Medula espinal

Abstract

La medula espinal es el órgano encargado de regular el paso de la información desde centros superiores hasta áreas periféricas y viceversa, así mismo se encarga de la respuesta inmediata, a través de los arcos reflejos que darán respuesta a los diferentes estímulos muchas veces nocivos, para contribuir de esta forma al homeostasis. Embriológicamente el sistema nervioso se forma en la 3ra semana de vida intrauterina a partir del ectodermo invaginado que dará origen al Neuroepitelio, formando así el tubo neural y este a todos los órganos del sistema nervioso. La medula espinal se describe como un órgano cilíndrico alargado, hueco, del cual emergen los 31 pares de nervios espinales, segmentadas teóricamente en cervicales, dorsales, lumbares y sacros, e internamente encontramos a la sustancia gris y sustancia blanca, en las cuales se encuentran los núcleos o grupos celulares y los tractos ascendentes y descendentes respectivamente, que recogen información sensitiva y llevan impulsos motores. La medula espinal se encuentra alojada y protegida externamente por la columna vertebral, por la cual emergen los nervios raquídeos para inervar los miembros superiores e inferiores, el tronco y la pelvis; e internamente está cubierta por las meninges y el líquido céfalo raquídeo que la nutren y constituyen una barrera amortiguadora. Las alteraciones de la medula espinal pueden presentarse en la formación del tubo neural o pueden ser adquiridas durante el crecimiento de forma intrínsecas, o extrínsecas como traumatismos, las lesiones medulares tienen efectos perjudiciales en la sensibilidad y motricidad, así la lesión de los cordones o tractos se caracteriza por la pérdida de sensibilidad al tacto o temperatura y perdida de la función motora. La cantidad de área afectada indicara a que nivel segmentario se produjo la lesión, observando cuadros de cuadriplejia, paraplejia, etc. La prevención, el diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno de las lesiones medulares evitaran consecuencias devastadoras en la vida del individuo

The spinal cord is the organ responsible for regulating the passage of information from higher centers to peripheral areas, and is responsible for the immediate response, through the reflex arcs that will respond to different stimuli many times harmful, to thus contributing to homeostasis. Embryologically the nervous system is formed in the 3rd week of intrauterine life from the invaginated ectoderm that will give rise to Neuroepithelium, thus forming the neural tube and this to all the organs of the nervous system. The spinal cord is described as a hollow, elongated cylindrical organ from which the 31 pairs of spinal nerves arise, theoretically segmented into cervical, dorsal, lumbar and sacral, and internally we find the gray substance and white substance in which they are found the nuclei or cell groups and the ascending and descending tracts respectively, which collect sensitive information and carry motor impulses. The spinal cord is lodged and protected externally by the spinal column, through which the spinal nerves emerge to innervate the upper and lower limbs, trunk and pelvis; and internally it is covered by the meninges and the cerebrospinal fluid that nourish it and constitute a buffering barrier. Spinal cord alterations may occur in the formation of the neural tube or may be acquired during intrinsic growth, or extrinsic as trauma, spinal cord injuries have detrimental effects on sensibility and motor, as well as injury to the cords or tracts is characterized by loss of sensitivity to touch or temperature and loss of motor function. The amount of area affected will indicate to which segmental level the lesion occurred, observing quadriplegia, paraplegia, etc. The prevention, diagnosis and timely treatment of spinal cord injuries will avoid devastating consequences in the life of the individual

The spinal cord is the organ responsible for regulating the passage of information from higher centers to peripheral areas, and is responsible for the immediate response, through the reflex arcs that will respond to different stimuli many times harmful, to thus contributing to homeostasis. Embryologically the nervous system is formed in the 3rd week of intrauterine life from the invaginated ectoderm that will give rise to Neuroepithelium, thus forming the neural tube and this to all the organs of the nervous system. The spinal cord is described as a hollow, elongated cylindrical organ from which the 31 pairs of spinal nerves arise, theoretically segmented into cervical, dorsal, lumbar and sacral, and internally we find the gray substance and white substance in which they are found the nuclei or cell groups and the ascending and descending tracts respectively, which collect sensitive information and carry motor impulses. The spinal cord is lodged and protected externally by the spinal column, through which the spinal nerves emerge to innervate the upper and lower limbs, trunk and pelvis; and internally it is covered by the meninges and the cerebrospinal fluid that nourish it and constitute a buffering barrier. Spinal cord alterations may occur in the formation of the neural tube or may be acquired during intrinsic growth, or extrinsic as trauma, spinal cord injuries have detrimental effects on sensibility and motor, as well as injury to the cords or tracts is characterized by loss of sensitivity to touch or temperature and loss of motor function. The amount of area affected will indicate to which segmental level the lesion occurred, observing quadriplegia, paraplegia, etc. The prevention, diagnosis and timely treatment of spinal cord injuries will avoid devastating consequences in the life of the individual