horns of gray matter in each half of the cord.

What part of the spine has no nerves?

Because the lumbar spine has no spinal cord and has a large amount of space for the nerve roots, even serious conditions—such as a large disc herniation—do not typically cause paraplegia (loss of motor function in the legs).

What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?

The nervous system has two main parts:
  • The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord.
  • The peripheral nervous system is made up of nerves that branch off from the spinal cord and extend to all parts of the body.

What is a Dermatome?

A dermatome is an area of skin in which sensory nerves derive from a single spinal nerve root (see the following image). Dermatomes of the head, face, and neck. Sensory information from a specific dermatome is transmitted by the sensory nerve fibers to the spinal nerve of a specific segment of the spinal cord.

What are the 31 spinal nerves?

In humans there are 31 pairs: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal. Each pair connects the spinal cord with a specific region of the body. Near the spinal cord each spinal nerve branches into two roots.

What is the number of spinal nerves?

In total, there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, grouped regionally by spinal region. More specifically, there are eight cervical nerve pairs (C1-C8), twelve thoracic nerve pairs (T1-T12), five lumbar nerve pairs (L1-L5), and a single coccygeal nerve pair.

What does the Coccygeal nerve control?

The largest nerve in the sacral plexus is the sciatic nerve that innervates the thigh, lower leg, and the foot. The coccygeal plexus consists of the coccygeal nerve and the fifth sacral nerve, which innervate the skin in the coccygeal region, around the tailbone (called the coccyx).

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What are the divisions of the spinal cord and what are their functions?