Nerve arising from the anterior roots of the spinal cord. Symptoms of damage and dysfunction of the roots of the spinal cord. The structure and functions of the hard shell

The spinal cord is a section of the central nervous system of the spine, which is a cord 45 cm long and 1 cm wide.

The structure of the spinal cord

The spinal cord is located in the spinal canal. Behind and in front are two furrows, thanks to which the brain is divided into the right and left halves. It is covered with three membranes: vascular, arachnoid and solid. The space between the choroid and arachnoid is filled cerebrospinal fluid.

In the center spinal cord you can see the gray matter, on the cut, shaped like a butterfly. The gray matter consists of motor and interneurons. The outer layer of the brain is the white matter of axons, collected in descending and ascending pathways.

In the gray matter, two types of horns are distinguished: the anterior, in which motor neurons are located, and the posterior, the location of the intercalary neurons.

In the structure of the spinal cord, there are 31 segments. From each stretch the anterior and posterior roots, which, merging, form the spinal nerve. When leaving the brain, the nerves immediately break up into roots - back and front. back roots formed with the help of axons of afferent neurons and they are directed to rear horns gray matter. At this point, they form synapses with efferent neurons, whose axons form anterior roots. spinal nerves.

In the posterior roots are the spinal ganglions, in which sensitive nerve cells are located.

The spinal canal runs through the center of the spinal cord. To the muscles of the head, lungs, heart, organs chest cavity and upper limbs nerves depart from the segments of the upper thoracic and cervical parts of the brain. The organs of the abdominal cavity and the muscles of the trunk are controlled by the segments of the lumbar and chest parts. The muscles of the lower abdomen and muscles lower extremities control the sacral and lower lumbar segments of the brain.

Spinal Cord Functions

There are two main functions of the spinal cord:

  • Conductor;
  • Reflex.

The conduction function is that nerve impulses along ascending paths of the brain move to the brain, and commands are received along descending paths from the brain to the working organs.

The reflex function of the spinal cord lies in the fact that it allows you to perform the simplest reflexes (knee reflex, hand withdrawal, flexion and extension of the upper and lower extremities, etc.).

Under the control of the spinal cord, only simple motor reflexes are carried out. All other movements, such as walking, running, etc., require the mandatory participation of the brain.

Pathologies of the spinal cord

Based on the causes of pathologies of the spinal cord, three groups of its diseases can be distinguished:

  • Malformations - postpartum or congenital abnormalities in the structure of the brain;
  • Diseases caused by tumors, neuroinfections, impaired spinal circulation, hereditary diseases nervous system;
  • Spinal cord injuries, which include bruises and fractures, compression, concussions, dislocations and hemorrhages. They can appear both independently and in combination with other factors.

Any disease of the spinal cord is very serious consequences. To special type diseases can be attributed to spinal cord injuries, which, according to statistics, can be divided into three groups:

  • Car accidents are the most common cause of spinal cord injury. Driving motorcycles is especially traumatic, since there is no rear seat back that protects the spine.
  • Falling from a height can be either accidental or intentional. In any case, the risk of spinal cord injury is quite high. Often athletes, fans of extreme sports and jumping from a height are injured in this way.
  • Domestic and extraordinary injuries. Often they occur as a result of a descent and fall in an unfortunate place, falling down stairs or on ice. Also included in this group are knives and bullet wounds and many other cases.

With spinal cord injuries, the conduction function is primarily disrupted, which leads to very deplorable consequences. For example, brain damage in cervical region leads to the fact that the functions of the brain are preserved, but lose connection with most of the organs and muscles of the body, which leads to paralysis of the body. The same disorders occur with damage peripheral nerves. If sensory nerves are damaged, then sensation is impaired in certain areas of the body, and damage to the motor nerves impairs the movement of certain muscles.

Most of the nerves are mixed, and their damage causes both the impossibility of movement and loss of sensation.

Puncture of the spinal cord

Spinal puncture is the introduction of a special needle into the subarachnoid space. A puncture of the spinal cord is performed in special laboratories, where patency is determined this body and measure the blood pressure. The puncture is carried out both for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. It allows you to timely diagnose the presence of a hemorrhage and its intensity, find inflammatory processes in the meninges, determine the nature of a stroke, determine changes in the nature of the cerebrospinal fluid, signaling diseases of the central nervous system.

Often, a puncture is done to introduce radiopaque and medicinal fluids.

AT medicinal purposes puncture is carried out in order to extract blood or purulent fluid, as well as to administer antibiotics and antiseptics.

Indications for puncture of the spinal cord:

  • Meningoencephalitis;
  • Unexpected hemorrhages in the subarachnoid space due to rupture of the aneurysm;
  • cysticercosis;
  • myelitis;
  • meningitis;
  • Neurosyphilis;
  • Traumatic brain injury;
  • Liquorrhea;
  • Echinococcosis.

Sometimes, during brain surgery, a spinal cord puncture is used to reduce parameters intracranial pressure, as well as to facilitate access to malignant neoplasms.

One of the most important systems The human body is nervous. It includes the central and peripheral departments. The first includes the brain and spinal cord, the second includes all other groups nerve cells and their collections.

Cellular structure of the spinal cord

Any part of the nervous system consists of nerve cells -. These are small cells containing a large number of processes. Short processes - dendrites - are responsible for communication in rons among themselves. A long process (usually one) performs the function of transmitting information. In addition to neurons, there are satellite cells - neuroglia. These are fat-like formations that provide a layer between the fibers and support the nerve cells themselves. Also in this system is intercellular substance- cerebral fluid.

The roots of the spinal cord consist only of axons, as they perform the function of transmitting information.

Physiological structure of the spinal cord

It is a continuation of the head, and the division into these departments is conditional and does not have a clear boundary. The dorsal region of the brain is located in the spinal column formed by the vertebrae. This zone is responsible for the transfer of information from body analyzers to the head section and vice versa. To communicate with the peripheral section at the level of each vertebra, roots depart from the spinal cord - anterior (ventral) and posterior (dorsal). In addition, there are additional smaller roots - lateral (lateral).

These fibers consist of processes that form four zones at the nodes:

  1. Cells that receive signals from the surface of the body;
  2. Cells that receive signals from internal organs;
  3. Fibers that carry signals to skeletal muscles;
  4. Processes responsible for signal transmission to smooth muscle lining the walls of internal organs.

Section of the spinal cord at the level of which the bundle is collected nerve fibers, called a horn, since protrusions of gray matter in the form of horns are visible on the transverse section. Allocate anterior, posterior and lateral horns.

The vertebrae are made up of bone tissue, impermeable to other cells, therefore, at the level of each vertebra in the anterior, lateral and posterior parts, there are openings through which these nerve fibers exit.

Thus, the number of pairs of roots is equal to the number of vertebrae (31 pairs in total).

In different parts of the spinal cord, the roots come out at an angle, relative to spinal column:

- in the cervical region - perpendicularly;
- in the chest - at an angle of 45 0 down;
- in the lumbar and sacral - strictly down.

This is due to the location of the skeletal muscles near the spine and the internal organs innervated by the corresponding part of the brain.

The central divisions of this system consist of gray and white matter(this is easily discernible when looking at microsections of the medulla). In the gray matter is located along the periphery of the trunk, in the dorsal, on the contrary, in the center. Gray consists of the bodies of neurons (cells) and is located in the central part of the spinal column. Here is the generation nerve impulses. White matter contains conductive fibers coated with white myelin protein. In these parts, signaling is carried out. Moreover, the more densely the process of the cell is covered with myelin, the slower the impulse transmission will be.

Formation of the nervous system in ontogenesis

The nervous system is laid down in the third week of development, and is formed from the outer germ layer - a layer of small cells - the ectoderm. Moreover, the division of such cells occurs very quickly - about 2.5 thousand divisions per minute! First of all, the neural plate is formed, which later folds into a tube. During the entire embryonic period, it will change and expand. In the anterior part, the formation of brain bubbles occurs. At the end of the canal, a tail section is formed.

Previously undifferentiated cells turn into neurons, and begin to crawl (physically) to their places of localization. Here there is a "sticking" of cells that perform the same function. This leads to the formation of nodes. At week 15, the tail section completely dissolves, since the person has lost this part due to upright posture. The cells that made it up are reclassified as peripheral departments lower body - trigeminal nerve and nerves of the lower extremities.

On the final stages In the formation of the brain, “work on mistakes” takes place: the programmed death of those processes that are not located in their zones is carried out. These cells will no longer be used by the system, but will simply dissolve. There are about 10% of such cells.

During the period of intrauterine development, all departments are formed, and the motor roots of the spinal cord are checked (when the child pushes). The conductivity of sensitive fibers can be checked only after birth, therefore, in the first days of life, the activity of the posterior roots is increased, as they receive all types of irritations.

Functions of the elements of the nervous system

The nervous system is a highly specialized part of the body, which is achieved due to the narrow focus of each department. The body is controlled by a reflex arc. This is the path along which the impulse passes from the moment of perception of excitation to the completion of the necessary action.

The reflex arc consists of the following parts:

  1. Analyzer - perceives one or another stimulus;
  2. The sensory pathway is an axon that transmits excitation from the analyzer to the brain. Transmission occurs through the spinal cord, and from the analyzer the signal is transmitted through the posterior roots of the spinal cord;
  3. Intercalary Pathway - an axon designed to lengthen the transmission path.

Along the lateral bundles, the nerve impulse can be transmitted in both directions, which is why it is called mixed. These bundles start working if the main channels have been damaged. Their conductivity is much lower.

Signal transmission in the nervous system is carried out through a nerve impulse. The intercalary neuron begins with a synapse in which a chemical impulse is generated. It is here that the slowest part of the reflex arc is located. Only this area can act painkillers. This process is based on active substance the drug either inhibits the synthesis of molecules on one side of the axon, or clogs the channels of another section, preventing the chemical signal from being received.

  1. Analysis of information in the corresponding center of the brain;
  2. The motor pathway is an axon that transmits a signal from the brain to the working organ (muscle). The anterior roots of the spinal cord are formed by the axons of the motor pathway. In this area, it is impossible to meet intercalary neurons, because if the brain has received a signal, then nothing should interfere with the response.
  3. Working body. A muscle of the skeletal muscles or walls of internal organs that contracts when it receives an electrical impulse from the nervous system.

Thus, the anterior and posterior roots of the spinal cord are responsible for the transmission of impulses from the brain to the working organ and vice versa. In case of damage, the lateral universal fiber bundles are switched on.

Although each department is responsible for a specific action, the entire nervous system works as a single organism. Thanks to the intersection of dendrites, all cells communicate with each other, so departments that are not directly connected to each other will largely depend on each other. This is necessary for the formation of an adequate reaction of the body: for example, if a person is frightened, he must avoid danger. In this case, the muscular, respiratory, cardiovascular systems should work simultaneously.

Functional differences in the spinal cord

On the different levels spinal nerves of the spinal cord are distributed in two systems - sympathetic and parasympathetic.

Pair sympathetic department located at the base of the brain and in the sacral part. The brain begins and ends with it. It is responsible for the general relaxation of the body, which is achieved by slowing down the work of the heart, respiration, and vasodilation. Consequently, the signals coming from the brain at this level will contribute to the overall calm, inhibition of processes.

The sympathetic division is located at the level of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. This department, on the contrary, is responsible for the mobilization of the body: there is an increase in heart rate, breathing, constriction blood vessels relaxation of the intestinal walls.

The sympathetic and parasympathetic departments work alternately, but each person has a better developed one or the other, which determines the specifics of his behavior in certain situations. So, if a person has a more active sympathetic department, then in extreme conditions it will become more active - it is better to answer the exam, remember more. True, this leads to a higher level of nervousness.

The high activity of the parasympathetic department contributes to the fact that under stress a person, on the contrary, will slow down, which is manifested in the desire to sleep, constant yawning and apathy.

Study of the spinal cord

The first researcher to study the functional various departments nervous system, was the French physiologist Francois Magendie. For the first time, he experimentally proved the separation of the directions of conduction of nerve impulses in the anterior and posterior roots, the trophic significance of many peripheral nerves (the trigeminal nerve is involved in the nutrition eyeball etc.), established the mechanism of the digestive system. The results of his research made it possible later to establish the reflex nature and significance of conditioned and unconditioned stimuli. Magendie also determined the functions of many centers of the cerebral cortex.

Spinal cord injury and consequences

The spinal canal is maximally protected from damage. This means that a simple fall and impact on the spine will not lead to serious violations. But there are a number of actions that can largely paralyze the work of this department, and hence the whole organism.

  1. Spinal fracture. Such a violation leads to paralysis of those parts of the body that are below the fracture. This is due to the fact that the spinal cord controls the work of those organs that are at its level, respectively, a violation of integrity leads to a failure in the conduction of impulses.

The phrase "Nerve cells do not regenerate" is not entirely true. According to the latest data of science, in the central parts of the brain there are groups of cells that, in case of damage, crawl to this place and restore the violation. True, the survival rate of such cells is very low, so often people remain disabled for life. But there is still an opportunity to restore conductivity in the damaged section. A few cases of remission are associated with this, when bedridden people return to normal life.

back roots (radices posteriores) spinal nerves are sensitive; they are made up of axons of pseudo-unipolar cells, the bodies of which are located in the spinal nodes (ganglion spinal). The axons of these first sensory neurons enter the spinal cord at the location of the posterior lateral sulcus.

Front roots (radices anteriores) mainly motor, consist of axons of motor neurons that are part of the anterior horns of the corresponding segments of the spinal cord, in addition, they include axons of vegetative Jacobson cells located in the lateral horns of the same spinal segments. The anterior roots exit the spinal cord through the anterior lateral groove.

Following from the spinal cord to the intervertebral foramina of the same name in the subarachnoid space, all the roots of the spinal nerves, except for the cervical ones, descend down to one or another distance. It is small for the thoracic roots and more significant for the lumbar and sacral roots involved in the formation together with the terminal (terminal) thread of the so-called horse tail.

The roots are covered with a pia mater, and at the confluence of the anterior and posterior roots into the spinal nerve at the corresponding intervertebral foramen, the arachnoid membrane is also pulled up to it. As a result, around the proximal part of each spinal nerve is formed filled with cerebrospinal fluid a funnel-shaped sheathed vagina narrow part directed towards the intervertebral foramen. The concentration of infectious agents in these funnels sometimes explains the significant incidence of damage to the roots of the spinal nerves during inflammation of the meninges (meningitis) and the development of the clinical picture of meningoradiculitis.

Damage to the anterior roots leads to peripheral paresis or paralysis of the muscle fibers that make up the corresponding myotomes. It is possible to violate the integrity of the reflex arcs corresponding to them and, in connection with this, the disappearance of certain reflexes. With multiple lesions of the anterior roots, for example, with acute demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (Guillain-Barré syndrome), widespread peripheral paralysis may also develop, tendon and skin reflexes decrease and disappear.

Irritation of the posterior roots due to one reason or another ( discogenic sciatica with osteochondrosis of the spine, neurinoma of the posterior root, etc.), leads to the appearance of pain radiating to the metameres corresponding to the irritated roots. Soreness of the nerve roots can be provoked when checking the radicular Neri's symptom belonging to the group of tension symptoms. It is checked in a patient who lies on his back with straightened legs. The examiner puts his hand under the back of the patient's head and sharply bends his head, trying to ensure that the chin touches the chest. With pathology of the posterior roots of the spinal nerves, the patient experiences pain in the area of ​​projection of the affected roots.

With damage to the roots, irritation of the nearby meninges and the appearance of changes in the cerebrospinal fluid, usually in the form of protein-cell dissociation, as is observed, in particular, in Guillain-Barré syndrome, may occur. Destructive changes in the posterior roots lead to a sensitivity disorder in the dermatomes of the same name to these roots and can cause the loss of reflexes, the arcs of which were interrupted.

Inhibition in the central nervous system, its significance. Types of inhibition: primary (postsynaptic, presynaptic) and secondary (pessimal, inhibition following excitation).

The phenomenon of inhibition in the nerve centers was first discovered by I.M. Sechenov in 1862. Inhibition is an active process in the nervous system, which is caused by excitation and manifests itself as the suppression of another excitation.

Braking is played important role in coordination of movements, regulation autonomic functions, in the implementation of actions of higher nervous activity. Braking processes:

1 - limit the irradiation of excitation and concentrate it in certain parts of the NS;

2 - turn off unnecessary activity in this moment bodies, coordinates their work;

3 - protect the nerve centers from overstrain in work.

According to the place of occurrence, inhibition happens:

1 - presynaptic;

2 - postsynaptic.

The form of inhibition can be:

1 - primary;

2 - secondary.

For the emergence of primary inhibition in the NS, there are special inhibitory structures (inhibitory neurons and inhibitory synapses). In this case, inhibition occurs primarily, i.e. without previous stimulation. Presynaptic inhibition occurs in front of the synapse at axonal junctions. The basis of such inhibition is the development of long-term depolarization of the axon terminal and blocking the conduction of excitation to the next neuron. Postsynaptic inhibition is associated with hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane under the influence of inhibitory mediators of the type. No special brake structures are required for the occurrence of secondary inhibition. It occurs as a result of the configuration functional activity ordinary excitable neurons. Secondary inhibition is otherwise called pessimal. At a high frequency of impulses, the postsynaptic membrane is strongly depolarized and becomes unable to respond to impulses going to the cell.

General principles coordination activities CNS. The role of reverse afferentation in the coordination of functions. Interaction and movement of excitation and inhibition: irradiation, induction, reciprocity as special case induction. The teachings of A.A. Ukhtomsky about the dominant, the role of the dominant in pedagogical activity.

In a living organism, the work of all organs is coordinated.

Coordination of individual reflexes to perform integral physiological acts is called coordination.

Due to the coordinated work of the nerve centers, motor acts are controlled (running, walking, complex purposeful movements of practical activity), as well as a change in the mode of operation of the respiratory, digestive, and circulatory organs, i.e. vegetative functions. These actions achieve adaptation of the organism to changes in the conditions of existence.


Coordination is based on a number of general patterns (principles):

1. The principle of convergence (established by Sherrington) - one neuron receives impulses from different parts of the nervous system. For example, impulses from auditory, visual, and skin receptors can converge to the same neuron.

2. The principle of irradiation. Excitation or inhibition, having arisen in one nerve center, can spread to neighboring centers.

3. The principle of reciprocity (conjugation; agreed antagonism) was investigated by Sechenov, Vvedensky, Sherrington. When some nerve centers are excited, the activity of other centers can be inhibited. In spinal animals, irritation of one limb immediately causes its flexion, and an extensor reflex is immediately observed on the other side.

The reciprocity of innervation ensures the coordinated work of muscle groups when walking, running. If necessary, mutually combined movements can be changed under the control of the brain. For example, when jumping, there is a contraction of the muscle groups of the same name in both limbs.

4. The principle of a common final path is associated with a structural feature of the central nervous system. The fact is that there are several times more afferent neurons than efferent ones, so many afferent impulses flow to their common efferent paths. The system of reacting neurons forms, as it were, a funnel ("Sherrington's funnel"), so many different stimuli can cause the same motor reaction. Sherrington proposed to distinguish between:

a) allied reflexes (which reinforce each other, meeting on common final paths);

5. Dominant principle (established by Ukhtomsky). Dominant (lat. dominans - dominant) is the dominant focus of excitation in the central nervous system, which determines the nature of the body's response to irritation.

For the dominant, a stable overexcitation of the nerve centers is typical, the ability to sum up extraneous stimuli and inertness (preservation after the action of irritation). The dominant focus attracts impulses from other nerve centers and is enhanced by them. As a factor in the behavior of the dominant is associated with higher nervous activity with human psychology. Dominant is physiological basis act of attention. Formation and braking conditioned reflexes also associated with the dominant focus of excitation.

The spinal cord, its structure. Functions of the anterior and posterior roots. Reflex and conduction functions of the spinal cord.

Spinal cord- an organ of the central nervous system of vertebrates located in the spinal canal. It is generally accepted that the border between the spinal cord and the brain passes at the level of the intersection of the pyramidal fibers (although this border is very arbitrary). Inside the spinal cord there is a cavity called the central canal. The spinal cord is protected by the pia mater, arachnoid and dura mater. The spaces between the membranes and the spinal canal are filled with cerebrospinal fluid. The space between the outer hard shell and the bone of the vertebrae is called the epidural and is filled with fat and venous network.

From the anterolateral groove or near it, the anterior radicular filaments emerge, which are axons of nerve cells. The anterior radicular filaments form the anterior (motor) root. The anterior roots contain centrifugal efferent fibers that conduct motor impulses to the periphery of the body: to striated and smooth muscles, glands, etc.

The posterolateral groove includes the posterior radicular filaments, consisting of processes of cells that lie in the spinal ganglion. The posterior radicular threads form the posterior spine. The posterior roots contain afferent (centripetal) nerve fibers that conduct sensory

Impulses from the periphery, i.e. from all tissues and organs of the body, to the central nervous system. Each dorsal root contains a spinal ganglion.

Spinal Cord Functions - reflex and conductive. How reflex center the spinal cord takes part in motor (conducts nerve impulses to the skeletal muscles) and autonomic reflexes.

The most important autonomic reflexes spinal cord - vasomotor, food, respiratory, defecation, urination, genital.

The reflex function of the spinal cord is under the control of the brain. The reflex functions of the spinal cord can be seen in spinal preparation of a frog (without a brain), which retains the simplest motor reflexes.

The ability to control the accuracy of the execution of their commands by the central nervous system is carried out with the help of "feedbacks". Feedback- these are signals that occur in receptors located in the executive organs themselves.

CNS by "Feedback" receives information about the features of the implementation of the reflex. Such a device allows the nerve centers, if necessary, to make urgent changes to the work. executive bodies. In humans, the brain is of decisive importance in the implementation of the coordination of reflexes.

Conductor function is carried out through ascending and descending pathways white matter. Along the ascending paths, excitation from the muscles and internal organs is transmitted to the brain, along the descending paths - from the brain to the organs.

autonomic nervous system. The structure and functions of the sympathetic, parasympathetic and metasympathetic divisions. Peculiarities reflex arcs autonomic reflexes. Adaptation-trophic role of the sympathetic nervous system.

The autonomic nervous system is a department of the nervous system that regulates the activity of internal organs, glands of internal and external secretion, blood and lymphatic vessels. Plays a leading role in maintaining consistency internal environment organism and in the adaptive reactions of all vertebrates.

Anatomically and functionally, the autonomic nervous system is divided into sympathetic, parasympathetic and metasympathetic. Sympathetic and parasympathetic centers are under the control of the cerebral cortex and hypothalamic centers. In the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions there are central and peripheral parts. central part form the bodies of neurons that lie in the spinal cord and brain. These clusters of nerve cells are called vegetative nuclei. fibers coming from the nuclei autonomic ganglia, lying outside the central nervous system, and nerve plexuses in the walls of internal organs form the peripheral part of the autonomic nervous system.

Sympathetic nuclei are located in the spinal cord. The nerve fibers departing from it end outside the spinal cord in the sympathetic ganglions, from which the nerve fibers originate. These fibers are suitable for all organs.

Parasympathetic nuclei lie in the middle and medulla oblongata and in the sacral part of the spinal cord. Nerve fibers from nuclei medulla oblongata are part of vagus nerves. From the nuclei of the sacral part, the nerve fibers go to the intestines, the excretory organs.

The metasympathetic nervous system is represented by nerve plexuses and small ganglia in the walls digestive tract, bladder, heart and some other organs. The activity of the autonomic nervous system does not depend on the will of man.

The sympathetic nervous system enhances metabolism, increases the excitability of most tissues, mobilizes the body's forces to vigorous activity. parasympathetic system promotes the restoration of spent energy reserves, regulates the functioning of the body during sleep.

Under the control of the autonomous system are the organs of blood circulation, respiration, digestion, excretion, reproduction, as well as metabolism and growth.

In fact, the efferent department of the ANS carries out nervous regulation functions of all organs and tissues, except for skeletal muscles, which are controlled by the somatic nervous system.



Inflammatory processes, decompression and dysfunction often accompany any disease of the spinal nerve roots. The catalyst for pathological changes are injuries, metabolic disorders, degenerative transformations associated with in a sedentary manner life, excessive loads etc.

To understand exactly how it starts inflammatory process, you should learn about the anatomical features and functions of the roots of the spinal cord.

What are the roots of the spinal cord

The human spine is made up of individual vertebrae. The segments are interconnected by discs and have intervertebral foramen. Reception and return of sensory and motor signals to the spinal cord are provided by roots consisting of nerve fibers.

The tissue connected to the brain exits through holes of small diameter. Inflammation of the roots of the spinal nerves begins as a result of a narrowing of the lumen, as a result of changes in the anatomical correct location vertebrae, hernia development, etc.

What is the role of the spinal roots

The spinal cord is responsible for two important areas of activity of the body: the movement and motility of the body, as well as sensory and other perceptions. The functions of the anterior and posterior roots of the spinal cord are reduced to the transmission of signals to the spinal cord, and then to the brain.

Depending on the location, nerve fibers perform the following role:

  • Front roots. The composition of the anterior roots of the spinal cord includes efferent neurons, which provides motor functions. When the fibers are excised, a reflex reaction is observed. All movements are supportive locomotive apparatus, control over grasping and other functions is provided by the nerve fibers of this series.
  • The functions of the posterior roots are to transmit nerve impulses that provide sensitivity to the limbs. Pain sensations, sensory perception - nerve fibers located in back section spine. When the posterior roots are excised, the sensitivity of the skin disappears, but the ability to perform motor functions remains.

The spinal cord without nerve roots is not able to transmit impulses and signals to the brain, human body. Depending on the location of the lesion, damage to various parts of the musculoskeletal system is observed.


What are the spinal cords made of?

The disease caused by damage to the roots of the spinal nerves is diagnosed depending on the clinical manifestations. Specific features associated with the structure of the nerve processes. Anatomical features and the formation of processes help to differentiate pathological changes.

What are the posterior roots of the spinal cord formed by?

The posterior roots of the spinal cord are, in fact, a ligament or rope, consisting of nerve afferent fibers. This structure allows you to increase the speed of transmission of pulsed signals. The back roots are more sensitive.

It has been experimentally proved that after cutting the fibers, the reception of the skin disappears. At the same time, the main reflexes are preserved. The posterior roots function as transmitters of nerve impulses, and are also responsible for pain.

Posterior roots of the spinal cord nervous tissue, are formed by the axons of neurons, therefore, when the departments are pinched, the patient experiences severe pain. To reduce the syndrome, strong analgesics are required.

The composition of the posterior roots includes antidromic fibers that regulate the trophism of the muscular system. Nerve fibers contain dendrites of sensory neurons, which also contribute to the transmission of pain sensations.

What are the anterior roots of the spinal cord formed by?

The anterior roots are composed of a bundle of efferent fibers. They don't convey pain. The anterior roots of the spinal cord are formed by the axons of neurons responsible for the reflex movements of a person. When injured and injured, a person's muscles contract arbitrarily.

There is an exception to the rule - return reception. With damage to the anterior roots, in this case, one feels pain syndrome. In the anterior root of the spinal nerve, with return reception, receptors can be found that originate in the back of the spine. With bilateral transection of the anterior roots, the syndrome is completely eliminated.

Damage to the posterior roots of the spinal cord, for traumatic and any other reason, leads to psychological paralysis, when a person is afraid of movements that cause severe excruciating pain. The alternative is a condition characterized by complete loss of sensation.

What is root dysfunction

The fibers of the roots of the spinal nerves form nerves, along the fibers of which information is quickly transmitted. As noted in the article, tissues connect the spinal cord and the muscular system.

The axons of sensory neurons form the roots of the spinal nerves that pass through the intervertebral foramen. Dysfunction is a condition when, due to trauma, the development of a hernia or other factors, tissue damage occurs. As a result, there is a sharp decline signal intensity.

The clinical manifestations of compression depend on where the spinal nerve roots exit. As a rule, dysfunction manifests itself in insufficient muscle tone, impaired sensitivity or decreased tendon reflexes.

Ultrasound of the roots, as well as MRI, can accurately identify the cause of the violations. As a rule, long-term treatment is required to eliminate the problem.

Infringement of the roots with subsequent dysfunction is observed in professional athletes, builders, and the military. Dysfunction can be a consequence after surgery, occurs in patients with osteochondrosis, spondyloarthrosis, hernias and spodylolisthesis, oncological neoplasms.

With dysfunction of nerve fibers, differential diagnosis of root damage will be required, since the symptoms of the disease often do not give big share probabilities to put accurate diagnosis. So, for example, ganglion"ponytail" is formed by the roots of the lower spinal nerves and affects bladder, intestines, genitals.

There are many real cases when, due to an oversight of the doctor, the patient began to treat the consequences of the disease, without directly eliminating the catalyst for disorders.

What is endoscopic root decompression

Root compression syndrome is a direct consequence of prolonged squeezing or direct damage nerve fibres. The first symptoms of the disease are segmental neurological disorders and pain syndrome.

The compression syndrome causes weakness of muscle tissue and subsequent atrophy. AT severe cases root decompression is performed.

Depending on the severity of the injury, you will need the following surgery pinched roots:

There are situations in which it is impossible to do with microendoscopic methods. So, with meningocele of the spinal roots, the hernial protrusion contains parts of the spinal cord. In addition to removing the formation, careful extraction of nerve fibers and their movement into the lumen is required. spinal canal. The anatomy of the spinal roots and their branches, and the peculiarity of their structure, will require palliative surgery in such cases.

The complexity of the treatment of root dysfunction

The total number of spinal roots is 32 pairs. Violations and compression of each of them leads to inherent only to them clinical manifestations. The physician is required to differential diagnosis and to accurately determine not only the localization of damage to nerve fibers, but also to establish the cause of the violations.

Without eliminating the damage catalyst, all therapies in best case will only have a temporary effect. Surgical intervention remains the last, but the only effective measure.

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