The spinal cord and nervous system transmit the brain's instructions to other parts of the body and transmit information gathered from the sensation back to the brain. Injury to the spinal cord or nervous system can be crippling.

What is the spinal cord?

Our nervous system is in two parts:

• Central nervous system - the brain and spinal cord
• Peripheral nervous system - all the nerves in the rest of the body

The spinal cord extends from the base of the brain to slightly above the waistline, and it consists of long nerve fibers (axons) and nerve cells (neurons).

The spinal column

Our spine is made of 33 hollow bones (vertebrae) which enclose the spinal cord.

Branching out from the spinal cord are 31 pairs of spinal nerves which run through small spaces in the vertebrae and connect to the rest of the body's nerves.

The spinal column is thought of in 4 sections:

• Cervical - the neck area, and nerves branching out here control the neck, shoulders, arms, hands, back of the head, and diaphragm
• Thoracic - in the chest area, controlling the upper torso and parts of our arms
• Lumbar - in the mid-back below the ribs, controlling the hips and legs
• Sacral - in the lower back, controlling the groin, parts of the legs, and the toes

Vertebra are identified and spoken of in a numbered system, prefixed by the letter standing for the spinal area. So you hear of "C1 through C4", meaning the uppermost neck bones, or "L3" meaning the third lumbar vertebra. The numbers begin at upper end of each area.

Importance of the spinal cord

The 31 pairs of spinal nerves carry all messages from the brain to the rest of the body, and receive all messages coming from the rest of the body, to the brain.

An example

When we touch a candle flame, that sensation travels from the little nerves in the fingertips to bigger nerves, to one of the cervical spinal nerves, to the spinal cord, which carries the information up to the brain.

The brain interprets that electrical information as "too hot", and quickly sends an answer back along the spinal cord, back to the fingertips, saying "Pull back!"

All that exchange of information happens in one instant, as part of our body's survival mechanisms, and our hand withdraws in a flash. A little later, the brain also finds appropriate words for the occasion, so we know that "Hot" is an important word.

Two types of spinal cord injuries

• Complete - destroys our movement and sensation below the level of the injury. For instance, a complete C-1 injury creates quadriplegia, which is paralysis from the neck down.
• Partial - destroys our functioning to some extent, depending on the particular injury and its location. Partial spinal cord injuries are highly individual.

It is not only movement and sensation that are affected by spinal cord injuries. There is a long list of other possible consequences, and some examples are:

• Loss of bowel and bladder control
• Inability of the body to regulate its blood pressure
• Inability to sweat
• Inability to breathe
• Loss of sexual function

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of someone's inattention or negligence, perhaps you can obtain compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. An experienced personal injury attorney can look into the circumstances of your accident and determine whether you have a valid claim.

You could potentially receive compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages both past and future, and living assistance. Contact Chicago spinal cord injury lawyer Barry Doyle for your free legal consultation. No recovery, no fee.

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