Chapter 17, Problem 7UYK

Summary Introduction

To identify: The spinal cord area damaged by poliovirus.

Introduction: The spinal cord is a part of the central nervous system that controls all the activities of the body. The spinal cord is enclosed in the vertebral column that protects it from an injury. The spinal cord is continuous with the brainstem from the medulla oblongata and extends up to the lumbar region as a long tubular structure. The spinal cord contains the cerebrospinal fluid and covered with meninges, the protective envelope. The spinal cord is the coordinating center of impulses and acts by connecting the brain and peripheral nervous system. The spinal cord has a central canal in the middle surrounded by the gray matter that is seen as butterfly-shaped. The gray matter is surrounded by the white matter at the periphery.