1. Spinal Cord injuries
A spinal cord injury (SCI) is an injury to the spinal cord resulting in a change, either temporary or permanent, in the cord's normal motor, sensory, or autonomic function. Common causes of damage are trauma (car accident, gunshot, falls, sports injuries, etc.) or disease (transverse myelitis, polio, spina bifida, Friedreich's ataxia, etc.). The effects of spinal cord injuries include Loss of movement Loss of sensation Loss of bladder control Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity and fertility The spinal cord is surrounded by rings of bone called vertebrae, the bones are covered by a protective membrane. The main job of the spinal cord is to be the communication system between the brain and the body by carrying messages that allow people to move and feel sensation. Spinal cord injuries have different effects. These related to the upper section like chest and arm are located at the upper part of spinal cord. The lower section of spinal cord is associated to lower body parts such as bladder or bowel. References: http://www.spinalinjury101.org/files/understanding-spinal-cord-injury.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_cord_injury |