What is the white matter of the spinal cord?

What is the white matter of the spinal cord?

The white matter of your brain and spinal cord is composed of bundles of axons. These axons are coated with myelin, a mixture of proteins and lipids, that helps conduct nerve signals and protect the axons. White matter’s job is to conduct, process, and send nerve signals up and down the spinal cord.

What part of the spinal cord has the most white matter?

cervical levels
The amount of white matter is greatest at cervical levels and least at sacral levels. This is because ascending and descending fibers from and to all levels must pass through the cervical cord.

Where does the spinal cord have white matter?

White matter in the spinal cord is sometimes called superficial tissue because it is located in the outer regions of the brain and spinal cord. Gray matter is situated closer to the center of the central nervous system.

What is the white matter of the spinal cord quizlet?

The white matter of the spinal cord is composed of myelinated and nonmyelinated nerve fibers that allow communication between different parts of the spinal cord and between the cord and brain.

What is the function of the grey matter in spinal cord?

The grey matter includes regions of the brain involved in muscle control, and sensory perception such as seeing and hearing, memory, emotions, speech, decision making, and self-control. The grey matter in the spinal cord is split into three grey columns: The anterior grey column contains motor neurons.

Does the spinal cord have GREY and white matter?

The grey matter creates a hornlike structure throughout the inside of the spinal cord while the white matter makes up the surrounding sections of the spinal cord. The grey matter does extend to the spinal cord to make signaling more effective.

What happens if your spinal cord hurts?

Emergency signs and symptoms of a spinal cord injury after an accident include: Extreme back pain or pressure in your neck, head or back. Weakness, incoordination or paralysis in any part of your body. Numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in your hands, fingers, feet or toes.

Is the spinal cord GREY or white matter?

The grey matter also extends from the brain into the spinal cord. The grey matter creates a hornlike structure throughout the inside of the spinal cord while the white matter makes up the surrounding sections of the spinal cord. The grey matter does extend to the spinal cord to make signaling more effective.

Is white matter just axons?

White matter is found in the deeper tissues of the brain (subcortical). It contains nerve fibers (axons), which are extensions of nerve cells (neurons). Many of these nerve fibers are surrounded by a type of sheath or covering called myelin. Myelin gives the white matter its color.

What are the three funiculi of white matter found in the spinal cord?

The horns of gray matter divide the white matter into three columns (funiculi): dorsal, lateral and ventral.

What are the three funiculi of white matter found in the spinal cord quizlet?

The lateral sades make up the lateral funiculus, and the anterior white matter makes up the anterior funiculus and anterior median fissure; the anterior funiculi are interconnected by the white commissure.

What does white matter in the brain and spinal cord consist of?

White matter disease is the wearing away of tissue in the largest and deepest part of your brain due to aging. This tissue contains millions of nerve fibers, or axons, that connect other parts of the brain and spinal cord and signal your nerves to talk to one another.

What are the White Columns of the spinal cord?

Spinal Cord White Matter – Anatomy & Functions Several columns of myelinated axons surround the gray matter of the spinal cord. The lipid in the myelin makes the columns appear light in color (white matter). The columns are referred to as the dorsal funiculus (or posterior funiculus), lateral funiculus, and ventral funiculus (or anterior funiculus).

What does the spinal cord contain?

The spinal cord, like the brain, consists of two kinds of nervous tissue called gray and white matter. Gray matter has a relatively dull color because it contains little myelin . It contains the somas, dendrites, and proximal parts of the axons of neurons.

What is the cross section of the spinal cord?

Spinal Cord Segments – Cross-sectional Anatomy. The spinal cord is made up of 31 segments. Each segment gives rise to a pair of spinal nerves. In cross-section (c.s.), the segments appear to be divided into two zones. The outer zone contains many myelinated axons that run up and down the spinal cord. Myelin is mostly lipid and light in color.