The spinal cord

Function

1.To convey affernt impulses from receptors to

the brain and to conduct efferent impulses
from the brain to the effectors.

2.Be related to the reflexes.

I. The external features
6 longitudinal grooves

Ant. median fissure

Post. median sulcus

Anterolateral sulci

Posterolateral sulci
 31 segments

8 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
1 coccygeal
The relationship of spinal
cord with vertebral body
Spinal cord segments Vertebral bodis
C1---C4 the same number of
vertebrae (C1---C4)
C5---T4 the same number of
vertebrae － 1 (C4---T3)
T5---T8 the same number of
vertebrae － 2 (T3---T6)
the same number of
T9---T12 vertebrae － 3 (T6---T9)

L1---L5 T10-12

S1---S5, CO1 L1
two enlargements
cervical C5---T1

lumbosacral L2---S3

conus medullaris
filum terminale

cauda equine
II. The internal structure
ant. horn

gray intermediate
matter zone

post. horn

ant. funiculus
white
matter lat. funiculus

post. funiculus lateral horn

1. The gray matter

the ant. horn lower motor neurons

intermediolateral nucleus
(C8-L2 or L3)

the intermediate Clarke’s nucleus

zone (C8-L3)
the sacral parasympathetic
nucleus(S2—S4)

the post. horn sensory interneurons and project neurons

substantia gelatinosa
 substantia gelatinosa
Clarke’s nucleus
intermediolateral nucleus
(C8-L3)
(C8-L2 or L3)

motor neurons

substantia gelatinosa

the sacral parasympathetic

nucleus(S2—S4)
motor neurons
2. The white matter

fasciculus gracilis and

fasciculus cuneatus
① long ascending
tracts spinothalamic tract
ant. & post.
spinocerebellar tracts
② long descending
tracts corticospinal tracts

③ shorter
propriospinal tracts
 fasciculus fasciculus
cuneatus gracilis

posterior lateral
spinocerebellar corticospinal
tract tract

anterior
spinocerebellar
tract

lateral anterior anterior

spinothalamic spinothalamic corticospinal
tract tract tract
summary
In the cross section of the spinal cord, based
on neuronal size,shape,cytological features
and density in different regions, ten laminas
have been distinguished,which are arrayed
more or less parallel with the dorsal and ventral
limits of the gray matter and extend throughout
most of the length of the spinal cord. These
laminas are called the laminae of Rexed.
Briefly,the structure of laminae is as follows.
the laminae of Rexed

Transverse section of C6 Transverse section of L5

segment segment
Part of the laminae of Rexed

Nucleus Levels Lamina Function

Substantia gelatinosa All II Modulate transmission of

pain and temperature info.
Clarke’s nucleus C8—L2 VII Post. spinocerebellar tract
cells
Intermediolateral C8—L3 VII Preganglionic sympathetic
nucleus neurons
Sacral parasympathetic S2—S4 VII Preganglionic
nucleus parasympathetic neurons