In: Biology
Activity 3: Identify the parts of the spinal cord in spinal cord cross section model:
Spinal Cord Cross Section Parts Description / Function.
Grey Matter
White Matter
Central Canal
Dorsal Root
Dorsal Root Ganglia
Ventral Root
Spinal Nerve
Spinal Cord Cross Section Part |
Description | Function |
Grey Matter |
Contains nerve cell bodies, dendrites and axonal terminals of neurons. Mostly unmyelinated. Butterfly shaped, central region of grey matter sorrounds central canal. |
The anterior grey column are responsible for movement of muscles. The posterior Grey column contain the points where sensory neurons synapse. |
White Matter | Consists mostly of glial cells and myelinated axons. White because of the myelin that surrounds the nerve fibers. | It is the tissue through which messages pass between different areas of grey matter within the nervous system. |
Central Canal | Central canal is a fluid-filled space in the spinal cord . | Has a protective function and allows for nutrient transport. |
Dorsal Root | Emerges from the posterior part of the spinal cord. Lateral division of the dorsal root contains lightly myelinated and unmyelinated fibres of small diameter. |
Carry pain and temperature sensation, transmit information of discriminative touch, pressure, vibration. |
Dorsal Root Ganglia | Lie in the intervertebral foramina. Have a cell body with two branches that act as a single axon. | Nerve endings of dorsal root ganglion neurons have a variety of sensory receptors for mechanical, thermal, chemical, and noxious stimuli. |
Ventral Root | Is attached to the spinal cord by a series of rootlets that emerge from the ventrolateral sulcus of the spinal cord. | Contains outgoing, efferent fibers that carry information destined to control motor or glandular function. |
Spinal Nerve | Formed from the combination of nerve fibers from its dorsal and ventral roots. |
The dorsal root is the afferent sensory root . Ventral root is the efferent motor root and carries motor. |
The parts of the spinal cord are as: